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.
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.[social_buttons]
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:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/v/WhjZtgWP5VE&hl=en&fs=1]
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
Whale Wars = Somali Pirates = Al-Qaida = Hamas. Next thing you know I'll be pushed off the road while in my toyota by a big black 18 wheeler with a Jolly Rodger painted on the side, and while me and my family lay in a ditch, IED stink bombs will we thrown at us while the whole time the truck driver is yelling out the window "Free Gaza !!!!!"
BEST FISHING SHOW I'VE EVER SEEN, MOVE OVER ROLAND MARTIN AND MOVE UP WHALE WARS. AS LONG AS THEY KEEP ON KILLING WHALES, IM GONNA KEEP ON WATCHING
Why can Sea Shepred come up with there own L-RAD device that they can put into the water and it will scare the whales away from those harpoon ships and mother ship ! One that humans can't hear ,but the whales can . keep the whales away from those NASTY harpoon ships !!!
you guys should get a torpeedo and breech the hull with it!
FOR THE WHALES!!!!!!!
Whale Wars – The Steve Irwin Crew – I love the show and the crew.
Keep of the great work and THANK YOU for making a differance!
I have to agree with the other assessments of Peter Brown… He pisses me off more each week…. Also they are working with 30 year old equipment… What kind of environmental damage are they doing with the old engine technology…. Does anyone know if there are individual e-mails available for the crew,,, I would like to contact them directly!
I've been looking for a place to post a comment on this show and this seems like as good a place as any.
I have been watching this show with my 12 year old son and both of us repeatedly come up with the same comments.
We think that what the Steve Irwin is doing is admirable and at it's core is the right thing. BUT, they are a floating Cluster-F8&K in how they do it.
It actually makes me angry to see how much they bumble and stumble their way into each encounter with the whalers. One mistake after another in poorly thought out methodology, poorly executed procedures, and in a few cases flat out incompetence in leadership. The 1st mate is an a$$hole who shouldn't be anywhere near the bridge of a ship much less leading people on a turn at the helm.
Maybe a half dozen of this years current crew (at least the ones so far that are shown on the program because of creative editing by the producers) seem to have a clue what they are doing. The rest look like fools that have their own personal issues to work out. I am sure that the supporting volunteers that are crewing the ship are all there out of true beliefs in the core of the mission, but they are being led by a group of incompetent morons. But if I was stuck in the belly of a ship trying to keep from becoming the next titanic, I'd be pissed as hell at the idiot who got my zero rated ship into an iceflow.
If only these guys actually got themselves organized and "trained", they might actually be effective. Istead of getting lost for a day or two in an iceflow and wasting fuel and other resources trying to make up for dumb a$$ mistakes, they might actually have the time to do something to help the whales. Instead they barely make it to harass one of the fleet ships and then have to turn to go back to refuel.
I'd consider donating if it didn't seem like I would be pissing my money away on a bunch of fools.
Anyway, I hope this does keep going and improves. Maybe they will learn from their mistakes and get better. Either way, I am still watching.
I think that all of the crew members have a true passion about saving whales. But having this passion doesn't mean that they would make a good crew. It seems like a bunch of inexperienced deckhands as well as a captain. Good thought, bad execution.
Whats the fastest whale in the Southern Seas?
A.) Minke Whale
B.) Fin Whale
C.) Blue Whale
Ans.
The one with the harpoon in its back.
i think if they what to have any chance of saving whales they should drop peter brown off on the nearest iceburg.
what a waste of time and money. i watched last year and there was no clear evidence that these stupid hippies saved even one whale. someone is making money off of this and it surely is not the whales.
If anything, this show works against itself. Instead of possibly promoting an anti-whaling surge within the hearts of people, it will probably just cause people to lose all respect for these self proclaimed "warriors" and their mission. First of all, the ship "Steve Irwin" is 30 plus years old, using outdated equipment and constantly faulty mechanics, the Steve Irwin is a disaster that has happened and is waiting to happen again. It is not designed for ice fields even though a good portion of her sailing is done in antarctic ice infested waters. Second of all, her crew, is anything but cut out for the job. Most of them are classic super liberal hippies, most with no sea fairing experience. They constantly preach their anti-whaling stance yet only briefly do we see choice members engaged in direct confrontation with the whaling boats. Third of all, Captain Watson. Still active in his cause, he is truly the president bush of the anti-whaling hippie sect. Using his incompetence, he guides his crew into "battle" with whaling ships, often using devastating techniques such as stink bombs and putting a crew member on a ship. Captain Watson is far from a captain and far from sea worthy, often guiding the Steve Irwin into suicide missions from the comfort of his bed. Even in the worst of situations we see messengers running back and forth between the deck and Watson's cabin. All in all, the Steve Irwin and its crew are equivalent to a small boy trying to stop a parade.
