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
I have watched 6 episodes and I am amazed that these guys get away with what they do. It is just a matter of time before someone gets killed because of the inexperienced crews they shanghai. These people are going to Antarctic waters with no experience to terrorize Japanese whaling boats. Most of the crew seems to think what they are doing is fun and games. That may change when one of their mates gets killed launching the zodiac or falling out into the sea. I really think that they would be far more productive putting their resources in changing laws and reducing the whaling to the point where it is not profitable. It takes time but this guy has been doing this since the so called captan got kicked out of green peace in 1977 and they are still whaling. I, like most people would like whaling to end but using terrorist tactics is the wrong method.
I’ve got the perfect solution to save the whales. (It really is a good cause) Dress that fat dumbass captain up as Santa Claus. Make that nerdy greaseball with the pony tail don an elf costume (not really a stretch is it?) and have the two of them stand on a corner ringing a bell for donations. Have the idiot wino looking first mate beg for spare change and then combine all the collected money and hire a crew that knows what they are doing to save the whales. Brilliant! I am still in shock over tonights revelation that the nerd is dating one of the decent looking cooks. I can’t believe that he simply kissed her good bye to go on the dangerous boarding while he stayed onboard to kiss the captain’s ass. WTF? Warning bells should be going off in her head!
Look, I’m all for the Sea Shepard’s causes, and no I don’t think that their methods are too extreme, in fact they could even be more extreme, however they are now under the scrutiny of National TV and in some cases international. My only problem with the entire operation is that all the people participating in this so called “war” are inexperienced hippie idiots that end up inflicting more negligent harm on each other then the whaling vessels. I feel that if Paul Watson is serious, which I know he is, but this is what I don’t understand, then why doesn’t he get experienced people that can take care of this with amazing efficiency and swiftness. Maybe it’s money, I don’t know, I just feel like they are a bunch of unorganized hippies in a not so familiarized location with no prior knowledge as to what the hell they are doing, they should hire some of the people from the deadliest catch, this whole fucking thing would be over, however, some people might end up in jail.
I can’t say how much I agree with other people’s comments about the poor seamanship. It is utterly appalling.
This is show is great. Just started watching it last week. I love the premise, a bunch of anti-capitalist douches chasing around legitimate Japanese commercial whaling ships who aren’t doing anything different than american farmers killing cows to provide beef for those who want beef (I guess in Japan they go out to nice restaurants and eat whale). Regardless, I think the Sea Shephards should have harpoons thrown at them, as they have no right interfering with Japanese whalers doing their job and providing a supply of whale meat for the demand of whale meat. And, yeah, according to our constitution they do have a right to protest, but if someone ran onto a cow farm to protest a farmer raising and killing cattle, they’d get a shotgun blast to their chest. Enough said. Great show though!
I fully understand why Greenpeace ousted Watson. The tactics of the Sea Shepherd do nothing to change the big picture or to help the conservation cause.
In the first episode, as Watson is interviewed before the Irwin sets off, he states that he “hates cowards”, implying that anyone not willing to jump to board he Japanese ship is detestable. But in a later episode, as the Irwin is again preparing to harass the Japanese ship, Watson states he would like the women to do the tough stuff and leaves off by saying he would himself go, but they’d (the Japanese) keep him so that he’d “never get off”. And he expects his crew to risk their own lives. Watson sounds like a coward to me, but worse still, it’s obvious the lives of his crew. For any of them to die out thlittle man is a narcissistic psychotic. I fear for the ere will do nothing to save whales. Watson’s a loose cannon with an overblown ego. His contribution is zero-to-negative towards the actual conservancy of whales effort.
Tracy,
I think Paul Watson meant that if he got on that ship, they would kill him. After all, he has been harassing them for decades.
Not to mention, do you think he is in the physical condition necessary to jump from a small boat over a railing onto the Japanese ship?
-Alex
I watched this show for hours only Sunday and was both encourgaged and appalled. I think the cause is noble but anyone that goes to sea with Watson and his officers is trying for martyr statis. The lack of training and the conditions which try are in is an accident going to happen. My opinion of Watson changed the more I watched the show, he went from hero to zero. As a captain he should be concerned about his crew and leave the PR for his exec. director to handle. His lack of real concern for the untrained , unprepared people in his charge made me glad I never had a Captain like that when I was sailing. I hope enough people have watched this show and think the same way I do, so he will not get anymore volunteers to put in harms way.
I was sooooo excited to se the premier of this show. What a waste of film….good ol captain paul barking out orders like this is some kind of US Navy vessel, but i dont see him climbing in the chase boats, or boarding the Japanese ships. Pretty much the whole ship is filled with moron tree huggers, inexperienced and do not belong on the open seas. Someone will mosy certainly get killed under this morons command. The only crew members that i see that have any brains at all, are the ones that got off the ship. I honestly believe the reason they are on the ship in the first place is to keep from getting real jobs. Week after week, we tune in, and guess what….more of the same, we cant get the boats launched, someone messed up, the satelite phones arent turned on, we lost the fleet, nothing ever happens. Now lets send 4 women on board, to serve a warrant that is about as useless as the paper you wipe with. The few bright spots of the show are the people that disagree with the captain, and the guy that was demoted for not following the fake chain of command. Maybe if hes lucky, Paul Watson will end up in the sitting behind the desk hall of fame. I wouldnt let the captain, first or second mates of this ship run a 4 foot rubber raft in my pool. Again, you notice he gives alot of orders, but when its time to make a big decision, or takes volunteers for his so called missions, its up to the crew. Therefore washing his hands of any responsibility when someone gets killed. What a joke, and what a waste of film. im going to fill out an application to join the Japanese Whaling Fleet, they are the smart ones, getting things done. Like the big Sea Shepherds can compete with the amount of money the Japanese are throwing at this. As far as im concerned they did board the Japanese ship as pirates, and should have been thrown overboard. Morons.
it would be nice if that so called capt. would be willing to risk his life. he talks a good game but can’t back it up with action. he is wanting people to live up to something he himself is not willing to do.