Whale Wars, Sea Shepherd report on Channel 5 News Seattle

[Annces]

Run time: 04:12 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3DUxqAGN-s   Posted on YouTube: July 16, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: July 17, 2009 By DU Member: Annces Views on DU: 4727

 


Whale Wars, Animal Planet, Fridays 9 pm


Sea Shepherd Conservation Society takes a team of volunteers to Antarctica Waters to stop Japanese Whalers from killing 1000 Whales.

[stuball111]

1. Another Great man

Capt'n Paul is the man! I donated, and so should all of you! Greenpeace has turned into a corporate, for profit info racket, and bailed out of the Southern Ocean to drop "Banners" on Mt. Rushmore! I think The Sea Shepards need a sub with some torpedos!

[Sirveri]

6. torepedoes can be fired from surface ships fairly easily.

Heck helicopters can drop these really nasty Mk 50's into the water which are designed to punch a nice perfect circle into the hull. But in this case taking a cue from Somalia might actually be more efficient, a bunch of AK-47 wielding boarders can do a LOT of damage to a ship.

[flvegan]

15. Whoa, whoa, whoa! No need to hurt/kill anybody.

That's not the goal. Matter of fact, NOT hurting anyone is a major part of the goal.

[Sirveri]

19. I just like to talk naval military tactics.

I like the low tech approach, there is something endearing about guerilla fighters.

[flvegan]

20. Aha, I should've picked up on it.

My dad was career Navy. Served on a lot of boats. The carrier USS Enterprise was his favorite. He loved talking about her.

[Sirveri]

25. Everyone I knew from the Enterprise was on burnout watch.

They work their nukes way too hard. Poor nukies.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

23. Mk 50 is used for ASW

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_50_torpedo

[flvegan]

2. The video footage of the sunken whalers was really cool.

That'll never ever get old.

Tonight's episode is going to be a must-see.

[Kajsa]

3. " we are trying to prevent criminal acts"

-yes you are, Captain Watson.
If only more people understood this.

:kick: and R.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. Yes, liking the sinking ships and polluting the harbor they are in

[Kajsa]

7. Strange, how they have never

been convicted of any crimes.

Hmm- it's not like authorities never had a chance.

I see the Sea Shepherd haters are out in force.

[flvegan]

8. Wah.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

9. I sure Watson will say more than that if someone does to his boat what he has done to others

[flvegan]

10. Meaning what?

Lets see:

SSCS ship The Sea Shepherd was scuttled by Watson himself after it was seized.

SSCS ship Whales Forever was extensively damaged by depth charges courtesy of Norway's navy. It was sold mostly as scrap due to the damage.

SSCS ship Farley Mowat was illegally seized by the Canadian government and it's currently up for auction.

By that count, SSCS has lost roughly 1/2 of their entire fleet over the course of their history thanks to govt corruption. So yeah, wah.

Score is still 3-10.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

13. That he has one more effective vessel left to lose

Watson plays by his own rules and gets whinny when someone even considers pushing back

Illegally seized and gov corruption...yeah right.

[flvegan]

14. At least

it's good to know that you really don't know what you're talking about.

"Whinny" indeed. You must be one of those folks that doesn't think govt corruption exists. I hear Candyland is a fine place to live.

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[flvegan]

18. Flag? Which flag, Sea Shepherds?

The Dutch flag has not yet been yanked from SSCS. Japan is working hard at it. However, some say that Sea Shepherd may have another option if the need arises.

And then there's the issue of the Earthrace vessel heading south with SSCS next season, and the registry they sail under.

The whole world is watching.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

24. For now...

Watson posted a screed on 2 July complaining that the Dutch may well pull his flag at the request of the Japanese. Even he admits it would be a serious impact. Without a recognized national flag they have practically no protection under the LOS.

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

30. I did. He claims there is a backup, we shall see if he loses

The LOS is clear on this, but I doubt any nation will act.

[flvegan]

31. He did?

Sorry, Professor...you FAIL. Watson claimed nothing, correct? Show me where in my post I stated that Watson said shit.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

22. I support the Greenpeace approach and the LOS.

That does not make me a freeper. You might want to review the DU rules about PA.

The flag is Hawaiian.

[LeftyMom]

26. Which "Greenpeace approach"? Eating whale with Japanese grannies or not showing up at all?

Not that showing up and getting some fundraising pictures and waving a banner around actually does anything useful, so I guess they might as well spare themselves the trip.

