LOCALS are giving up time and money to support the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s next operation on the high seas.
A charity concert “Rock the Boat” and a forum with controversial Sea Shepherd captain Pete Bethune have been organised for this weekend.
Pete Bethune captained the ship “Ady Gil” that was sunk in Antarctic waters after it collided with a Japanese whaler in January this year.
Bethune spent over four months in a Japanese prison after boarding the whalers’ ship and attempting a citizen’s arrest.
Sea Shepherd Wellington coordinator Lisa Baines says Capital Productions has organised the events for free, with bands and artists also gifting their time.
“[Whaling] is such a hot topic at the moment and many people have offered support,” says Baines.
Sea Shepherd is fundraising for its next operation in Antarctica called “No Compromise”.
The name reflects their disappointment that New Zealand continues to negotiate with Japan at the International Whaling Commission, while Australia is launching legal action to stop whaling in Antarctic waters.
“Australian [anti-whaling] groups have the government’s backing, but [New Zealand] wants a deal to allow Japanese to keep killing whales – that’s going backwards.”
Baines lives in Karori with her partner Marcus Graham, who was aboard the Sea Shepherd vessel that picked up Ady Gil’s crew after it was destroyed.
Marcus Graham was the only Wellingtonian on the Antarctic mission.
Despite the sinking of Ady Gil, Baines says last year was Sea Shepherd’s best as they saved over 530 whales from the harpoons of Japanese hunters.
Baines says they are succeeding despite the negative reaction of the government towards captain Bethune.
“I didn’t like [John] Key’s response at all. The government should represent the will of its people, and most people are against whaling.”
Bethune’s actions divided opinion around the world and within Sea Shepherd, she says.
“Some people left [Sea Shepherd], but more people want to join.”
Baines is in “two minds” about Bethune’s citizen’s arrest, but says lawyers assured them it was a legal move.
“He didn’t risk anyone’s life, and knew he would pay the consequences; he spent four months in jail, lost 10kg, all his money, and his ship,” says Baines.
However, she says negative media attention has made it difficult to attract funding.
“People think he is a rebel, and it was rash. But I think the majority of people support what we do.”
Rock the Boat, San Francisco Bathhouse, July 30. Forum with captain Pete Bethune, Victoria University, July 30.

Sea Shepherd has some major financial backers around the world.
The $2.5 million Ady Gil was named for an American philanthropist, who has donated millions to Sea Shepherd and is reported to be financing the construction of Ady Gil 2.
Other members of the Antarctic Sea Shepherd fleet include; The Bob Barker, and The Steve Irwin.
The Steve Irwin was financed by the Irwin family after the famous alligator man died, because he was planning to become a crew member for Sea Shepherd.
The Bob Barker was funded by the American “The Price is Right” game show host of the same name.
The Bob Barker was a “secret” ship in the last Antarctic mission, leaving from a base in Mauritius, off the southern African coast.
Sea Shepherd is also working in the Gulf of Mexico, to save birds and sea life stuck in the BP oil slick.