Japan Accuses Animal Planet of EcoTerrorism Prior to “Whale Wars” Premiere

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Prior to Friday’s premiere of the new Animal Planet series Whale Wars, Japan’s Institute of Cetacean Research has accused Animal Planet of ecoterrorism.

Members of the Sea Shepherd Anti-Whaling Group

The show will chronicle the exploits of an anti-whaling group who takes their quest directly to the front lines, trying to stop Japanese whaling vessels from succeeding in killing whales.

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Planetsave editor and contributor Alex Felsinger recently previewed the exciting series. In short, it chronicles how the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society stopped Japanese whalers from killing at least 300 whales last winter by using harsh, combative tactics.

The Society is not afraid to unleash their fury. The show depicts hostage situations, gunfire, the attempted destruction of whaling boats, and the throwing of powerful smoke bombs on board ships. It’s not surprising given that the leader of the group, Captain Paul Watson, co-founded Greenpeace. Supposedly Watson left Greenpeace because they weren’t aggressive enough for his tastes, although other sources claim he was kicked out.

So whether or not Animal Planet is being rightly accused of supporting eco-terrorists is unclear. In addition to accusing Animal Planet of supporting ecoterrorism, the Institute of Cetacean Research has also accused them of helping the crew of the Sea Shepherd to “stage” an attack on the crew’s boat with gunfire, an event they claim never really occurred.

Personally, I find Japan’s defiance and disregard of the international whaling ban to be the true crime. They claim that they do whaling for scientific purposes, even though whale meat is sold and consumed in Japan as a delicacy, even in schools. This occurs despite recent evidence that whale meat contains toxic mercury levels.

Japan doesn’t even want to play nice after other countries tried to do so at this year’s annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission. Their response after other countries tried not to take any offensive actions was to say: “We are witnessing the death of the International Whaling Commission.”

If you are reading Planetsave, then you are probably as fired up as we are to watch the premiere of Whale Wars. Feel free to leave your thoughts about the show in our comments section.

Photo Credit: Animal Planet



Levi Novey (38 Posts)

Levi Novey is a conservation professional who has received a bachelor's degree in History from Tufts University and a master's degree in Conservation Social Sciences from the University of Idaho. He worked for the U.S. National Park Service for 10 years, as a park ranger in 6 national parks, as a social science researcher in 5 parks, and as the science communicator for a Natural Resource Inventory and Monitoring Network that serves 9 parks. He has authored several scholarly papers as well as several guidebooks to U.S. national parks. Levi also has taught an undergraduate Environmental Communication Skills course at the University of Idaho, won several photography contests, and regularly enjoys visits to parks, protected areas, historical sites, museums-- and just about anywhere where he can learn something new about the world. He currently lives in Peru, with his wife Alicia, and their daughter Coral.


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  • http://Web nobody

    I like the sea shepperds, they’re not scared -
    to fight for what they believe in
    to protect the helpless and innocent
    to uphold moral standards
    to stand up to a nation that disregards the rest of the worlds demands
    to do something truly courageous
    p.s.
    according to your line of thinking the U.S.of A. is a terrorist state from its inception – think boston tea party, think revolutionary war – terrorist is current term, and will b obsolete eventually.
    eco-terrorist is an oxymoron if i ever heard one – how can you associate people trying to save the planet which sustains our lives, with a destructive organization – CORPORATIONS are DESTRUCTIVE ORGANIZATIONS – think WALMART

  • Railruner

    The fact of the matter iswho are we to wipe a species off the face of the earth,to date humans have been responsible for the exstinction of 500 species to date,once they are all gone there is no bringing them back,sad to thik we are living in a time were right has become wrong,and wrong has become right

  • paul marti

    I would have liked to see the Japanese put a harpoon [or several]into the stern of the sea shepherd .. If that didn’t act as a deterrent then one in the wheel house!

    A few less terrorists in the world wouldn’t hurt!

  • http://donegriesel@yahoo.com Don Griesel

    I think that the jap ships should use industril lazers to try and blind the sea shepards. Don

  • 1mcguyver

    research is what they say,well for the people that think they are telling the truth would be the people of japan,wy is the catch so many,its called KICKBACK,for the ones that dont know what that means,well im going to tell you,its called making a deal with japan,give us this much money and we will let you have this many wales,come on people do you think for one second that one country would let anybody go in to there waters and take with out kickback (NO)its like this (you pay us this amount and call it research and then its legal)the fight aint with japan its with the country leting them do it and getting paid ,we all know japan will eat anything,and if the sea shepard is done well who can blame them,i say if the wales are all going to get killed over profit then figure out a way to poison there meat but so they can still live with the poison in there system and then the profit goes out the window,here in the us we research them and they live after were done,remember people its only for money for them and the people that say they own the water that there in.

