Whale Wars - Eco-Terrorism as Reality TV
Richard Spilman
Writer, Videographer, and Multimedia Designer
Posted: June 5, 2009 05:25 PM
Tonight begins the second season of "Whale Wars" in which a scruffy band of eco-crusaders, the Sea Shepherds, go to war against the evil whaling ships, by any means necessary. The reviews for the first season were great. Neil Genzlinger of the New York Times writes: "Whale Wars splashes across the increasingly exhausted genre of people-at-work reality series like icy seawater, jolting you awake with a frothy, briny burst of -- well, you get the idea. This is one spunky show."
So what is the problem with "Whale Wars"? The problem is that it is cheap exploitation in praise of what is nothing less than eco-terrorism. It is the glorification of vigilantism on the high seas. And oh, by the way, the Sea Shepherds do almost nothing to protect the whales where they really do need protection.
While "Whale Wars" presents a simplistic case of us against them, the noble environmentalists against the evil whalers, the reality, of course, is not so black and white. By international agreement with the International Whaling Commission, the Japanese were allowed to kill up to a nine hundred minke whales and fifty fin whales in 2007/2008 in the Antarctic ocean for "research purposes." Critics claim that this is thinly disguised commercial whaling. Whatever it may be, minke whales, in particular, are not considered to be particularly threatened. Estimates have placed the minke population in the Southern Hemisphere in the range of 200,000-416,700 whales.
The Sea Shepherds on "Whale Wars" are abolitionist animal rights activists. Read More
Paul Watson is nothing but a terrorist and a pirate. Watching the show, people are led to believe that they are trying to stop some sort of illegal activity, when in fact the whalers are perfectly legal in their action. Attacking whaling ships, however, is not legal anywhere on the planet. Watson was quoted as saying a few years ago that it’s ok to be a terrorist as long as you win. I know there are probably a lot of kids that watch the animal planet channel. Hopefully they won’t grow up thinking this same thing.
3 comments:
Wait...You say the whales "really do need protection," but then go on to use "...minke whales, in particular, are not considered to be particularly threatened" as part of your argument against the lunatic Sea Shepherds. Are you for or against the Japanese whaling industry?
I didn't say any of the things you referred to. If you look again, I posted an article about the show with my comments at the bottom in red.
i think all whaling needs to stop southren ocean agreement gives civilians the right to try to stop whaling japan can get meat from somany other sources just like the kill thousands of sharks just for thier fins. and i would wonder if sea sheperds were not down there the whalersmay taske more than they account for they say they can kill a 900 whales but if the catch more unimpeded who would say anything. people make me sick i wish sea sheperds would start doing what the charter says and deestroy whaling equippment harpoons and or ships to stop this travisty of mass slaughtering of whales there is no reason to take 900 whales a year for reaserch those whale are sentient they know they are dying when they are harpooned yes protect a spiecies before it comes to be endangered the more adults easier to save.i praise sea sheperds for doing what they can if i hit the lottery i would help myself. these animals need our respect and people will hunt till nothing left if it is not stopped now. just like long line fishing hurts more than they catch.
Post a Comment