Greenpeace. :eyes:

[flvegan]

33. It's far easier to stand on a whale in the throes of death holding a sign, taking pictures

than it is to intervene.

Greenpeace shows up, whalers keep killing whales. Why not? What are they going to do? Take more pictures of the same old shit? Oh, and Greenpeace please don't consider interrupting a refuel of a whaling ship at sea even if you're right smack in between them. Suck ass bunch of posers.

[Downtown Hound]

35. A-fucking men!

Did you see that one episode where Greenpeace wouldn't even give the Steve Irwin the location of the whaling fleet? And they call themselves protectors of the environment? I call them a joke.

[iiibbb]

42. Greenpeace has a multi-facet approach.

And at least they're effective

Here's some videos of Greenpeace getting involved.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...QPLM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZeEu_DmSzI&NR=1



Watson is a liar, and inept.

[LeftyMom]

63. Greenpeace hasn't even sent a ship for several whaling seasons now.

They're not "effective," they're absent.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

21. I believe gov corruption exists, you claim it has impacted the SSCS

a claim I would like to see supported

[flvegan]

28. So prove me wrong.

I'm not your research asst, "Prof"

[ProgressiveProfessor]

29. Your assertion, your burden of proof

[flvegan]

32. Back atcha.

Nothing to prove on my side.

Burden...yours.

[stuball111]

16. Greenpeace

That was greenpeace, mate!

[ro1942]

5. good luck capt.

what a wonderful spirit and highly evolved human being.

[AllenVanAllen]

11. Let's all pitch in

and get Captain Watson one of these. }(

[Hassin Bin Sober]

34. It appears he's already got one...

coming next season:



http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/2538605/Japan-asks-for-whaling-help
The global speedboat Earthrace would head south under Sea Shepherd colours next summer, the group's leader Paul Watson said.

"It looks like a spaceship. It can do 40 knots and dive under waves completely. We'll be using it to intercept and block harpoons."

In 61 days last year Earthrace circled the globe fuelled by biodiesel.

The New Zealand owner/skipper, Pete Bethune, said he decided to become involved because "this is happening in my backyard and it really pisses me off. I'm going to make a stand."

He said he was adding half a tonne of Kevlar to the vessel to toughen it against the ice. It had the endurance to go half way round the world on a tank of fuel.

[AllenVanAllen]

36. That should be very interesting

"We'll be using it to intercept and block harpoons."

I can't help think of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYHfJks15jY


Good luck to the Sea Shepherd team in their monumental challenge.

Saving the oceans is saving ourselves.

[onestepforward]

12. I love this show!

Although they do take it to the edge, they are saving some whales and making a difference. Hopefully the show itself will help bring more awareness to illegal whaling.

[Robb]

37. Is it OK for me to support the idea behind what he's doing

...And still be fearful for the kids he's putting in harm's way?

Why is it always the old guys sending the young ones into the thick of things? I know Watson's out there, but I haven't seen him on the inflatable raft just yet.

[Regret My New Name]

54. I've watched that show a few times...

and after what I've seen, I wouldn't be shocked if we hear about an accident that causes the death some of the crew... Then again, I can't help but wonder how much of it is just 'hollywood' vs how how much is real... It's in the creators of the shows interest to make it exciting so more people watch. Of course it's also in the interest of Watson(plus the crew and whales) to keep it exciting so more people tune in and support the anti-whaling cause.

[iiibbb]

38. These people are inept morons.

I've been watching 2 seasons and what whales have they saved? They've been in contact with the fleet maybe a week out of the whaling fleet's 5-month foray. When they do engage the fleet they can't do as they're told. They take unrated ships into ice. They lie about being shot at (that was no bullet). They lie about antrhax (if he was so worried about the powder, why were they passing it around to unexposed people?). Watson lies about Greenpeace, saying they're only there to witness, yet I found this video which clearly shows Greenpeace being far more effective, without throwing acid


They seems to hamper the Japanese operations at least as much as Sea Shepard. Looks like they can at least find the fleet in the first place.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...QPLM&feature=related

maybe they don't do forays into the ice.

They're attacks certainly seem more coordinated, even if they did dump a boat. Swarming certainly seems more effective.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZeEu_DmSzI&NR=1



I get so angry watching this show because I think it does great harm to environmental movement in the long run. It hampers the goal of responsible environmental stewardship. If/when they get someone killed, the general public is going to close their mind to it because this show becomes the face of it. There was the recent episode where they threw slicking agents on the decks of one of the Japanese ships and that same ship lost someone in the next episode.

