For the past several years, June has brought us a new television season of “Whale Wars.” But this year the production has been delayed, and nobody seems to know when the show is likely to air.
Whale Wars, of course, is the weekly documentary showing confrontations on the high seas, as Sea Shepherd Conservation Society tries to stop Japanese whaling in the Antarctic.
As I reported in January (Water Ways, Jan. 4), Sea Shepherd hired its own film crew during this past whaling season (summer in the Antarctic, winter here). At the time, it seemed like the group did so to be able to control the filming. But in a new blog entry in The New Yorker, Raffi Khatchadourian suggests that it was the Animal Planet producers who got cold feet, given the Ninth Circuit Court injunction that prevented Sea Shepherd from getting within 500 feet of the Japanese ships.
The U.S. affiliate of Sea Shepherd and Capt. Paul Watson himself withdrew from the anti-whaling campaign, leaving in charge the Australian affiliate, which is not subject to U.S. court jurisdiction.
Brian Eley, senior communications manager for Discovery Channel, responded to my inquiry yesterday, saying it isn’t clear when Season 6 of “Whale Wars” will air. Footage was delayed this year “through no fault of anyone.”
I asked whether it was a decision of Sea Shepherd or Animal Planet to have Sea Shepherd crew members do the filming.
“Last year, Sea Shepherd said they were taking over the footage first,” Eley said. “We don’t want to contradict them, but certainly each side had reasons to go with the current deal.
“I can honestly say,” he added, “I am not sure when the series will air, but it will.”
Meanwhile, Sea Shepherd is preparing for its 10th campaign against the Japanese whalers, after touting much success in the last trip to the Antarctic. For details, check out the following news releases issued by Sea Shepherd, along with this video, which offers a preview of the dramatic footage we can expect to see if and when “Whale Wars – Season 6” comes to television.
Sea Shepherd launches Operation Relentless, its 10th Antarctic whale defence campaign.
Hopefully it will go away and the Sea Shepherd group will be seen as the terrorist group that they are! When they are confronted by the whalers they are ‘appalled’ by the whalers actions, that are less than most anything that they have done to the whalers. It would be best if the Sea Shepherd ships were sunk at sea and the crew rescued by the whalers! That I would pay to see! They have crossed the line so many times and yet they are not held accountable for their actions!
Good I’m glad nobody wants anything to do with those sea Sheppard A holes.
I feel that the 2 above Commenters, are very short minded people. these japanese whalers are operating in protected areas of a whale sanctuary where japanese are killing endangered species.
if the japanese continue to kill whales, this will lead to our future being put under threat. International laws are passed for a reason and therefore all countries should abide by them.
You two really do need to start to know a lot more about YOUR environment before starting to comment on topics that you know nothing about…
Closed minded? Why, because I disagree with eco-terrorist? The all out killing doesn’t happen as they try to say. The Japanese fleet IS whaling with in the international laws on the book, they have too much to loose if they don’t! What solid proof has been provided that the Japanese are not following the laws? What you see on TV is the Sea Shepard doing the law breaking! Perhaps you, RobC, need to open your mind to the law. The Sea Shepherd group, and you, just do not like what they are doing, so in their closed minded thinking, they are right, but the Sea Shepherd group are still breaking the law! And not to mention putting people in harms way!
And funny that your last statement is more of one with a closed mind, as you do not know who I am, but nice try!
RobC
“these japanese whalers are operating in protected areas of a whale sanctuary”
The Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary ONLY applies to commercial whaling. The International Whaling Commission (the organization that created the SOWS) acknowledges that Japan is conducting scientific research whaling under special permit, as is allowed under international treaty, NOT commercial whaling.
“where japanese are killing endangered species.”
Japan kills approximately 1 to 2 endangered fin whales a year.
If you are concerned about killing endangered species, perhaps a better target would be Iceland, who hunts fin whale commercially.
“if the japanese continue to kill whales, this will lead to our future being put under threat.”
The limited number of whales that Japan hunts is no danger to the whales as a species and no danger to “our future”
“International laws are passed for a reason and therefore all countries should abide by them.”
