If you want to do a donation to Sea Shepherd , go to the English/French/Brazilian websites and not the global one.
In 2018, when Captain Watson wanted to send Sea Shepherd back to Iceland to stop whaling, Peter Hammarstedt and Alex Cornelissen replied: "Out of the question, we are in the process of rebranding. We now have big donors like Allianz insurance, the Dutch lottery, and we work with African governments. The last thing we need is for the media to start talking again about the whalers we sank in Iceland. We have too much to lose."
A few years later, they ousted Captain Paul Watson, Founder of Sea Shepherd, who had become too inconvenient, by means of a three-line email, and four months later, they also ousted me for remaining faithful to the original DNA of the movement and refusing the "rebranding."
Those who might have thought that people capable of so foully betraying the greatest defender of the ocean, Captain Paul Watson, to whom they owe their entire "career" in conservation, would put the ocean before their own interests, have not understood what this is all about.
Today, Jeff Hansen, co-director of Global and director of Sea Shepherd Australia, doesn't hesitate to establish partnerships between Sea Shepherd Australia and Austral Fisheries, an industrial fishing company for Patagonian toothfish, with the blessing of the three other Global directors. All of this publicly and without complexes, the director of Sea Shepherd Australia and the Executive Director of Austral Fisheries declare they "share the same vision on the future of sustainable fishing." Global is also proud to have acquired its latest boat, the Allankay, at a "good price" from Austral Fisheries.
However, in 2013, the Japanese multinational Maruha Nichiro bought 50% of Austral Fisheries' shares. A report by the Environmental Investigation Agency, EIA (linked) establishes that Maruha Nichiro is one of the three Japanese multinationals that killed nearly half a million whales until the establishment of the moratorium in 1986 and continued hunting illegally after that in the Antarctic whale sanctuary. They have sold tens of millions of cans of whale meat in Japan since the moratorium was established (see EIA report).
Source: https://seashepherd.fr/pourquoi-sea-shepherd-global-ne-parle-pas-du-kangei-maru-la-trahison-ultime/
If you want to go deeper , some links:
https://www.theceomagazine.com/business/management-leadership/austral-fisheries/
https://statebuildings.com/events/out-of-the-blue-a-como-conversation/
Since Paul Watson's arrest in Greenland on July 21st, the complete lack of support from Sea Shepherd Global directors (Alex Cornelissen, Peter Hammarstedt, Jeff Hansen, and Geert Vons) and the directors who followed them (Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, Australia...) only deepens their disgrace. After illegally ousting the founder of the movement to whom they owe their positions, they continue to act as if Paul doesn't exist, pursuing Peter and Alex's wish to "completely erase Paul Watson."
Captain Thomas Le Coz, who resigned from Sea Shepherd Global following Paul Watson's eviction, thus giving up a good salary, expensive training covered, and numerous benefits, did what many others didn't do. Arguing that "the cause is more important than individuals," many Global employees preferred to keep their benefits and turn a blind eye to the hijacking of part of the movement. Thomas addresses them today in an open letter that we are relaying.
To my former colleagues,
I know people prefer comforting lies to disturbing truths, but it's with pain that for 2 years I've observed the indifference, betrayal, and cowardice that reign.
It's even more disappointing when it occurs among those who are supposed to be concerned about all this.
The self-proclaimed "rebels" or "anarchists," sporting vindictive tattoos and claiming to fight "the system."
Always on the front lines on social media when it comes to sharing and commenting on injustices around the world, yet you've remained silent about the injustice that directly concerns you.
You remained silent when you saw The Captain get fired from his own organization and you're silent when you see injustice, waste, and absurdities occurring within "the organization" or should I now say, "the company."
This company took a "position" with an impersonal message on social media while dozens of artists, celebrities, and thousands of supporters are mobilizing worldwide to express their anger at the situation.
You enjoy an annual salary with 6 months at home to enjoy life and paid flights to the other side of the world to "protect the ocean" and yet I don't hear you, former "colleagues," while the man who made this possible is in prison.
You can relax on Tuvalu beaches between patrols or enjoy the sunset with a glass of wine atop a sand dune in Namibia while the captain pays for your comfort with his freedom.
Almost 5 decades ago, when it all began, most of you weren't even born. Yet today, you'd like to own what allows you to put bread on the table and feel good about yourselves.
Dozens of NGOs are joining the fight and flooding social media with messages of support and meanwhile, the company is selling fishing kayaks and designing pretty t-shirts.
The captain did something very wrong, we were told, so wrong that we can't even tell you what it was. It's to protect him and the organization that we have to fire him. Yet, after two years of humiliation on social media and several legal cases, no one wonders why the "truth" still hasn't been revealed? Easier to forget and move on, I guess...
Yes, times have changed and tactics must evolve, which includes working with certain states to some extent, there's nothing wrong with that.
Of course, it's much easier to use and profit from a well-established organization than to start from scratch, but how can one rewrite or throw away more than 40 years of history without any respect?
You may disagree with tactics and politics but don't be cowardly, leave and create your own organization. Steer your own ship wherever you want.
Obviously, few people have the courage to do that and the activist costume is far too big for many, but at least have some decency and honor. You're only lying to yourselves.
Thomas.