The two Sea Shepherd activists who boarded the Japanese owned whale harpoon ship Yashin Maru 2 with a letter of intent, and then were held hostage for 3 days, are now aboard the Oceanic Viking, an Australian Customs and Fisheries vessel, according to an Institute for Cetecean Reseach press release.
 http://www.icrwhale.org/080118Release.htm

The Oceanic Viking will now rendezvous with the Steve Irwin, where the two activists can board their own vessel. Kim McCoy, the executive director of Sea Shepherd, told an ABC reporter "The moment we get them back on board we plan to resume what we came here to do, which is enforcing international conservation law."
Details on their transfer to the Steve Irwin will be on the Sea Shepherd site:
 http://www.seashepherd.org/

The whaling factory ship, the Nisshin Maru, is now returning to the whale sanctuary followed by the Greenpeace ship Esperanza.
 http://weblog.greenpeace.org/whales/

New Zealand Public Relations spokesman for the Japanese whalers, Glenn Inwood, said the Yushin Maru II is now headed back towards the rest of the Japanese fleet in the Southern Ocean to resume whaling.

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Sea Shepherd Solidarity Protest at Japanese Embassy, Berlin

16.1.2008
People went to put pressure on officials at the Japanese Embassy at Hiroshimastrasse in Berlin today. They hung banners on the fences of the Embassy demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the two Sea Shepherd crew members taken hostage on 15 January by the Japanese
Whaling Fleet.

For updates, see www.seashepherd.org

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Sea Shepherd Hostage London Solidarity Demo
16/1/08

Fifty picketed the Japanese embassy in London in solidarity with the Sea Shepherd hostages (see previous posts). The embassy staff were not happy. Banners read 'Free the Hostages', 'Stop the the Whale Slaughter' and 'Defend the Wild'. The picket got a lot of media coverage with multiple TV crews including one from Japan.

Updates posted here and at www.seashepherd.org

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Sea Shepherd demo, Barcelona
17.1.2008
Demonstrators today held a protest outside the Japanese Consul in Barcelona, also delivering a letter to the General Consul demanding the immediate release of two Sea Shepherd crew members currently held hostage by Japanese whalers.

A group of Sea Shepherd supporters demonstrated outside the Japanese Consulate in Barcelona today, to call for the immediate release of Giles Lane and Benjamin Potts, currently held hostage aboard a Japanese whaling ship.

Inside, two people delivered a letter to the Consul condemning the hostage taking and demanding Japanese intervention. Outside, 150 leaflets were handed out to workers and passersby.

The Mossos turned up but everything was quiet. Solidarity to Sea Shepherd!

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NYC Protest for Sea Shepherd Hostages

17.01.2008
Activists braved the cold of New York City today to protest yesterday's kidnapping of Giles Lane and Benjamin Potts by an illegal Japanese whaling ship. They were released earlier today to the Ocean Viking (Australia's ship).

VIDEOS
Part 1:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk1AKVRbR8I
Part 2:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb7IM9VNY48

Japanese Poachers Release Sea Shepherd Hostages
18/01/08  http://www.seashepherd.org

Benjamin Potts and Giles Lane were transferred from the Yushin Maru No. 2 to the Australian Customs vessel Oceanic Viking early in the morning at 0200 Hours Melbourne time (1300 Hours GMT). The two men were transferred to the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin at 0930 Hours Melbourne time (2030 Hours GMT).

Both men were happy to be reunited with their shipmates and eager to return to chasing the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Oceans. Both men reported that although they were roughed up when they first boarded the whaling ship, that they were treated well during their time onboard. The only injury was a bruised wrist suffered by Giles Lane.

“It did not take long before the whalers realized that they made a huge public relations mistake in keeping us on their ship,” said Benjamin Potts. “We made it clear to them that Sea Shepherd was committed to stopping their illegal whaling activities.”

“Although we appreciate the concern that people have expressed for our welfare, it is important to remember that this is not about us.” said Giles Lane. “It’s about stopping this cruel and illegal whale hunt. The treatment that we received was trivial in comparison to the suffering that the whales experience at the hands of the Japanese whalers. They may have been rough with us but at least we were not harpooned, electrocuted and mutilated. This is not about us, it’s about the whales.”

The Steve Irwin is continuing its pursuit of the Japanese whaling fleet. “This is the 8th day that whales have not been killed,” said Captain Paul Watson. “Every day that we stop the whalers is a victory. We will continue to intervene, harass, block, and obstruct the whalers at every opportunity.”

The Steve Irwin is presently at 59 Degrees 46 Minutes South and 85 Degrees 59 Minutes East and on the tail of the Japanese whaling fleet.

 http://www.seashepherd.org/migaloo/video/2008-01-18_video_clip_05_Sea_Shepherd_crew_members_released_back_to_the_Steve_Irwin.wmv

Or:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZr7lqr2asQ