Japan IS abiding by all relevant international laws and IWC regulations. They have the right, very specifically spelled out in international treaty, to do what they are doing.
“You two really do need to start to know a lot more about YOUR environment before starting to comment on topics that you know nothing about…”
Now that’s ironic, since apparently YOU are the one that is lacking of knowledge on this topic.
“delayed” hehehehehe
More like Animal Planet already knows they’ll be next for actively promoting and making a profit off of criminal activity.
They want to distance themselves as much as possible.
They didn’t even send a film crew down.
One of the side-shows to the court proceedings is currently looking into who has donated and contributed significantly to SSCS. Financing criminals is illegal.
Not that it’s stopped other AR groups like PETA, HSUS, and IFAW.
The 6th Season of WW will air — on their youtube channel. And will then quickly be used as evidence against them in further court proceedings.
Justice will be served.
“You two really do need to start to know a lot more about YOUR environment”
I’m sure that means you’ll turn your attention to the Vaquita, which actually is endangered in YOUR BACKYARD. Rather than demonizing Japanese for hunting the most numerous cetacean on the planet.
You say “international laws” (there is no such thing) exist for a reason. But in fact IWC’s scientific committee has demonstrated time and again that anti-whaling motions are passed in complete contradiction to the scientific advice.
The only reason they’re passed is because some people, such as yourself, believe it’s your right to force your culture on others.
Animal Rights is nothing more than the 21st Century White Man’s Burden. Rudyard Kipling would be so proud.
It’s a pity your countries don’t feel the same way about the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna. There, too, you completely disregard the scientific advice and keep the quotas at unsustainable levels. The kicker is that you then blame Japan b/c a percentage ends up there. And they’re bought largely because, Japan — unlike Europe — cut its quota of Pacific Bluefin by 60%. The Pacific Bluefin will surely recover at this point.
But the Atlantic… probably screwed. Spain, Italy, and France’ subsidized fleets and their governments insistence on keeping quotas high has doomed them.
Environmentalists, you are not.
You’re merely Cultural Imperialists.
Thanks TerryL, those are very good a true points. And RobC, what say you?
I am constantly amazed at anyone who defends murder. You people are hilarious!
Unfortunately it’s not hilarious what the Japanese, as well as Iceland, Denmark, and whoever else are doing.
I will try to make this as simple as sentence to understand for you complicated maniacs…
The oceans are drying up and we need to conserve.
also
Murder is Bad.
You get that? Or is the concept still to difficult to grasp!
All you people who disagree with Sea Shepherd are dicks and clearly know nothing about the issue. How many of you have done the facts with a open mind and actually weighed up the facts. I think if you did then you would see that there is no balance! It is fact the whalers are doing a activity which is not illegal by law for science but against the law by doing it in a whale sanctuary. Sea Shepherd is not breaking the law they are enforced by the UN world charter for nature.
To all of you who commented that sea shepherd are criminals. They are not. Why? Cause they protect the living beings of the ocean. They were made and created by God. Our God said, never kill. They are killing living, breathing beings. The Japanese quota has been determined by many scientist that the quota is to high and are killing to many whales. But what are these scientific results of these whales? Where are the reports? It has not been shown anywhere in public. Most of these whales has been killed for profits. It has been even shown on CNN. You keep saying that the Sea Shepherds are criminals, but the Japanese are as well criminals cause they have violated the rules and endangered life one to many times and this last time it just wasn’t by ramming the 5,000 ton ship to a 500 ton ship but almost causing a spill of heavy fuel on Australia territory. What would had happened of that fuel would had spilled out? What would the Japanese say about that? Yes, Sea Shepherds has done some bad things but not criminal. The Japanese has by destroying a ship, ramming ships, killing whales for some unknown research and bringing heavy fuel under protected waters. Now, you tell me if by bringing heavy fuel in protected water is not illegal cause under Australia international law, it is illegal.
my my my…..I have to agree with the last comment here. The oceans have taken so much abuse and we are robbing it of it’s life. The Japanese doesn’t need to kill whales and dolphins for meat, they need to grasp the idea that we need to conserve the life in our oceans not take away from it. The SSCS are the only people taking direct action and enforcing the laws protecting these endangered speices.
