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.
- » See also: MSNBC to Air 2 Hour Special on Animal Conservation: “100 Heartbeats”
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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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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!!!
Japans armed forces should be placed on board and be allowed to fire upon and sink the Sea Shepard.
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.
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.