Dear Belly,

The definition of piracy is "the act of attacking and robbing ships at sea".

You use of the term in this instance is incorrect and emotive. There was no attacking or violence of any kind.

They are no more pirates than is Mr Frary.

"MUA delegate Bruce Frary explained his reasons for occupying the vessel on YouTube: "I am an Australian seafarer and father of three children. Like a lot of other Australians I have a mortgage and bills, so I need to work."

"I've chosen to occupy the Shell-operated and managed vessel, Araluen Spirit, to ask Shell to keep this vessel, or replace it with an Aussie-manned and flagged ship and not a flag of convenience ship."

"I don't want another Pasha Bulker or Rena polluting any Australian beaches or harbours."

csteele,
Why do you love whales but show no concern for other creatures? Whales devour millions of krill and they are eaten alive. Do they not deserve to be able to live their life without being eaten?

Bit like protecting kangaroos because they are big and easily seen, but ignoring all the small marsupials that are endangered.

Have you ever considered how many krill are saved by the japs, and others, harvesting some whales? Just because whales are big should not be a reason for protection.

If you argue that krill are not endangered, well neither are minke whales, so why the big hoo haa about whales.

Dear Pericles,

Sorry, I would indeed expect compensation from the government. I had truncated my previous post for room, I think you would find it to be 350 words in total, and the piece removed would have given it more sense.

I was going to explain if I had crashed a $200,000 Merc into the getaway car then it would be a bit rich to expect the lot. However I am dubious that those true robber barons, the insurance companies, would pay out for self inflicted damage so the out of pocket expenses could be quite significant for the average Joe.

I think a solid case for market rate compensation from the government is evident. I don't mean market rate for the car but the normal 'reward for information leading to the arrest' rate. So if the offenders had escaped what would have been the amount offered, that is what I would expect for compensation to cover out of pocket expenses. If it doesn't cover the Merc then so be it. Sound fair to you?

On a more serious note knowing the incredibly sad statistics for the return of abducted children I as a parent, while obviously being gutted if a rescue attempt resulted in the death of my child, would have deep and continuing anger toward anyone who might have stopped the abduction but didn't, that would certainly be worse.

I hope  none of us ever find out.

As to government responsibility, if the Australian government were to send a vessel to pick up the three because they think it would be the most diplomatically expedient thing to do then isn't the cost burden on them?

Now csteele you take the words and reasons I think as I do right out of my mouth and throw them at me, to prove my reasoning for me.
I started a thread about these fleas on our back, you helped divert the subject, with OUG to union protests.
Quite brutally wrong.
Let me make it clear, my pride in unions and the achievements of past present and future ones is forever.
I highlight here one of HUNDREDS of protests that fill me with pride, EVERY ONE nothing like this threads subject.
Rothbury riot, look at it, look deep, my union did not take part, was insulted and maybe deservedly at that time.
A time Company's and political party's owned the workforce.
And that some,me too for a while but later, thought the only answer was communism.
This protest was a lockout, the judge who ruled in favor of the mine owner inherited those mines!
LOCKED OUT AFTER REFUSING WAGE CUTS!,A Labor government ignored mine workers.
Workers bashed by police, publicly in the street daylight.
Woman pushed and insulted by the same criminal police.
Rothbury starved my people, working Australians.
Csteele the left trys constantly to claim ownership of every crowd every protest, some workers till death will not contribute to unions because they wrongly see every protest as bad.
Like a tree invaded by Christmas Beetles leaves gone torn and tattered workers /unions suffer from the feeding , because that feeding was not for the benefit of the tree just the hungry invaders.

I wish I could find the words to put my full views here about the csteele type left.
I look at today our hung Parliament and Bob Browns strutting Bantam Rooster impressions and shudder.
We are being miss led and miss used.
Most of us want an end to the Whaling in this territory by this country.
If Australia was a log that wedge, the protest movement left, are splitting our resolve to act.
Far too many will think badly of every protest, because the leeches latch firmly on to every protest claiming ownership.
Other ways exist, but how can any one think this is the way.
Australians like humor,a well planned chaser type picket keeping the unwashed and untidy away, may be the answer.
These three yobbs are being miss used.
Would any big brand try to promote its product this way?

Dear Belly,

This is why I am so reluctant to engage with you. I quite simply, reasonably, properly and correctly put the position to you that your use of the word piracy was inappropriate in this case.

You chose not to answer my post but instead have proceeded to rant and rave over two whole posts about my 'type'.

Yet do you have any illusion that the silver tails would regard many of the Union actions you are proud of in much the same light as you are holding the actions of the activists on board the whaling ship?

I am clearly not conducive to you maintaining a decent blood pressure. I don't wish to be responsible for you taking a turn so we had better leave it there.