“I am constantly amazed at anyone who defends murder”
I’m constantly amazed at anyone who defends assaulting other human beings over dietary preferences.
Maybe I could understand it a smidgen if the animals in question were endangered, but since they are in fact at carrying capacity… it’s beyond the pale.
BTW, eating meat isn’t murder.
Statements like “the oceans are drying up” just demonstrate your ignorance, and that you are the kind of mindless fool that will repeat any catchphrase you come across.
It’s a completely meaningless statement that only shows how divorced from reality you are; how easily manipulated you are; and how extremist you are.
I guess this blog entry and the comments that followed really stirred up some emotions. I’m not sure if it is worth continuing the debate at its present level of discourse. But I’ll keep the comments open for now if everyone tries to focus on the issues and avoid the insults.
Does anybody want to discuss the role of the U.S., Australian and Japanese governments? Are the whale populations really endangered? Why do activists think it is worth putting human lives at risk? Are whales as important as humans? Do Japanese people really crave whale meat, and what is the cultural importance? Why do whalers need to travel to a distant area that other nations wish to protect? How much does this have to do with national pride? How are these issues ever going to be resolved?
I’m probably wasting my time trying to change the level of discussion, but this is the most comments I’ve seen since our debate on climate change.
The role of the governments should be to hold all accountable for their actions-If the whalers are indeed breaking the laws then they should be helpd accountable as should those who break one law to enforce another.
I see NO reason for anyone to put another human being at risk of their life as the SSCS has done.
Whales are important as are so many other lives, but we are higher on the food chain, that is just the way we have evolved.
I believe whalers travel the distances that they do to get to the legal hunting ground
I could not, nor would I ever be able to comment on the pride of the Japanese national pride, and I doubt that anyone on this thread have their understanding to do so!
I hope that these issues can be resovled, but fanatics on either side can not be reasoned with.
Thank you Exit43. Excellent post.
I rarely ever post on this particular blog or any of nearly constant stream of whale related stories generated for the Sun.
Whales as an issue does not really interest or appeal to me. Neither do spiders or clowns but we all have our individual interests and dislikes.
I am occasionally fascinated by the extreme to which others are attached to the issue of whales and to what extent they will go to bully others into their way of thinking. The mechanics of a majority of environmental conversation can be rather interesting. Such as actual data being able to be conveyed in a reasonable manner to back up such a highly charged and emotional issue.
I rarely agree with you on the issues Chris, but I would let the conversation roll unless Kitsap Sun policy posting lines are crossed. How the conversation progresses and plays out is actually part of the original point of actions and consequence being experienced by SSCS and the Animal Planet for their decisions from both supporters and detractors.
Exit 43,
I’d like to play devil’s advocate for a moment.
The Japanese government has issued a permit for scientific research, which allows the taking of whales under a special exemption allowed by international agreement.
Do you believe that the number of whales killed (hundreds each year) and the sampling methods used to select and collect the specimens constitute a legitimate scientific program? Leaving aside the tactics of Sea Shepherd, do you believe the Japanese government is engaged in commercial or scientific whaling, as envisioned by the International Whaling Commission?
Using the best numbers that I could find 2010-11, they took 935 Minke, 50 Fin and 50 Humpbacks. Using even the lowest numbers from the IWC, as to their best guess as to the overall population, those numbers are 0.2-.03% of the population.
I am not a scientist, so I am not one to judge their legitimatcy, and I am having a hard time finding an unbiased opinion either way. If you have one, I would live to read it.
I believe that the Japanese are using the IWC rules to the fullest extent allowable. As to what the IWC envisioned, it is very murky from the begining, not to mention that it is a non-binding organization. They can only make reccomendations, if a country chooses not to sign the agreement, it does not have to follow it and have no enforcement capabilities.
Yes the UN has signed onto many of their ‘rules’ but that is as close to international law as it has ever gotten.
The Japanese government is a member of the International Whaling Commission and claims to adhere to its conventions. I think you hit the nail on the head when you said you believe the “Japanese are using the IWC rules to the fullest extent allowable.”