I'm sorry. Watson's isn't the right approach.

[iiibbb]

39. To be clear, two wrongs don't make it right.

If you want to stop whaling, reduce demand for whale meat in Japan... you'll save more whales and burn less fuel.

[Downtown Hound]

40. "reduce demand for whale meat in Japan"

Great idea! Any idea of just how the fuck that can be accomplished?

[iiibbb]

41. Well I suppose an information campaign would be a start.

I certainly don't think ramming ships in the southern ocean will solve any problems quickly.

There are a lot of fish I've quit eating because the stocks are low... all it took was a pamphlet. If some yutz was out there ramming fishing boats it wouldn't change my behavior.

[Downtown Hound]

43. Uh-huh

And in about 10-20 years, you might actually see signs of progress from it. MIGHT. In the meantime thousands of whales will die. The Sea Shepard has already saved many whales from being killed. If they hadn't put a cork into those Japanese operations, then the Japanese wouldn't be seriously upping their tactics against them, which they have been doing.

Passing out pamphlets and waging nothing but an information campaign is the same as condemning thousands of whales, highly intelligent and sentient creatures, to death. It's not noble to avoid confrontation to stop this. It's cowardice.

[iiibbb]

44. Sea Shepard hasn't saved diddle...

I save as many whales eating a cheese sandwich.

They are ineffectual morons. They get lost/trapped in ice. They don't follow orders. They have lousy leadership, they obviously don't train, they brag about dying for the whales but freak out about water cannons and LRADs. By the end of the season they resort to ramming vessels... but claim to be non-violent.

They are reduced to making up stories about getting shot or anthrax to make their TV season not seem lame.

There is no way that 1 ship, that's in contact for 1 week a season with a fleet that's active for 5 months, is doing crap to save many whales... minke whales at that (non-endangered).


Meanwhile I watch only to see when they get themselves killed.

[Downtown Hound]

45. "Sea Shepard hasn't saved diddle..."

Well, if nothing else, you've proven your ignorance.

http://www.seashepherd.org/operation-musashi/

[iiibbb]

46. You're relying on their own press release?

You know, Bush had a press release that said we won the war.

How is Sea Shepherd going to collect funds if they admit/report failure in their press releases? Watch the show... it's a veritable infomercial for _Fail_.

[Downtown Hound]

47. Man, you just don't give up do you? LOL.

I do watch the show. Those figures quoted in the press release come from the Institute for Cetacean Research. These are THEIR figures, not Sea Shepard's. If you've been watching the show show than you know that there has been an international moratorium on whaling for years now. The reason the Japanese are whaling now is because the moratorium allows for exceptions to the whaling ban for scientific research. The thing is, there's no limit on the number of whales you can take for scientific research. Therefore, Japan has begun commercial whaling again for profit under the guise of scientific research, because it is common knowledge that you can buy whale meat and other whale products in Japan.

The Institute for Cetacean Research is supposed to be one of the Japanese scientific research sites where they "study" the whales that have been killed. They are the ones saying their quotas are not being met. On their website, the have a big old section dedicated to how the Sea Shepard's crew are terrorists.

But if you really want to bury your head in the sand and pretend that the world is the way you want it to be rather than they way it is, well, I can't stop you. But these are the facts as they are available. You want to prove they are wrong? The burden is on you to do so.

http://www.icrwhale.org/eng-index.htm

[iiibbb]

48. It doesn't negate the wrong actions of SS

Ramming ships and trying to kill people isn't acceptable no matter how just the cause.

With regards to quota's not being met, hunting is hunting. I can go out tomorrow and have a quota to catch 20 fish, and I might only get 10 just due to sheer dumb luck.

The effect of the SS is quite frankly unprovable... however I'm sure the Japanese blame SS because it's convenient to them.


Personally I don't care. I'll give my money to effective organizations... you can give yours to an ineffective, media-whoring, borderline terrorist organization if you wish... but your pissing your money away, and likely damaging environmental causes.

When the good guys act like the bad guys, what's left?

[Downtown Hound]

49. By all means, give your money to Greenpeace

They send their ships down there to "bear witness" to the whales being killed, but they do nothing about it. And then they use the picture they just took get donations from suckers that actually believe the organization is going to do a damn thing to stop the killing of whales. And you accuse me of throwing my money away on an ineffective organization? LOL.

