The Whaling Post

[Cerveza]

Lot of talk in the shout box, thought I'd start a post.

My wife and I were watching "Whale Wars" over the weekend and both concluded that the "Sea Shepherds" are a bunch of morons. That's our opinion.

It's not that I'm in favor of whaling, it's that I disagree with just about everything they are doing. They are acting like terrorists and pirates and I have no idea how that captain is allowed to remain licensed. I see their efforts as futile. The only thing they are accomplishing by chasing around these Japanese ships is showing just how inane they are, and how much donation $$$$ they can waste.

If they gave up on the ocean, which they should do as they have NEVER won any "battles" at all, and put their efforts into other means of protecting whales, they would have a much better chance of winning support and having a positive affect on commercial whaling.

Also - they need to change their logo.



This doesn't say "we're doing nice things to save whales and dolphins". It says "WE'RE PIRATES, ARRRR"

Something softer and more colorful would be so much more positive.



Honestly, who would you support?

[Scrripty]

I say KEELHAUL THOSE WHALING SONS OF WHORES!  ARRRRRRRRR!

[Cerveza]

BTW, whale is tasty. I had some at a sushi place when I was in Japan.

Mmmmm endangered species.

Er, actually they aren't endangered, but the thought made it taste a little better.

[12TimesOver]

I'd never heard of the show until your SB post. I went and watched part of a random episode and quickly came to similar conclusions. There was absolutely nobody who spoke at any point as I watched that was able to gain an ounce of any kind of interest or respect from me. I saw a bunch of kids acting like idiots thinking they know something about something when they obviously know nothing about anything being lead by some burnout ex-hippy's with access to major dollars to throw down the tubes. I remember being like that when I got out of college, ready to take on all of the unjusts in the world so I could find some sense of importance in a world where I would otherwise quickly be swallowed by the sheer bewildering size and the acceptance of my very minor role in the overall scheme of things.

But maybe I'm just negative...

X

[Paulonius]

http://animal.discovery.com/tv/whale-wars/legal-debate/

Here is a link to some of the legal debate on the issue. Its likely that what Japan is doing is illegal, but also very unlikely that they will ever be brought to task for it as there really is no enforcement or even an entity available to make them accountable. The only way for their whaling activity to have consequences internationally is for the other countries participating in the treaties that are being violated to impose sanctions.

What the Sea Shepard clowns are doing is almost certainly illegal under international and Japanese law, and on the face of it seems sort of stupid.  I have watched the show and I think their captain Paul Watson in particular seems like a big A-hole.  However, I would submit that if you have moral conviction that something immoral is happening (maybe the case) and there is no reasonable legal means to stop it (probably the case) then illegal action to stop it may be moral, justified, and even obligatory.  If you accept that whaling is morally wrong, then taking action that is "illegal" like the Sea Sheps are doing and having a show made at the same time is probably a good way to raise awareness.  

The problem I see is that I am not sure that what is going on is morally wrong. Its not even clear that the whales they are protecting are endangered -- or at least there appears to be disagreement about it.  It's not like these guys are taking up piracy to stop Darfur.

[Ultima]

The show is well....free entertainment.

I respect them for being out there and standing up to the whalers. I'm glad that the Sea Shepard is out there doing what they're doing. Yeah Paul and his crew of pirates are pretty nutty but no one else is doing a damned thing about it.

There is no governmental body that is policing whaling. I have no doubt the Japanese are going above allotted quotas.

I'm not a vegetarian by any means and it's hard to place judgement because different cultures have different values and it's really all relative. They eat cats in China where I would lay down my life for my cats if the time ever came. They're my buddies...my familiars!  

I am not a fan of hunting for sport. I know TT and ST Hunt and Ted Nugent with all his hub bub. The knowledge always needs to be there but I am totally against the senseless killing of any sentient life.

It's hard to know what the right answer is and where there is a balance but there is no doubt in my mind that overall mankind is way out of control and human beings are doing extreme harm to other forms of life and to the planet as well as the future generations of life that will inhabit the earth including our very own children.

[Pearls]

I was going to make a well made reply but im failing at it because im suffering from a lack of vocabulary this late at night. My thoughts basically come down to : yes they act like idiots, but on the other hand i understand some of there bad judgements and actions simply because they dont have much lawfull means to aid them. Some of the dialogue in those episodes makes u wonder thou if they ever left puberty... 