Japan has been criticized by the IWC’s scientific panel for its techniques in estimating whale populations and taking representative samples of whale tissue.
Representatives of many governments have been frustrated by Japan’s actions to block initiatives at IWC meetings, so it is not hard for me to understand why animal-rights activists would be frustrated.
I’m not saying that anyone, including the Japanese government, is right or wrong. My attempt is to get people to understand that there are many viewpoints, including some that are clearly misguided. Even people who break the law may have principles that can be challenged. Personally, I enjoy an argument in which a person acknowledges an opposing viewpoint while putting forth his own position.
But is .2% worth the hype? I do not think it it is worth putting peoples live in danger. Yes Japan has been one of the members to minimize the rules put out. And worse yet is that the IWC has no enforcement power. Maybe the best way to slow them down is to go after the heavy fuel ban? Remember, Al Capone was brought down by a tax error.
Exit 43,
I appreciate your willingness to discuss this issue by laying the facts on the table. Putting people’s lives in danger is a serious issue that I cannot reconcile, but I believe it is still worthy of discussion.
As for the .2%, I have not confirmed all the numbers, but Bill Campbell, Australia’s representative to the International Court of Justice, made an interesting point this week. Quoting from a story by Julian Drape of the Australia Associated Press:
For more on the court hearing, please check out my latest Water Ways entry: Japanese whaling on trial before UN court.
I took the numbers from the IWC web site and even tried to use the smaller number of their population estimates. I was a little suprised that it was so low, so please double check.
http://iwc.int/estimate#table
As for Mr. Campbelle’s statement, ‘what ifs’ are not a suitable an argument. It is just as easy as for me to say ‘what if the numbers are so far off, because whales have the ability to hide, so only 1 out of 10 are actually counted!’
And I thank you for the frank discussion, also. I understand that some out there are very passionate on the subject and calmer heads don’t not always prevail. I like looking at the facts and they are not always pretty!
I agree that “what ifs” are not legal arguments nor do they help to assess actual damage. But in terms of fairness and equity, Campbell may have a point. His argument is that the Japanese “scientific” whaling may be having more than a negligible effect on the population.
He might argue that if the Japanese government were being honest, it would seek to have its quotas approved as normal commercial whaling. Then the sustainable harvest level could be established and shared by all nations interested in whaling. If selling whale meat is OK, then shouldn’t the opportunity be open to all?
That would be a better plan, then it may have the same effect as the crab fishing, they almost fished themselves out of existance. Although it would not be as great of numbers, if you can find a market for it and it is worth the ‘better management’ as a food source, then go the commercial route, after all, there is no shortage of cows in the world! But, I think that it would be almost impossible with today’s ‘green thinking’, would they get approval for commercial permits.
And what is the basis of the Japanese not being truthful? Do they not do research on the whales they harvest? Yes they stretch to bounds, but it is lawfull.
Well, Exit 43, it looks like it is just you and me on this thread. If nobody else wishes to comment, this will probably be my last post here.
I believe that Campbell’s objection to “scientific whaling” is that it is not scientific at all. That’s where the honesty comes in. The data may be collected, but are they really used? We’ll hear more from the Japanese whaling researchers in today’s court reports.
As for the part about managing a sustainable level of harvest, there was an interesting article about a market-based approach in Nature (Jan. 11, 2012), from which I’ll share this one paragraph:
Instead of spending its money going to “war” in the Antarctic, Sea Shepherd could protect the whales by buying up the entire quota. Thanks to Lindsey Peavey for mentioning this in today’s entry in Southern Fried Science.
If you guys can watch the cove and then tell me that hunting dolphins or whales is OK, you then need to be herded into a jail cell and harpooned then shot until you are dead. Same thing they do to creatures probably more intelligent than some of the posters on here.
You guys are all talking black and whites… laws and figures. The oceans are dying. Have some heart and actually get off your butts and do something to help, rather than verbally bash or sit on the fence and humm and haa over the whole situation. Our oceans are almost depleted of fish like blue fin tuna and other great predatory fish. When they go then sharks will follow and what will people eat in the way of seafood then? Baitfish? No I think whale will be back on international menus.