I've been going to sea for 25 years. At 44 years of age all I can say is that it is truly comendable to be willing to die for what it is you beleive in, think
world military, but to be a total jack ass about the
way you do it, deserves you every bit of grief you experience before you die doing it. These people are fools
while I do not support the killing of whales the actions of the Sea Shepards are nothing more than eco-terrorism. The Japanesse have the rule of law (as objectional as it maybe) on their side. The Sea Shepards do not. Would'nt the efforts of the Sea Shepards be more effective if they tried to change the attitude of the Japanesse consumers of whale meat, and start a boycott of it? Asit is I have no sympath for the Sea Shepards, and am afraid they hurt the cause more than help.
A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal.(proverbs12:10).The kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.(proverbs)27:23)Careful that you know the condition of your flock,give careful attention to their needs.Cruelty against god creatures,is a sin to he that created them.It is easy to be critical of others, especially when we are not the ones doing the job.I do not feel sorry for the Japanese at all, most fisherman love their jobs fully understanding the risks involved.The sea shepherds are just trying to do, what should have been done a long time ago, which is to stop the cruelty of killing whales for purposes of research and their so called delicacies ending up on someones plates.What is the matter with those people in china and Japan!!!!!!!!!Killing innocent cats and dogs!!!!! Hurting black bears for their bile for medicinal purposes,I don't believe that will do a damned thing for medicinal purposes I feel bad for those animals and what they do to them.It is hard to imagine what else they eat!No real laws to protect them innocent animals and the terror they inflict upon them is almost unspeakable and hard to fathom!I don't think they have that depth or concept of understanding of their cruelty tactics,apparently they have done it so long, it is nothing to them!The knife is a big item in the chef world of theirs.Last year, the sea shepherd and his crew saved three hundred whales. Maybe the ones that claim they have all the expertise can volunteer their time and put their actions to where their mouth is.I am a vegetarian and vegans are not a know it all!They simply know it is a health issue and they have no pleasure in eating or of killing animals for that is their right to do so and anyone that claims or bragging oh,I can kill a animal and have no problem with it. It makes me wonder what else could they kill? to say it that loosely, they should not own a animal of any kind.Sounds like they are one card short of a full deck.
I don't like the whale vs. japanese suck
Why do some of you hypocrites,bother wasting your time,and ink with no nonsense issues that does not have allot to do with the cause?As for Jeff Dec.20th, in regards to vegan brains don't develop as well as normal ones.Sounds like you need a shrink man.Maybe you should become one,what have you got to lose? Your brain is already under developed.Or maybe your brain is stuck up your ass.I don't think you know where it's at.You need to eat more blueberries, they help the brain to develop and you can stick them up your ass or shove them in your mouth than maybe you will shut up and mind your own business.
I agree too, with what the sea shephard's are trying to accomplish.Watson is getting way too many arrows shot at him from all directions.The issue is, how can we save the whales/versus Japanese whaling?Is this more about watson's lack of good judgement as a sea captain, or how to save the whales from a cruel death and needless suffering, for purposes of research and ending up on someones food plate.Needless to say,I think it should be stopped.Would you want to be one of those poor whales?They are caught up in the middle and are victims of this horrible conflict.They are here for one purpose and that is, to be left alone in their natural habitat.Would the Japanese Like hooks up their backs?
i dont like it
i dont like this
Dear Sir,
It is hard to believe that no one has yet been killed. I can see why the "captain" (surely he does not have captain's papers) does this as he clearly could not get a real job. He has the intelligence, judgement, and ability of Homer Simpson.
I am a believer in the cause, but it profits no one when the center of attention is an egocentric moron who cares nothing for the safety of his crew. By the way, I know for a FACT that seasickness is not mental.
This is a tale told by an idiot signifying nothing. I will never again be a contributor.
It took me a while to get through all the episodes of the “Whale Wars” marathon but it was worth it. It’s easy to understand how this show has become such a ratings winner for Animal Planet.
One of the most memorable episodes of the season was "Nothing's Ideal" where Watson first announces his strategy and encounters a distinct lack of enthusiasm from the crew, most of which didn't feel justified in openly criticizing the plan.