  • retards

    you guys are simply retarded. go to japan and see if anyone eats whales there. NO. in school? are you fucking kidding me? you must be retarded. i personally attended school there, and never have i been served whale. i have never encountered whale meat in my life. so please, check your sources before you make such accusations.

  • Todd

    Gotta Say:
    The Eco-terrorists are hurting their cause by taking matters into their own hands. Sure the whaling should be addressed but it should go through the proper legal channels just like anything else!
    Japan has the right at this point until the worlds laws on whaling are changed. These Eco-terrorists and their Affiliates should be stopped and charged just like any other terrorist cell! Japan needs have a naval sub escort their ships and sink the Steve Irwin at the first sign of an attack! You can’t FORCE your opinions and beliefs on others – people, it’s a crime! If they really want to make a difference, take their money, line a politicians pocket and take it up with the UN or Japanese Embassy. By the way “I’m A Vaginaterian”…

  • hjc

    Look on the back of the whale MURDERS ship and you will see a web sight http://www.icrwhale.org. I went to this web sight and got their e-mail adress, (webmaster@icrwhale.org) and wrote them telling them they are nothing but murders and liers. Will they care about one e-mail. NO!! But if this a few people get this e-mail adress, and they pass it on to a few more hopefully we can floor their web sight with our anger. I know it’s a very small step, but anything to make these murders lives a little harder is worth it.

  • Common Sense

    Since force isn’t being used to stop the Japanese killing of whales..it will have to be done by numbers..Sea Shepard are you listening? It will have to be by numbers.
    The best tactic to stop this Japanese genocide of whales, is to form fleets of privately owned boats that would join the sea shepard. Have these boats run in a V formation in front of the Japanese harpoon and processing ships..this would block the Japanese from harpooing and transferring the whale herds.

  • michael hunwix

    I have just watched your series on the TV on August 19/2009 i have never seen anything so disgusting in my life you have got my kids so upset now they will have night-mares for who know’s how long these Japaneese have to be the most evil people on the planet and for you people to just sit there and let them do this and you tape this ungodly act why aren’t these Japan ships blown out of the water they are TERORISTS and this world is letting this happen on national television while so many people get upset and you let them get away with saying they are research you are just as bad as they are and you can tell your crew on the Steve Irwin along with Paul and you tell them get me on that Steve Irwin i had put in my info and i have got not even a thanx for my app. and knowledge of opperateing all of your equipment get me on the Steve Irwin and i will show you how to stop them JA.PAN ship I have a career of heavy machine moving and i know what will make things go and also make them stop i have the knowledge cuz when i saw when Paul sent his crew out with the cable for the props i was sitting here telling my family that they will never stop that ship the way they are going about it also your crew has not got the smarts to do stuff like that you do need me please call please give Paul my #s 1-416-270-7331 and 1-647-242-5162 also i am getting a settlement for a legal matter i have been involveed with and when i get this i really want to put that money to good use i can’t tell you how much is involved but it will be comfortable please have Paul or someone call me i have to go settle my family now Thank-You Michael Hunwix

  • Common Sense

    The best tactic to stop this Japanese genocide of whales, is to form fleets of privately owned boats that would join the sea shepard. Have these boats run in a V formation in front of the Japanese harpoon and processing ships..this would block the Japanese from harpooing and transferring the whale herds.

  • Common Sense

    Whales are the Gate Keepers of our Earth..We’re letting Japanese & others exterminate our Gate Keepers? What’s the matter with the United States for not putting a stop to this?

  • john

    try dropping acid from helo, water cannons can’t shoot stright up can they.. good luck.

  • john

    try droping acid from helo; water cannons can’t shoot stright up can the

  • hilory

    Have most the sick people who think that the japanese research is good lost your mind. it is sick and degrading. i am 100 percent behind what the the sea shepherds are doing. personally the people who agree with this BS about the japenese research should be put in a psyc ward and seriously analyzed. Sick minded and obviously have no heart or morals. And those who say that supporting animal planet is supporting terrorist, hmmmmmm….. are you crazzzzyyy? what do you think is really going on. have you ever seen what those idiot supposid reasearch boats are doing. enough said, these japanese crew members and the organizations they represent are the REAL TERRORIST.

  • Antiterrorist

    i am sorry to say but those people abord the sea shephard are plain and simple terrorists. what those “researchers are doing to whales may be wrong but it isnt illegal. By interfering in a legal act with violence IS illegal and if it were up to me i’d have everyone of them arrested and the video tapes of the shows taken as evidence in the trial which would clearly show that the crew of the SS is engaging in Piracy and terrorism. I would know what that is as i serve in the military fighting terrorism everyday and to come home and see a television show that promotes terrorism is just disgusting. i personally believe the US military should send a destroyer to sink the pirates and end the terrorism. just my own personal opinion if they want my support they need to prove what the japanese are doing is illegal otherwise the crew of the SS needs to be locked up in guantanamo with the rest of the terrorists.