People in Japan (including school children) are showing signs of mercury poisoning from eating whale and dolphin meat from over already over polluted oceans.
I agree our oceans need to be saved, and the fact that Japan used $30+million from the TSUNAMI RELIEF to get their whaling program going again, while affected people in some cases are still homeless.
This is bloody shameful and you guys need to support conservation for our great grandchildrens’ future.
I can’t stand what big corporations have done to the planet already in the name of profit for people who already have more money than sense. In my unprofessional opinion the SSCS needs to be given arresting powers from the Australian government and ARMED Australian personnel to enforce the arrests… No more BS just board them, fine them and throw them in a detention center. Problem solved, SO whales saved, onto the next conservation mission.
Isiaj, do you put as much effort into how relief prorams are run here? If you read (at least mine) most of the posts, their is a real dialog going on. When anyone comes on and just rants, it turns into white noise.
Types of fish that are good on a dinner plate, will not go away, people will figure out a way to keep them around. Notice that there is no shortage of cows? Maybe bringing back whaling as a commercial endevor would save them.
The rise in mercury of Japans population is from whale and dolphins? Where is that study?
I do support conservation efforts, I will never support terrorist efforts.
But I would guess that by your closing paragragh that your mind is already made up and live a very pure and big corporation free life!
@exit 43 I just donated $100,000 to Sea Shepard for your stupid comments. So in return your helped make my decision, therefore you helped support them. 🙂
Here we go again. I know this is a highly emotional issue, but let’s see if we can have some semblance of a conversation.
Not quite sure how I deserved that comment, abbye, but if you have $100k to thow at them, all the power to you. If you are a local Kitsap county resident, there are at least 10 different local, usefull, non-profit groups that could have used your money, but what ever helps you sleep at night.
Most of these comments are just bull and you know it. Research my foot (You know it goes to commercial use after the supposed “research”. And like it or not they’re in a sanctuary – NO WHALING.
Don’t even get my started on the destruction to the Sea Shepeds. The only reason SS is seen as terrorists is JAPAN MADE THEM THAT OUT TO BE WAY.
Brian, how is that? Because people disagree with what you take as the truth?
And Mr Dunagan, has there been a final ruling on this?
Pete Wimmer asks: “And Mr. Dunagan, has there been a final ruling on this?”
The International Court of Justice is still in deliberations on the whaling case brought by Australia against Japan. chris.
I for one based my opinion of the Sea Shepard group as terrosist and not to mention that their ship’s captains are unsafe and put their crews in danger, by their own show on Animal Planet. After the airing I did some looking into what they are doing and that didn’t help their case much. By either case they should be arrested, and to say it is for the good of the whales, does not give them any right to do 85% of what they have filmed themselves as doing.
First off, ICR has never had a quota for Humpbacks. Japan hasn’t hunted humpbacks since the 1960s. You will find this false claim made in just about every Whale Wars episode, so by “repetition of a lie” it’s become an accepted fact ala Goebbels: “If you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it, and you will even come to believe it yourself”
I assume this lie is spread because Minke whales aren’t “special” enough, whereas Humpbacks are very well known.
The ICJ ruling will make it abundantly clear that Japan is not breaking any “laws”. Nor have they stretched the “law”, as claimed here.
If it wasn’t legitimate research – Japan could simply quit IWC and whale commercially — just as Norway and Iceland do. I find it most interesting that nobody has a problem when white Europeans engage in commercial whaling; while some conspiracy theory is invented to demonize Japanese engaging in research whaling. Japan has been acting with a great deal of restraint in this manner by working within the framework. As has been pointed out several times, they can leave IWC any time they like and do the same as Norway and Iceland.
The author has claimed that the IWC Scientific Committee has criticized ICR’s methodology — but that is quite different than claiming it’s not science. That is, fundamentally, a scientific discussion. Nonetheless, I can find no report by the Scientific Committee to that effect. I can find minority reports filed by a handful of individuals that usually read more like editorials than scientific papers, but that is not the Scientific Committee nor is it a majority opinion.
The Scientific Committee has reviewed JARPN and JARPA 2 times each. They will be conducting another review next year. All of these reports have confirmed that it is legitimate scientific research.
