Never Say Die

Less than two months after resigning from Sea Shepherd in dramatic fashion following his trial in Japan, Pete Bethune has founded a new group called the Earthrace Conservation Organization or ECO. This new organisation will focus not only on whaling but wider marine issues, from overfishing to habitat destruction and pollution.
Bethune: “We’ll be taking action all over the world, wherever we see environmentally damaging activities taking place. I’m not setting up in competition with any other groups – it’s not as though there’s a shortage of bad things happening. My goal is to see Earthrace Conservation work both independently, and alongside existing organisations wherever and whenever they’d like our help.”
While the organisation does not currently possess any vessels, land-based campaigns are being planned. One will be accompanying supporting volunteers to the Faroe Islands during the summer of 2011, to address the barbaric grindadráp which happens several times annually, in hopes of eliminating the needless slaughter of pilot whales.
Bethune was sentenced to jail for two years by a Japanese court, but it was suspended for five years.