Pete Bethune's journey home

[Carolyn Bailey]

The following is an article which appeared in the NZ Herald dated July 14 (today).

Sea Shepherd are now taking credit for secretly supporting Pete Bethune through his trial, although they were rather remiss in notifying either Pete or his family, instead allowing Pete to feel abondened by both the NZ Govt and the organisation he was representing and presumably following direction from when detained.

Pete, who has risked his life to protect whales, speaks of his journey home on an Air NZ flight and his upgrade, as well as the flesh of the dead cow he consumed during his journey.

I don't understand why some people would risk their lives to protect some animals, yet readily be complicit in the slaughter of others.

Bethune's emotional toll

Anti-whaling activist Pete Bethune arrived home to lash out at the organisation claiming to have secretly supported him through his ordeal.

Bethune, at his Torbay home yesterday, said he was angry and had been given only "half the story" by Sea Shepherd International.

The organisation claimed to have dumped him - then came out after sentencing to say it was a ploy to help win a lighter sentence.

It emerged yesterday that Bethune and his family were never told the dumping was a ploy.

He said: "There's some things I'm heavily upset about. But I've only got half the story at the moment, and that's my half. I feel like I'm
in a black hole ... an information vacuum."

Bethune's anger came following five months in a Japanese jail after he boarded Japanese whaling ship Shona Maru II and attempted a citizen's
arrest.

The charges included obstructing commercial activities, trespass, vandalism and carrying a knife. On Wednesday he was sentenced to two years in
prison - suspended for five years - and released to return to New
Zealand.

Article continues below

Bethune's anger came as Sea Shepherd International president Lawrence De Goot flew into New Zealand to meet with Bethune. He admitted last
night keeping Bethine and his family in the dark to make the "dumping"
look real.

"We needed a genuine reaction from his family. There's no need for him to be angry. We had to do it that way."

Sea Shepherd New Zealand boss Bill Watson accused the international arm of a "serious ethical breach" over the deception.

"It was unfortunate the way it was handled. Pete and his family and the New Zealand Sea Shepherd were not told of what they were doing when
they disowned him. As far as I'm concerned that was a serious ethical
breach."

Bethine said he had gone through a terrible time during his five months in prison.

"I'm a different person already. You don't do a lag like that without it marking you. Spending all that time with killers and drug addicts
who are having to go cold turkey, it's affected me.

"The worst thing is having no idea when you're going to get out, and the solitary confinement. It's going to take me some time to process
what I've been through."

He enjoyed an upgrade for his flight home on Air New Zealand. "I had a coke, which was my first bit of caffeine in five months. Then I had eye
fillet ... every time the steward went past with food I'd have more."

By Celeste Gorrell Anstiss



http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=1...

[blackpanther]

IT's a very strange way of acting, and sea shepherd is no longer very high in my opinion....they HAD to tell him the truth........or maybe they are telling lies.......and pretending,...... as he is free, and nobody thought he would.....neither me, nor sea shepherd, I think!!!!

[Carolyn Bailey]

Hi Blackpanther,

I don't think many people thought he would be free at all. I think he's very lucky. I believe he had less chance of being freed after SS deserted him.

SS have certainly lost a lot of respect in the way they dealt with this, and even moreso in the way they've come out since Pete's release to try and claim some of the glory from him.

I don't know who their PR people are, but I reckon they need new ones!

[blackpanther]

PR? sorry, I'm french, and don't see what it is.....

[Carolyn Bailey]

Public Relations.

The people who speak to the media and should be portraying SS in a positive way - their publicity machine.

[blackpanther]

OK, it was the abbreviation I didn't get.....thanks!