The Scientific Committee has also approved of Japan’s scientific quota under Annex P every year. Approval under Annex P is not binding, but the Scientific Committee has denied proposals for scientific quotas put forth by other nations. Yet they have never denied JARPA or JARPN as not being scientific.
As for the author’s claim that the Antarctic is protected — plenty of fishing goes on in the Antarctic by countries all over the world. Why should whaling be any different?
The jingoistic claims that the Antarctic belongs to Australia and/or New Zealand are nothing more than the remnants of Western Imperialism and attempts at land grabs.
I find it rather ironic that people are supporting Australia’s desire to exploit the pristine Antarctic (just as they’ve ravaged the Australian continent) while claiming that they’re Environmentalists. Anti-whaling has no basis in Environmentalism or Conservation. Rather, Conservation principles support returning to full commercial whaling under the Revised Management Program. Conservation is not Prohibitionist and supports sustainable activities, which scientists agree whaling would be.
You can claim that I’m an extremist or that I “don’t accept your viewpoint”. But my opinions are based in the hard facts. I don’t accept your opinion because it’s clearly not based on the facts.
Nor will I be compelled to accept a “middle” position merely for the sake of political correctness.
The facts of the matter are that whaling is sustainable, Japan is engaged in legitimate research, Japan isn’t breaking any rules, Japan has no quota for humpbacks, etc.
This position is only made to look extreme by using terrorists like SSCS to skew the debate. It says a lot that you have to defend terrorism in order to make yourself look reasonable.
kujirakira , first you say your text is based on facts , where?
Second, if I read your text, you are hiding. Can I remind you that thinking like this gave us all radio activity. And yeh you can defend whale eating, NOT research . For research you don’t need to kill all these whales. If it is no industry : stop it and use the money for the radioactive problems.
But hey what happens there? Japan’s superior thinking process gave us a radioactive planet and was also trying to keep things quite no?
Let’s face it .The problem is money ! Nothing more nothing less.
And yes the USA will help japan. Why? did you see Who the USA needs to pay back? Japan is nr 2 in the list.
The result: working people have to step in and say STOP.
Why will we eat radioactive fish?
Why will we eat oil fish?
Who is poisoning our air and earth?
All money !
I just hope the Netherlands are not afraid off japan.
I remember the Spotted Owl fiasco that stopped an entire logging industry in the PNW. People and their survival took second place to one Spotted Owl.
And how did that work out for the people and the Spotted Owl? Short term the families of the loggers went hungry.
No group of people will willingly decimate their food supply. Take the long ago Plains Indians. They depended on their horses to hunt the buffalo and used every bit of the animals they killed for – food – clothing- foot ware – Tents – they needed the buffalo to survive.
They roamed to spread their need of the wildlife and nature of this great nation so not to ‘overgraze’ any one area. They were in tune with their world – they lived in balance. Some tribes more than others.
Then
Along came the ‘white guys’ and without thought they slaughtered the buffalo and left the once great herds in stinking rotting piles of useless flesh.
We are polluting our waterways and oceans. I stopped eating seafood years ago – other than an occasional tuna and wild salmon.
So – what about the whale? I don’t believe any nation will wipe out a food source and industry nor should thrill seekers have the right to harass other nations merely doing what they have apparently done for centuries…IMHO.
Sharon
Lets just face it.. research? Seriously?
Japan just loves a good whale snack.
I don’t know what kind of research Japan is doing that takes so many whale lives.
We surely don’t hear or see anything at all about their findings.
It is simple to say that everyone has his or her oppinion about the killings.
My oppinion though.. i’d love to see the whole Japanese fleet on the bottom of the ocean and for all i care… the whalers as well.
Or we could just shoot you with a harpoon? For research purposes only of course.
Oh but i gueSs THAT. . Is just a crruel thing to say huh..
Shoot ‘me or another human with a harpoon?
I hadn’t realized Netherlands folks were mindlessly violent.
What is the point of your comments? Beyond harpooning humans I mean.
Sharon
The following comment has relevance here because of the harpooning a human comment by sscsNetherlands and I hope you agree.
