Forum: Hunting Whales

By Guest Blogger
May 22, 2009

Comments (12)

In our June, 2009 story, "Brinkman's Ship," author Michael Roberts examines how the controversial Animal Planet television series Whale Wars is effecting eco-vigilante Paul Watson's campaign to halt Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean. For 30-plus years, Watson and his Sea Shepherd Conversation Society have angered whaling nations and mainstream environmentalists alike with aggressive direct-action tactics, including ramming whaling vessels and snarling their propellers in thick anchor lines. To read the full story, click here.

Tell Us What You Think In The Comments Section Below...

Are Watson's attacks justified? Should countries be allowed to hunt whales?

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Comments

[marcus]

Good on Paul Watson, I say! I am so effin' tired of the Japanese and Norwegian's lies and more lies. Ram them and send them to hell.

[Paul Reynolds]

Whaling is no longer necessary for the livelihood of society. Whaling is illegal in most situations and the Japanese are not doing "scientific research " . They are breaking the law and should be stopped.
Paul Watson is overly heavy handed and this hurts the fight, but, he is doing the best he knows and better than anyone else, so I congratulate him and the volunteers for their efforts. Wish I was 30 years younger. Make that 40.

[GP Burdell]

In his zeal, Watson is going to get someone killed. Ramming ships? Fielding a crew of inexperienced fools to go into one of the planet's most unforgiving oceans? Using Zodiacs to surf the bow waves of other ships? What idiocy!

No matter what your stance on "scientific" whaling, you must acknowledge that he recklessly puts other in harm's way. His volunteers may be well intentioned, but from what I saw, their lack of seamanship and exuberance cloud their judgement. They are useful idiots.

If any of them are killed in this foolishness, Watson should be prosecuted. A ship captain's first responsibility is the safety of his crew. Clearly Watson never learned that lesson and damn him for that.

[Steve]

I am against any excuse for killing whales, whether it be for "research" or preserving native culture...especially when the natives finish their work with high-caliber firearms. That said, Paul Watson is the poster boy for eco-terrorism. How is scuttling Icelandic whaling ships any different from the French sinking of the Rainbow Warrior? Deliberately hazarding the safe navigation of another ship is a crime, and so are deliberate efforts to damage another ship. Watson's actions bring dishoner to the cause he thinks he is promoting.

[linda]

Of course whaling should be illegal. So should fishing boats and slaughterhouses that murder cows, chickens, and pigs. As long as people think it's okay to commit horrific mass violence for trivial, temporary, personal pleasure, i.e. eating animal flesh, when all human dietary needs can be satisfied with a vegetable-based diet, there will be nothing but war, misery and unhappiness on this planet.

[Robert Reppy]

"Eco-terrorism" is a slanderous label cooked up by Dick Cheney and his pals. The environmental movement has never killed anyone to my knowledge, and in fact the only casualties have been their own, as when the French paramilitaries killed a Greenpeace volunteer and a protester against moving nuclear waste got run over by a train.
Far from being terrorists, the eco-movement has always gone out of its way to assure that no-one is hurt.
Paul Watson's actions have been against property, inanimate objects, not people. Having said that, if he could throw some magic switch that would vaporize all the whalers and their corporate bosses to hell, I'd enthusiastically yell for him to do it.
Screw these people.

[Mary Lawrence]

I just have one question that I can,t seem to get answered. Is the 1st mate on the "Steve Irwin" Peter Brown the same Peter Brown that was a Star on the Tv show "Lawman"? If indeed it is that Peter Brown would someone please tell him a very old fan is proud of the work he is doing and I hope he will keep it up.
Grandmama1

[Bryan Jace]

I would like to preface my comments by saying that I have been a proponent of various ocean conservation efforts since before I became involved with scuba diving in the 80s. Further, upon becoming a scuba instructor in ‘96 I began actively teaching students about conservation issues especially those involving cetaceans and sharks. I hope that brief description will give some insight to my feelings for the ocean I love and the issues I am passionate about in conservation. However, I also realize that in such a heated politically inspired debate nothing will convince people on the other side of the argument of sincerity or good intention.

You can see how political this issue is when you look at other posts that have comments like “eco-terrorism is a slanderous label cooked up by Dick Cheney”. Come on, the term was around long before the last administration took office. Organizations that have been labeled as “eco-terrorists” in the U.S. include the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and the Earth Liberation Front (ELF), which have been around for a long time, the 70s and early 90s respectively. There are several other comments, which are beyond rational discussion (such as ram them and send them to hell and frankly thoughts that we should all be vegetarian) that I will attribute to blogging enthusiasm.

I find it curious that seemingly these same groups of well-intentioned people cry cultural imperialism when the U.S. becomes involved with other affairs of sovereign nations. Have any of you heard that we should be more involved with the UN to effect changes abroad and follow international laws. My guess is that you have, if you have seen the news in the last few years. I also hear many comments and read stories on how it is because of our arrogance that our way is the right way the world hates us. So how is imposing our environmental values on other cultures different? I am all for protecting our oceans and the whales as well as encouraging change in the policies of whaling nations but let’s not hurt the cause by supporting eco-terrorism it simply turns off mainstream supporters.

Let’s not fool ourselves into thinking that the kinds of actions taken by Paul Watson and others are not terrorism they fit the definition perfectly. A middle-of-the road definition used since the mid-1980s is, “Terrorism is a premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetuated against noncombatant targets by groups usually intending to influence an audience or bring about political change.” There are legitimate organizations and means to bring about the changes we want to protect the oceans. It is in supporting radical political actions or changes instead of scientifically based conservation efforts that we hurt our cause instead of helping it.

Even mainstream organizations like Greenpeace are not above political motivations. A founding member, Canadian Ecologist Patrick Moore left the organization in ‘86 when it decided to support a ban on chlorine in drinking water, chlorine which Moore has called “the biggest advance in the history of public health and is essential for our health.” Moore himself has argued that Greenpeace today is motivated by politics rather than science and that none of his fellow directors had any formal science education. I only ask that you do your homework and take a close look at the persons or organizations you support to avoid being swept up in an environmental political movement instead of an actual environmental cause.

[Bob Jones]

Japan shouldn't be allowed to hunt whales, seals or anything else without our approval. If they do, just sink their ships and be done with those assholes.

[William Mark Clarke]

Where can I sign up?

[Gary McWhorter]

This is written in response to Harold Lay's letter to the editor, published in the August 2009 issue. I do understand the "Law and Order" types. However, they are also responsible for the forced march of the Cherokee Nation to Oklahoma, the internment of Japanese citizens during WW II, Jim Crow laws, and served on juries that acquitted white racists who performed numerous lynchings.

I admire and respect Capt. Paul Watson's devotion to his cause. Obviously, he has a pair. The Japanese clearly are not performing research, and are violating the ban on commercial whaling.

I also admire his infinite restraint. Boarding the vessels and scuttling them seems much more practical. Regarding the survivors, I would tell them to enjoy their refreshing swim, much as Americans were told to enjoy their leisurely stroll, in what history calls the Bataan Death March.

G.L.M.

[Whale Eater]

I never knew whales were eatable. Thanks for turning me on to whale meat it's delicious. I'm working on a cook book with tasty whale meat recipes. I'll let you know when it's finished. Thanks again.