New ‘Whale Wars’ TV Series Documents Anti-Whaling Activists
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, a direct action animal rights organization led by Captain Paul Watson, will get some well-deserved attention in an upcoming seven-part Animal Planet television series titled “Whale Wars,” set to premier November 7th.
The group formed in 1977 after Watson, one of the founders of Greenpeace, became frustrated with the seminal environmental group’s hesitation to engage in direct action. Since then the group has faced down whalers year-after-year by literally chasing their ships around the open seas.
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Unlike most direct action activism, Watson insists that Sea Shepherd’s anti-whaling campaigns are entirely legal. He cites international treaties under the International Whaling Commission that state that any human has the right to interfere with illegal poaching or whaling. While the laws exist, Watson says that Sea Shepherd are the only ones enforcing them. He has been arrested numerous times across the globe but has never been convicted of any wrongdoing.
Last winter, the crew prevented the Japanese from killing at least 300 whales, but not without a fight. The television show documents all the action, including a dramatic hostage situation, flash grenades, gunfire, and full-throttled chases through to antarctic seas. Quite frankly, I wish I had cable.
This teaser gives you a taste of what to expect:
Looking for more on Sea Shepherd? Check out some related posts:
- Greenpeace vs. Sea Shepherd: An Unfortunate Conflict
- Japan Plans to Arrest Sea Shepherd Crew
- Sea Shepherd Now has Former US Navy Lieutenant Onboard
- Animal Planet, Daryl Hannah Join Sea Shepherd Crew For More Whale Wars
- “Madagascar Two” Movie Inaccurate According to Sea Shepherd
- Australia, Greenpeace Opt Out of This Winter’s ‘Whale Wars’
- Japan Accuses Animal Planet of EcoTerrorism Prior to “Whale Wars” Premiere
Image Credit: Paul Watson via Wiki Commons
Finally saw an episode. Sam Shepard has lost my respect for either his stupidity or hypocrisy. Stupid, his flag is a Pirate Flag. If I was a whaler, I’d sink them just for the flag they are flying. A black flag with a skull on it means robbery, raping, pillaging and murder on the high seas. Sam Shepard’s group picked flag style for its coolness factor, but if I was a ship captain, I would treat them as pirates.
In the episode I have just seen, two members board the whaling vessel, but the rest of the crew then complain that the two members are being tied up and “held against their will” and are hostages, complaining that the two boarders have been kidnapped. Well, what do they expect for boarding another’s ship, tea and crumpets?
If Sam Sheppard and company wish to fight against the whalers this way, that is their decision, but they need to grow up and stop being childish expecting (or expecting others to think) that their actions does not have consequences. I will not be surprised that Sam Shepard will get some of his crew killed, he will probably shift the blame to others but himself.
what is stopping the Japanese from killing everybody on their boat? Nothing! They’re in international waters and messing with millions of somebody else’s money. And their captain is sick, he’s more concerned about press than he is the wellness of his men. That’s sick. These people dont think rationally. I mean what did they expect when they boarded a boat of non english speaking people. They didnt even think to send a guy that speaks english or even give them a phrase to say in japenese. The fact that they cant launch the boat correctly should be enough to show that they havent thought anything through!
Firsty, I’m completely behind the cause of the Steve Irwin. Their doing something noble and with mostly good intentions.
Now, with that said; The captain and the crew of the Steve Irwin appears to me, a bunch of ramshackle, shoot from the hip, gangster style extremists who actually don’t realize the damage they’re doing to their own cause.
Drink that in for a second. What I mean is that the nature of their operation aired earlier tonight was perfectly criminal. Rather than take sensible and effective measures to educate, appeal to proper authorities, and get results without committing crimes themselves, they coast around FLYING A PIRATE FLAG, acting hostile toward foreign vessels, throwing stink bombs and slime grenades like middle school punks. Then when they forcefully and illegally board the ship, and it’s all peace and flowers and non violence. Dolts.
The captain thinks he’s general Patton because he’s read Machiavelli, still he turned a lovely shade of white when the operation turned south. And how can he be angry at the Japanese for detaining his men? What the hell does he think they would do? Let them run around freely and plant something meaner than a stink bomb?
