Straight Talk

Sea Shepherd claims that turtle poachers are intimidating its volunteers

by Charlie Smith on June 16th, 2015 at 10:20 PM
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      An environmental organization says people trying to save endangered sea turtles are being threatened.

      The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which was founded by former Vancouverite Paul Watson, has issued a statement claiming that poachers "are planning actions" against the group's volunteers.

      They society has a campaign to protect sea turtles and their nests in Pacuare, Limon, Costa Rica.

      "Sea Shepherd believes that the poachers are now reacting in response to the organization’s efforts to stop the deadly actions of unscrupulous people who, year after year, are claiming the lives of thousands of endangered sea turtles," the group sttated. "The sea turtle eggs are not the only targets. Hundreds of vulnerable nesting turtles are also killed for their meat."

      Comments

      4 Comments

      Seriously?!?

      Jun 16, 2015 at 10:37pm

      So they are shocked that the people who's livelihoods are under threat might take action? Yet another example of how colonial attitudes dictate the actions of western activists from left to right regardless of the issue. Yes these poachers are breaking the law and endangering the sea turtles but unless you offer alternatives, and welfare isn't an alternative in most countries, you will experience blowback.

      andre

      Jun 17, 2015 at 6:41am

      Livelyhood? These are poachers.. I.e. criminals. You know in most countries, even those not under the oppressive patriarchal western paradigm that poaching is illegal? But I guess there is no point in explaining that to somebody who thinks that these turtles will last when all their eggs are poached. Get a life!

      Bruce

      Jun 17, 2015 at 9:23am

      @Seriously

      You know, just the other day someone was going on about child slavery in Sudan and child prostitution in Thailand, and you are so totally right. Having a problem with child slavery is just another example of how colonial attitudes dictate the actions of western activists from left to right regardless of the issue. Unless we offer alternatives to the slavers and child molesters, we so totally have no right to judge.

      </sarcasm>

      CR Not Paradise or 'Switzerland of Central America'

      Jun 17, 2015 at 10:22am

      Having as a Canadian lived in Costa Rica for about 2 years while on business I can say that it is highly corrupt place where people have little regard for others especially foreigners.

      It's all about what they can take from the Environment and/or others.

      There are a small minority who are trying to do good but they are in the minority.

      The country is mostly corrupt and nowadays with Costa Rica being used a major Drug Transshipment point it's getting worse.

      Environmental Destruction in Costa Rica.

      1. Since the end of World War II, approximately 80% of the forests of Costa Rica have disappeared.[2] Approximately 20,000 acres (8,100 ha) of land are deforested annually; in the 1990s the country had one of the worst deforestation rates in Central America. source. wiki.

      2. The destruction and harvesting of endangered species like Turtles and Sharks for Fins for the Asian markets,

      3. The wholesale disregard for the Environment,

      4. Electronics and other Manufacturing spewing toxic waste into rivers and streams and the Ocean.

      The Targeting of Foreigners for Theft and / or Death.

      There is routine targeting for Theft and/or Death of Foreigners, many Canadians have been killed in Costa Rica with the authorities complicit in several cases.

      Most of the time these Deaths and disappearances are either blamed on the Foreigner and/or covered / hushed up.

      We should not support and/or enable Countries like this by providing money via Tourism etc.

      There are approximately 9,000-10,000 Canadian residents in Costa Rica, including dual nationals, and 172,730 Canadians traveled to Costa Rica in 2014.

      Canada gives Aid to the Government which is riddled with corruption.

      Finally it's not only me saying these things in 2011 MacLeans did an article on Canadian women murdered / butchered in cold blood.

      Titled:

      Death in Costa Rica’s rainforest

      Known for ecotourism, Costa Rica may actually be a paradise for poachers—and murderers of expats

      Anthony A. Davis and Nicholas Köhler

      Source. MacLeans.