Irritated with the reluctance, Watson later stated "I don't have much patience with people who are–what I refer to–as cowards."
Later in the episode he goaded the crew of a fleeing harpoon ship saying "you run like cowards" as they were trying to escape harassment by his crew.
It would seem from all indications that the way Watson threw around the word "Coward" he must be a bold, daring man indeed.
However, in the episode "We Are Hooligans," when Watson was desperate to lose the Japanese surveillance ship, he proposed a plan to the ships bosom, David Jennings, where Jennings would take a crew aboard the vessel and sabotage the ship's communications. However, he stopped short of giving the order, preferring to let Jennings decide if he should perform the mission or not. When Jennings decided against it, Watson then made the argument for the action again. However, Watson again stopped short of making it an order, even when Jennings told him he'd do the mission with an official word from Watson.
Something similar happened earlier this spring when Watson was preparing to head to the eastern coast of Canada for Sea Shepherd's annual seal hunter harassment. The Canadian government drew a line in the proverbial sand warning Watson his crew were not permitted to harass, monitor, or be anywhere near the sealers. Watson, the stalwart eco-warrior that he is, called their bluff and commanded the crew of the Farley Mowat to confront the sealers. However, when the RCMP raided the ship and arrested the ship’s captain and first mate, Watson was conspicuously absent. He was staying with friends in Brooklyn New York when the ship was boarded. According to Shannon Mann, the communications officer at the time, it was the first time Watson wasn't able to make a campaign. Lucky for Watson he wasn't on board when the Canadians decided to crack down on him, otherwise he could be one of the two about to stand trial next year for defying the authorities.
So, what would you call a man who tries manipulating people to commit illegal acts, and simultaneously insulates himself from being charged? Hmmmm. It's right at the tip of my tongue? What could that word be?
Jeff,
Try again… It has nothing to do with eating meat directly but rather B12 deficiencies. As long as you're smart about what you eat, vegan or not, you're fine. There a lot of issues that can cause B12 deficiencies.
Delve into the science a little, and you'll see benefits of a vegan diet far outweigh any risks.
Or, if you just want to go tit-for-tat is "popular science" news stories, a Southampton study shows a link between being veg and higher IQ… (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6180753.stm)
to rod. i will. point taken.
I am all for protecting whales, but what the Sea Shepherd is doing is is piracy and terrorism. As for the captain being shot that was all staged, there was no bullet hole in his mustang suit, there was no bruising on his chest, he didn't even stagger back when he was "shot". I think he took his gun, went to the engine room and shot the bullet proof vest and the badge and put it back on. The fragment of the bullet looked like a .45 caliber and he was perfectly shot in the heart from another ship, both ships were pitching and rolling under the sea state… i don't think so. As far as Paul Watson he is a terrible captain… A captain needs to make better decisions and keep his crew and ship safe, thats his first responsibility.
Whale Wars is possibly the most ridiculous show on television. Its like watching a bunch of drunk high teenagers pulling pranks on "the man". The episode where the captain was "shot" has to be the single most outlandish ever. They pull what looks like a .45 to .50 caliber "bullet" from his flak vest. First of all, two ships bouncing on the sea, 50 yards minimum apart, and at different elevations and one bullet fired manages to hit the captain in the chest right on his shield. Second, the vest (kevlar at best) would not have stopped a round that large. Third, the shield would have shattered into many pieces. Finally, he would have been knocked straight back into the wall of the ship. Him feeling a prick in his chest? Impossible! Rounds that large move people and leave very large bruises even with body armor.
Bottom line, Animal Planet is out of control with this show. I am going to avoid this channel from now on if this is the crap they are putting on. Terrorists attacking boats in international waters. I wouldn't mind seeing one of those whalers running straight over the Sea Shepherd. Ridiculous!!!
Just a bunch of pompous "I know better than you, so shut up" morons. They illegally board another ship, and claim to be "kidnapped". I'm against illegal poaching, but I'll kill and eat an animal…no problem. Just can't stand their holier than thou attitude. Same with vegans. BTW…a recent Melbourne study shows that vegans' brains don't develop like normal people. Their diet makes their brains shrink. Explains a lot.
Shame on anyone who thinks this show is anything but garbage. I wonder if they will take the show off the air when the Japanese fishermen get sick enough of them to fight back.
I don't see Indians attacking Americans because of America's huge beef industry. These guys don't exactly have any kind of right to pull off these attacks either. If anything, these guys are lucky that the Japanese whaling crews never any of them.