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SHEPHERDNOMICS

The Australian Government seems to have great trouble getting and keeping its act together to make constructive decisions.   In an Australian Senate transcript published yesterday minimum facts were released about the whale monitoring overflights.  Actually to date there has been only one such flight using an A319 which cost to lease $AUD93,248.00.  The remainder of the costs remain undisclosed by the Australian Customs Department  As to the aircraft itself the Australian Air Force Chief Geoff Brown thought that the aircraft was unsuitable for the monitoring flight mission.

According to Sea Shepherd Australia the total budget allocated was $AUD300,000.00 and the number of whales involved is 1035 threatened.  From this their cost value per whale is $AUD289.86.  In comparison the Australian Government spent $AUD1.8 million rescuing the Russian Cruise ship from the Antarctic.  Well at least the Australian Government knows that human lives are more valuable than whales however much one values the importance of sealife.

Now of course the point to impress on "captPH" is that very same fact and he should bring the severely damaged, unseaworthy MS Bob Barker to a safe port for a construction survey.  From that Survey the decision should then be made to repair or scrap this 64 year-old piece of nautical junk.  This is his prime indeed only duty to his crew as a master not transmitting propaganda and writing letters to government ministers.  Following the path of his mentor "Wats-his-name" he thinks himself above the demands of Maritime Laws and has developed an ego which needs brushing continuously.

NAUTICAL LOG whose principle interest is nautical safety, as well as being anti-whaling, has become more and more concerned at this shoddy display of commanding a ship even by Sea Shepherd standards.

Good Watch.

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