Japan Accuses Animal Planet of EcoTerrorism Prior to “Whale Wars” Premiere
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.
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.
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.
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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
to Johnny Common Sense & other finkers: Whales and dolphins are evolved, sentient, rational beings just like you, me and the japanese sailors. Times will come when killing/hunting/butchering fellow species will be seen as we see cannibalism today.
Lol at reactionary conservatives being like “SCREW THOSE WHALES IT’S LUNCHTIME”
Except that this is a lot less about the Whales (although everyone should realize the ecological impact of the loss of these species is enormous), and more about the Japanese thinking they’re special, yet again.
But then again, America showed them that you don’t have to follow international law to be a winner.
<3
Down with the Japs!
Save the whales, you ignorant hick!
terrorism on terrorism.. well 2 rights dont always make a wrong, but when terrorism comes upon those who can’t defend themselves then who will? go animal planet!
haha
Isn’t that eco-warrior contributing to global warming by smoking?
Maybe someone will discover that plants have feelings too and we can all just eat dirt. Or perhaps the bacteria that resides on dirt has feelings too… Oh my!
Smellycat points to a classic rhetoric that I hear to often in my vegetarian career, “the plants have feelings too” so were do we draw the line, will we eat dirt, or worse, diet Coke. The argument that it is of course a half digested sophism, a smoke curtain for not questioning ones option can be approached and fought from various angles. First the choosing of lesser evil. No, the animals formerly known as Plants don’t have a nervous system, aren’t aware, don’t feel pain or urge to run. They are halfway closer to DNA automatons than your pet. So if it’s between a pig and a corn i would sacrifice the corn. Two: Plants produce Fruits. Fruits are designed to be eaten. It’s a strategy of plant to disseminate seeds. Fruits are raw pulp that lack any trace of sensitivity and consumption don’t destroy the plant itself. The leaves also are expandable for the plant. Most herbivore animals eat teh fruits or the leaves so the plant will regenerate eventually.
haha. Crossing Line writes from a very uninformed place. What army is going to go down there and uphold the laws? Its Antartica. The Antartic Army. Yep. ha. Lets say this again. I think if people read the book Whale Warriors (written by someone who isnt apart of the crew), they may know something about what is actually going on and why they do what they do. If you havent read it or dont know anything about it from a personal stand point, then opinions are non educated and serve no purpose to inform anyone with questions. Lets step back and just look at this from an ecosystem point of view and how killing off whales effects that. Or maybe lets look at how the japanese are fishing in UN protected waters and no one but sea shepherd are doing anything about it. oh but wait, yeah they do have the laws under them. They are legally authorized to intervene in accordance with the United Nations World Charter for Nature that was ratified by the U.N. General Assembly in 1982 under Section 21. So no they arent terrorists. They arent doing anything illegal. They are upholding their given rights as stated by the UN. So f— whatever army you had in mind.
Protect_our-eco, calling someone ignorant and a hick while using a racial slur makes your own ignorance very obvious.
I understand that saving whales is important, but I’m often off put by the people who are trying to do “good” things.
Why on earth are so many people making negative comments about Sea Shepherd? Do you really think Japan is right? Do you really think that conventional democratic (or military) methods are actually effective against a rogue state?
“If you want change, and don’t have a real army, then tough luck.”
Are you f-ing serious??? Isnt REAL change more often brought about by groups of dedicated people united in a common cause than by a powerful military forcing things on people (i.e. American Revolution vs. Iraq war)?
This kind of thinking keeps us going backwards, with our eyes closed and mouths full of toxic waste, down a spiral into ecological damnation.
Wise up. Rise up. The government cannot and will not help you.