[SunTigress]

I am not a fan of hunting for sport. I know TT and ST Hunt and Ted Nugent with all his hub bub.

Don't forget Shatner!

This is my thought on the subject

[Cerveza]

I love the part where they are trying to setup to cross the transfer line... and the "captain" goes in for a telephone interview. The dude in charge completely passes the processing ship. When the "captain" comes back in he's like "Where's the processing ship" and the dude driving points to 8 o'clock and says "right over there" ROFL. My wife and I laughed to tears about that.

"Capt. Dumass" runs to the door and you hear a few "BEEEEEP"s... man, I'm laughing now!

And the Ady Gil, what a bunch of morons. They spend millions on some super boat. First trip out the radar fails - return to base. Second trip out they cut in front of a ship and get destroyed, ROFL. Again, I'm laughing LOL.

Here's a little quip about the "captain" of the Ady Gil

Bethune's detention and arrest

Bethune boarded the Shōnan Maru 2 on February 15, 2010, claiming to be conducting a citizen's arrest on her captain for what he said was the attempted murder of him and his crew, and to present a $3 million demand for his lost boat.[52] He was detained by the ship's crew and taken to Japan, where he was arrested by the Japanese Coast Guard on March 12 on charges of trespassing.[53][54][55] On April 2, 2010, Bethune was indicted on five charges; trespassing, assault, illegal possession of a knife, destruction of property and obstruction of business.[56] He is being held without bond in a maximum security prison.

If you donate to these idiots - there's your money. Feeding and fueling a bunch of hippiots led by morons.

*OMG it just keeps getting better and better.

That idiot Bethune gets "barred" from doing anything with the "sea shepherds" ROFL. Too crazy for the crazies!

I'm beginning to think the only reason they have this show on is because they realize just how stupid these guys are, and they are appealing to people like me who watch it only to laugh at these idiots.

[Scrripty]

Then there's people like Cerv who are whale hating seal killers.   I bet you eat north atlantic skrod with quaker state and bp for lunch at 120 dollars a pound too? hehe

[TrailMyx]

Sounds kinda like a Chinese fire drill!

[Cerveza]

Then there's people like Cerv who are whale hating seal killers.   I bet you eat north atlantic skrod with quaker state and bp for lunch at 120 dollars a pound too? hehe

LOL, I'm buying up BP stock right now! While wearing my baby seal underoos. Mmmmm comfortable....

I'm not the evil "KILL THEM ALL" but I do think that these people are all idiots who are wasting people's money that could be better spent on other means to try to accomplish their goals.

Here's a thought - Spend $2 Million on whale meat. LOL wait a minute, before you harpoon me, hear me out. These hippiots could spend $2 Million to buy like 300 whales, then have the Japanese fleet NOT kill and process 300 whales. The Japanese are cool with it cause they still got paid for em, and the hippiots actually SAVED SOMETHING instead of sailing around wasting money, with all their efforts just being futile.

Or, spend the money lobbying.... or best option, keep your nose out of other countries politics and take care of your own people who could use the help.

Just wait until the Hindu's start attacking American ranchers.... poor cows.

[TrailMyx]

Just wait until the Hindu's start attacking American ranchers.... poor cows.

That's when I'll go all Jihad.  Steer away from my beef, buckos!!

[Cerveza]

Then there's people like Cerv who are whale hating seal killers.  

Stop me if you've heard this one....

"A baby seal walks into a club...."

 

[Cerveza]

There's 2 (actually 3 but I haven't seen the Steve Irwin's) videos of this collision. The Japanese and the Bob Barker both have video. If you watch it, you can see the Ady Gil accelerate right in front of the Japanese ship.

They were trying to put out a long rope that would get tangled in the Japanese ships props.

That's like running out across the front of a moving semi and laying down a spike strip. Not only is it VERY STUPID, it's dangerous and it's illegal. Shouldn't that action be an act of piracy? Trying to disable another countries ship while underway in international waters?

Both sides are claiming the other is responsible. The hippiots say that the ship changed course and accelerated while the Ady Gil was trying to back away. The Japanese claim that the Ady Gil accelerated trying to cross the bow of their ship. I see the Ady Gil with it's props going FORWARD at a major rate prior to the collision so I'm believing the Japanese version of events. That combined with the actions of the "captain" of the Ady Gil lead me to believe that they were in the wrong.

I think it sunk while being towed.... ROFL