  • David Binning

    Japans armed forces should be placed on board and be allowed to fire upon and sink the Sea Shepard.

  • mike

    killing whales is wrong but throwing stuff at somebodies property is messed up to.so when somebody gets shot in the face while throwing shit from the sea shepard tuff shit you deserve it!!!

  • Bill White

    Is The research being done by japan illegal—- No But I can not see why so many have to be taken.

    Is The amount of whale being taken illegal—–???

    Is The useage of the whale illegal—–Yes when used for profit. Japan sells the whale meat and parts for food at very exspensive prices. If the allotments were increased Japan would taken the full advanyage of the increased amount for profit. So I guess this explains why so many have to be taken.

    So Is The amount of whale being taken illegal—–Yes

    If the number of whales taken is just lets make Japan use the meat to feed the needy, or require the profit money from the sale of the meat be use for the needy. It would be a little better but not much.

    There is a UN force that should be stopping this but Japan is on the sec.coul. hint? So get your country to take a stand on this. Everybody likes to say we did something to pass a law to protect the whales. But where is the people to in force the law.

    Finally I am a hunter and agree to a single kill only if I have a use for the complete kill. Also I do not hunt anything that is classified as indangered species and I help protect the indangered species activily. so the Sea Shephards are doing the right thing. And if there is anything I can do to help I will, How about the rest of you. Its your planet.

  • odrade

    The Japanese say they kill all those whales for research, and just happen to use the meat for food which make a huge profit. What can scientist learn from 900 whales a year that they can’t from 10? As far as I’m concerned their criminals, spitting in the face of the international community who passed laws to protect whales, and should be held accountable, i.e. sent to prison. Its just a shame the Sea Shepard and her crew don’t receive adequate funding and resources to make a real difference.

  • stan mathews

    The shepards of the sea are a joke. I would suggest you leave the whalers alone before someone gets hurt. you’re out of your league

  • Nanacy

    From what I understand we have laws on this but Japan is not going by these laws. Who is going to police this? Japan does not seem to care about our laws. And I feel our gov. is too worried about trade agreements with Japan to crack down on them. The Whales are left with no protection. I am glad some one is brave enough to take a stand.

  • phasor

    Burn the Witch said “If what these whalers are doing is wrong or illegal, there is a mode of redress developed by our species to rectify it. If what they’re doing is legal, then these ‘Shepherds’ are terrorists plain and simple. In either case, the ‘Shepherds’ are nothing more than a barbarian, and nothing less than animals.”

    The problem here is the your assumption, “If what these whalers are doing is wrong or illegal, there is a mode of redress developed by our species to rectify it.” If I saw a 10 year old boy beating a small dog with a stick, should I seek out “proper authorities” to stop the behavior. No! I would scold the boy and break his stick. In the process it is conceivable that while breaking the stick a small piece would fly out and either poke me or him in the eye. Now does that make me an eco-terrorist? In a sense this is same scenario. The whole thing that make the Sea Shephard’s work arguable moral is that they operate in international waters. International law is weak (to put it mildly). Therefore people seek to profit from this weakness. If you believe ‘harvesting’ whales is wrong, there is no other redress to stop it ‘right now’. And why should the Sea Shephards wait? In a sense the Shephards are nothing more that a new force of nature making the job of the whalers more difficult and less profitable. I know that there are other more serious problems affecting other whale populations, but honestly I only learned of them because of the Sea Shephards and the controversy they create.

  • Hisway

    The Whalers are taking lives ?????

    what lives ?
    you mean taking whales ? Ohhh, I get it, you equate whales to humans, why dont you do the same for dogs ? Go try to impose your views about dogs on Vietnam, Korea, China ? because you know they’ll laugh in your face Just as I’m laughing at you and your ilk right now for these kind of statements.

    The Sea Shepherd is saving lives ?????
    You mean the broken down, leaky ship that is UNSEAWORTHY for southern ice waters ? The vessel who’s “leaders” require their paying passengers to perform unsafe acts with little or no training, being led by those with little or no training OR knowledge. The ones that are throwing corrosive, and possibly LETHAL chemicals at another vessel underway, a chemical that has properties that force it to be labeled HAZARDOUS, EXPLOSIVE, CORROSIVE, TOXIC, DO NOT ALLOW ENTRY INTO THE ENVIORNMENT…
    A ship that has a leader that BOASTS of ramming and sinking other ships, and has rammed whaling ships underway on this very show, has ilegally boarded another nations vessel while underway and then has the nerve to tell the world they’re being held HOSTAGE ?

    yes, I can see who the terrorist is.

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