[iiibbb]

50. Obviously they do more than Paul Watson says... but you believe press releases

No doubt you believe whatever he wants.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...QPLM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZeEu_DmSzI&NR=1



Greenpeace does that _and_ they try to change laws... in my mind a far more balanced and long-lasting response.

Sea Sheptards... they get lost in the ice.

[Downtown Hound]

51. Oh now that's fucking hilarious

So you're okay with trying to stop active whaling when Greenpeace is doing it, but not the Sea Shepard? And Greenpeace has for years been stepping down their "direct action" tactics in favor of lobbying, which so far hasn't done shit. Greenpeace is also okay with limited whaling. Given how intelligent whales are, limited whaling is the same as saying limited murder.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines07/0214-09.htm

[iiibbb]

52. SS is fail... that's why I don't like them

They make plans they can't follow.

They use tactics that are designed to harm people.

Watson has no respect for his volunteers.



So yeah... I have a degree of respect for Greenpeace, and not Sea Shepherd...

SS is a disgrace.

[Downtown Hound]

56. You have now officially crossed the line into being an idiot

Their tactics are not designed to harm people, and if you're really that ignorant as to say that they are then I see no point in continuing this discussion with you.

[iiibbb]

58. Notice they don't mention their slicking agent since that Japanese Sailer went overboard?

They claim they're not designed to hurt people...

Yet butyric acid is a lot more toxic than advertised as well. The LD-50 is 2 grams per kg dermal.


And I suppose ramming other ships isn't meant to harm people... unless it pokes a hole in a ship.


And I suppose prop fouling isn't designed to hurt anyone... unless it damages seals or a ship finds itself in a storm.



But you lie about other things, Watson boasts about lying as a tactic, why expect the truth out of one of you now.

[iiibbb]

53. LOL - SS now just witnessing too... call it quits.

http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/02/09/sea-shepherd-cuts-campaign-short-due-to-escalating-violence/

“The whalers and their hired PR flunkies can say whatever they want now but we have over 1,000 hours of video footage documenting every moment of the campaign. Our story will be told on a weekly series on Animal Planet with the show Whale Wars. People can watch and judge for themselves. The camera is the most powerful weapon in the world and we intend to demonstrate that power.”



Losers.


“I have said always said that we would do everything we can short of hurting people to end illegal whaling in the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary,” said Captain Paul Watson. “Although we are willing to take the risks required, even to our own lives, I am not prepared to do to the Japanese whalers what they do to the whales and the escalating violence by the whalers will result in some serious injuries and possibly fatalities if this confrontation continues to escalate.”


So... they're willing to die... but apparently not willing to lose their hearing for the whales.


Losers... Fail...

[Downtown Hound]

57. So they ended their campaign FOUR DAYS EARLY

in an effort to spare lives and possibly to prevent their ship from being boarded and their footage seized, and you call that a failure? LOL. There's only one FAIL here, and that would be you.

The Sea Shepard has a brand new boat that's going out next season, so they're not just bearing witness now as you laughably claim. Your prejudice against them has obviously impeded your thought process if you seriously believe that your article is proof that the Sea Shepard has failed. But anyways, I'm done with you. Life's too shirt to waste time on the small minded and hopelessly ignorant.

[iiibbb]

60. So they search for months, find the fleet, and run away... it's like Monty Python

Really... the whole show is high comedy.


They're ready to die for the whales... sort-of. They are collectively so full of s*.

[stenciltactical]

61. the make it a point that it is possible to resist actually..

Regardless if their tactics work on the operational level, by publicizing their efforts they are raising awareness, and showing that it is possible to do effective direct action response to injustice... so in some ways their work is inspirational.

[iiibbb]

62. Then why do they go out of their way to condemn Greenpeace?

What I object to are the actions by Sea Shepherd that are arguably violent, no matter what their intent is. The Butyric acid, the slicking agents, and the rammings.

Furthermore, it is frustrating to watch Watson's lack of leadership. Do these people drill at all?


Greenpeace accomplishes everything SS does and more, without the BS or objectionable tactics.

[cboy4]

55. I love these people.

:patriot:

[iiibbb]

59. 90% of whales killed by human contact is through inadvertant ship collision.

SS is "saving" a non-endangered species.

One wonders why they're not in the artic fighting Russian ships hunting the threatened species.