Russian Rib Incident - Bad.

[indaba1991]

A racing yacht called Esmit Europa is sponsored by Russian company GAZPROM. The ethics of this company are being investigated by Greenpeace. At the start of a recent yacht race a Greenpeace Rib intervened and got in the way of the Russian sponsored yacht. The yacht's support Rib intervened and "warned the Greenpeace Rib off".

I enclose a picture of the incident which rightly has caused a good deal of comment around the world. (including funnies like never take a rubber boat to a knife fight)

Here is a pic of the yacht

[John Kennett]

Threatening to slash someone's tubes, as appears to be happening here, isn't a good thing but it hardly seems like a big surprise. What sort of reaction would you expect the protesters to get?

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by indaba1991

A racing yacht called Esmit Europa is sponsored by Russian company GAZPROM. The ethics of this company are being investigated by Greenpeace. At the start of a recent yacht race a Greenpeace Rib intervened and got in the way of the Russian sponsored yacht. The yacht's support Rib intervened and "warned the Greenpeace Rib off".

I enclose a picture of the incident which rightly has caused a good deal of comment around the world. (including funnies like never take a rubber boat to a knife fight)

Join the debate.

wrong forum, should have started it off in the bilges, it'll save confusion later

[indaba1991]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

Threatening to slash someone's tubes, as appears to be happening here, isn't a good thing but it hardly seems like a big surprise. What sort of reaction would you expect the protesters to get?

Depends on your point of view - does having a moral objection to a yacht's sponsor justify using a rib to disrupt a yacht race?

[PeterM]

Maybe the RN chap at cowes week had a moral issue with the tanker.....that'd get him off?

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by indaba1991

Depends on your point of view - does having a moral objection to a yacht's sponsor justify using a rib to disrupt a yacht race?

The Greenpeace crew would appear to think so, but the race team would appear to disagree.

Whatever your point of view, it should be fairly obvious that the disruption is unlikely to be well received. I suspect that the Greenpeace activists are delighted by the outcome as here we are, discussing their protest!

[Zippy]

so what does the next picture show? where is a picture of the greenpeace rib with slashed tubes?

Greenpeace are not shy in promoting themselves and the actions of others against them. i would guess the rib was not damage and this is a great photo opportunity.....

[Nick Hearne]

Looks like a load of bull look at the photo the black rope looks photo shopped as dose the knife, something not right about that photo to me!

[indaba1991]

Originally Posted by PeterM

Maybe the RN chap at cowes week had a moral issue with the tanker.....that'd get him off?

Your comment is exactly what I was thinking!!

Press release now posted by Esimit Europa / Gazprom:

Esimit Europa is very sorry that the 45th Barcolana regatta was hurt by the events, that took place on the second buoy and later on at the original finish line. We felt endangered. Our goal was only to provide our guests and staff a safe passage to the harbour. We would also like to thank the Italian police authorities and the Guardia di Finanza for their intervention at protecting the sailing field of the Esimit Europa 2 yacht and contribution to its safe passage towards the harbour.

[Bigtalljv]

seems like a poor choice of protest venue for Greenpeace. I don't think it will get GP much sympathy. If they are choosing the protest the ethics of an oil company I don't think you can differentiate much between any of them in any country. also if they want to hurt an oil company they should be using the sailboat instead of buying their gas for a big RIB...

[kerny]

Originally Posted by Bigtalljv

also if they want to hurt an oil company they should be using the sailboat instead of buying their gas for a big RIB...

Thats a valid point

[Zippy]

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

Looks like a load of bull look at the photo the black rope looks photo shopped as dose the knife, something not right about that photo to me!

good point. where is the shadow of the black rope?

[Pikey Dave]

I used to support Greenpeace financially with a monthly standing order due to their work in protecting whales. I cancelled the money when GP changed their tactics & went for the oil companies, it started with Shell wanting to dispose of their old platforms in the Atlantic. I didn't agree with Shell, but felt that as a user of oil, (2 cars, 1 van, boat & home heating) it was hypocritical of me to protest. We can't be greedy consumers & then balk at the consequences. If we want to stop the oil companies in their tracks, stop using oil, simples. When GP propose a viable alternative to oil that doesn't involve me living on lentils & crapping into a compost bucket, I'll listen.