So then he calls the press, conveniently leaves out the part about the slime grenades, attempts to foul the prop, the illegal boarding, and reports KIDNAPPING. Which isn’t just bending the truth, but an outright lie. Turd.
All of you that believe in this cause ignore everything that this crew does. The ends DON’T justify the means and we are all responsible for what we do and what we fail to do. Let’s fight for this cause properly and without gangster like, extremist tactics.
I’ve just finished watching the first two episodes of Whale Wars. While I really admired the determination of the crew, I was quickly sickened by the “Captains” lack of safety measures on board. No defib? No heart monitors? How can this be? Say what you want about his motives but there needs to be some basic medical equipment on board. If these people are willing to risk their lives then provide them with more medical equipment than my cheapy gym has. To provide any less is an insult to them and their personal sacrifices. It’s plain negligance.
If someone were to enter my home I would defend it with my life. They would not be able to say I kidnapped them or held them hostage. What was the crew of the whaling vessel suppose to do? Offer them tea and give them a tour? They are lucky they weren’t gunned down.
The Captain of Sea Sheppard has his own agenda and it’s not saving whales. Unfortunately he has captured a group of people with a deep passion and is exploiting it. I wonder if they had a word for this what would you call it. Oh yeah a cult. They blindly follow his assumptions with out thinking them through. I had to laugh when he said an Australian Navel vessel would intercept the whaling vessel and save the two crew members. What a crock.
If you want to stop the whaling you have to educate the people that are eating them and using whale products. You need to turn public opinion. If the demand for whale meat stops, there won’t be any more whaling. Plain and simple. No one will stop whaling until it’s not profitable.
If they can save one whale and they have to sink a whale ship to do it.. so be it. It’s well established that whale hunting in these waters is illegal, the whales are endangered and the actual use of the whale is minimal if not superstitious (read: ridiculous, arrogant, wasteful,…). Where do I send my check in support?
I cant beleive that some people are calling the sea shepard terroist and pirates! The only victims are the whales who are basically sitting ducks with no way to protect themselves! In this day and age there is absolutely no reason to kill whales. The japanese can find another way to earn a living instead of being murders!
Sherry
Amazing how much criticism Sea Shepherd garnishes from all the armchair critics out there who would do everything better if they just weren’t so comfortable. Sea Shepherd volunteers are risking themselves in an adverse environment to address the inexcusable harvesting of whales by Japan in a whale sanctuary. Their significant actions give their convictions and opinions credibility, unlike the fluff from most of their critics who are shamed by their self-indulgent juvenile critiques based on ignorance. Maybe the keyboard critics can make a small step forward and send a critical email to their local government rep for their apathy on this issue instead of trying to ineffectively undermine Sea Shepherd. Personally, I am going to cut Sea Shepherd a cheque right now.
Wow, just saw the episode of the 2 crew losers who boarded the Japanese ship illegally and then claimed to being held hostage. I dont believe in whaling and think more should be done but this group including their brainless leader is a joke. Typical Hippie-Crits!
As a longtime supporter of Sea Shepherd I am somewhat of mixed feelings about this show. I am of the firm belief that, in the long run, the SSCS is having a positive effect on the campaign against illegal whaling. However, ‘Whale Wars’ seeks simply to ridicule the entire crew and its campaign by highlighting all the blunders and lack of preparation. I have found myself raising an eyebrow more than once in the few episodes that have aired thusfar and although I will continue to support them, I feel as though they will lose more supporters than they will gain through this show. I can’t help but think that they would have been better off sticking to the simple press releases than this mass media propaganda.
Good luck in the sanctuary this year, Sea Shepherd.
The Japanese aren’t hunting these whales into extinction. For chrissakes why don’t you tree huggers get a life. None of the whales the Japanese “harvest” goes to waste, let these people make a living. Isn’t it enough an atomic bomb(s) was dropped on them.
And the idiotic eco-terrorists want the Japanese to help them find their missing delta boat while captain Paul Watson sleeps. What a laugh. I hope they get charged with a criminal action for endangering themselves and the Japanese.