[surreycool]

Despite Greenpeace having done some good protesting in the past, the majority of their antics have been darn right ridiculous and I can't believe the things they have been up to. Picking on Yacht Racers is not the way forward, if they have an issue with the sponsoring company - protest outside their office, but don't disrupt competitive people who have trained to reach their dreams.

In addition to that, really what did they expect recently with the Russians, anyone thinking about it for 5 minutes could have predicted the Russian response. No sympathy I'm afraid.

[willk]

Oh look, Indaba1991 is back, and he's still stirring it.

http://www.rib.net/forum/f51/the-iri...tml#post505965

[thomas]

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

Looks like a load of bull look at the photo the black rope looks photo shopped as dose the knife, something not right about that photo to me!

Not sure it's photoshopped but could be staged, there's no way I'd let an angry russian with a knife anywhere my boat and I would't just sit there - the girl/child in the purple coat looks like she's been put there for sympathy.

[tonymac]

Originally Posted by willk

Oh look, Indaba1991 is back, and he's still stirring it.

http://www.rib.net/forum/f51/the-iri...tml#post505965

Love it when we have an Admin with a long memory

[tony t]

Originally Posted by tonymac

Love it when we have an Admin with a long memory

Yes don't upset him he's like an elephant never forgets

[kerny]

Originally Posted by tony t

Yes don't upset him he's like an elephant never forgets

I thought this is quite funny.....



Ireland Declares War on France
Jacques Chirac, The French President, is sitting in his office when his telephone rings.

"Hallo, Mr. Chirac!" a heavily accented voice said. "This is Paddy down at the Harp Pub in County Clare, Ireland. I am ringing to inform you that we are officially declaring war on you!"
"Well, Paddy," Chirac replied, "This is indeed important news! How big is your army?"
"Right now," says Paddy, after a moment's calculation, "there is meself, me Cousin Sean, me next door neighbour Seamus, and the entire darts team from the pub. That makes eight!"
Chirac paused. "I must tell you, Paddy, that I have 100,000 men in my army waiting to move on my command."
"Begoora!" says Paddy. "I'll have to ring you back."
Sure enough, the next day, Paddy calls again. "Mr. Chirac, the war is still on. We have managed to get us some infantry equipment!"
"And what equipment would that be Paddy?" Chirac asks.
"Well, we have two combines, a bulldozer, and Murphy's farm tractor."
Chirac sighs amused. "I must tell you, Paddy, that I have 6,000 tanks and 5,000 armored personnel carriers. Also, I have increased my army to 150,000 since we last spoke."
"Saints preserve us!" says Paddy. "I'll have to get back to you."
Sure enough, Paddy rings again the next day. "Mr. Chirac, the war is still on! We have managed to get ourselves airborne! We have modified Jackie McLaughlin's ultra-light with a couple of shotguns in the cockpit, and four boys from the Shamrock Bar have joined us as well!"
Chirac was silent for a minute and then cleared his throat. "I must tell you, Paddy, that I have 100 bombers and 200 fighter planes. My military bases are surrounded by laser-guided, surface-to-air missile sites. And since we last spoke, I have increased my army to 200,000!"
"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!" says Paddy, "I will have to ring you back."
Sure enough, Paddy calls again the next day. "Top o' the mornin', Mr. Chirac! I am sorry to inform you that we have had to call off the war."
"Really? I am sorry to hear that Paddy," says Chirac. "Why the sudden change of heart?"
"Well," says Paddy, "we had a long chat over a few pints of Guinness, and decided there is no fekkin way we can feed 200,000 prisoners." —

[willk]

Originally Posted by kerny

I thought this is quite funny.....

Speaking of funny and not forgetting - I found a photo on here earlier, taken in a bar in Dunlaoghaire in 2012. In it is a bloke who reckons he's 5'10" stood beside a bloke I KNOW is 5'11". Thing is, he's 3 inches shorter...

Must be my paddy math - now, where IS that photo?