Fact is the Netherlands people are known for many things – mindless violence threats not among them.
As of September 2013, the fastest bike in the world race was won by a guy from Holland, Sebastriaan Bowier at Battle Mountain, Nev.
Riding a recumbent bicycle he reached 128.9 kmh!
Relevance to whales? Speed. Whales look like they’re moving pretty fast.
Sharon
It’s the way you take it Sharon.
Fact is i wouldn’t hurt a fly.
Fact is also that “by matter of speaking” killing a whale by shooting it with a harpoon is worth a discussion, yet as soon as you think about a harpoon being aimed on a human being it is an act of violence…
Get the picture..?
Killing these wonderful creatures in such a cruel way.. it breaks my heart and honestly.. if you are able to just watch that and then post a message about how normal and okay it is then what kind of heartless …….ahum.. are you?
All i really want is for people to realise that killing whales is no matter how you put it an act of violence and in my eyes if you kill a whale you are a murderer.
If someone shoots down one of your loved ones you’ll fight till your last breath to bring thst person to justice.. whales have loved ones, they are smart enough to realise their mother or daughter just got murdered.. but…….thats not at all violent.. just research.. well with all the respect.. and thats not much but defending these killers you are as cold as they are.. a good long look in the mirror might make you understand that defending a killer on itself is “violent”
I wonder why i’m being so idiotic to even post anything as it already becomes clear it has no point.
People will always have different opinions and thats fine really though things like this i can’t bring myself to try and see someone else his/her point of view.
I can post a thousand messages about how horrible it is to kill whales and all i end up with is double the amount of messages back to how abnormal I am not being okay with the cruel killing of whales and a lot of frustration.
And sharon.. one person does not represent a whole country?
I’m not at all violent but sure in the Netherlands you’ll find people who are.
And no matter what country you’ll find them everywhere! I mean for example all those people from different countries saying killing whales is fine makes it all to obvious violence is a plaque 🙂 go figure.
SscsNetherlands – yes, whales are beautiful – I’ve never seen one harpooned. Nor do I want to. I’m a huge fan of Lolita, who has survived in captivity dispite the odds against it, about forty years. The height of cruelty would be to rip her away – again – from her humans and environment to return her to her home place to die a cold and lonely death in these polluted Puget Sound waterways.
I rarely watch Animal Planet and will make a note of not watching the rouge thrill-seekers on it.
I appreciate your comments and may one day stop eating meat of any kind. What you describe for the whale could be a description for a cow, chicken or pig.
Sharon
sscsNetherlands Says:
“Lets just face it.. research? Seriously?”
Yes, seriously. THE international organization that regulates whaling acknowledges that Japan is conducting scientific research whaling under special permit as is allowed under international treaty.
“Japan just loves a good whale snack.”
Actually, according to polls only about 5% of Japanese eat whale meat. But regardless, that has NOTHING to do with whether or not they are conducting research whaling.
“I don’t know what kind of research Japan is doing that takes so many whale lives.”
So you admit your ignorance to an issue that seems to be of some importance to you? Why is that? You would think that if it was so important, that you would know everything there is to know about it.
“We surely don’t hear or see anything at all about their findings.”
That’s because you CHOOSE not to look. The majority of information is publicly available.
“It is simple to say that everyone has his or her oppinion about the killings.”
Opinions are one thing, but when you start ACTING on those opinions in a dangerous, and criminal way, then that goes beyond the line.
“My oppinion though.. i’d love to see the whole Japanese fleet on the bottom of the ocean and for all i care… the whalers as well.
Or we could just shoot you with a harpoon? For research purposes only of course.
Oh but i gueSs THAT. . Is just a crruel thing to say huh..”
No, it’s typical SSCS supporter behavior.
Advocating violence, injury, or death for someone who doesn’t share your opinion.
You seem to want others to accept YOUR opinions, but wish death on those that don’t share it.
Hypocrite much?
“It’s the way you take it Sharon.
Fact is i wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
What other way can it be taken when you wish many people dead?
“Fact is also that “by matter of speaking” killing a whale by shooting it with a harpoon is worth a discussion, yet as soon as you think about a harpoon being aimed on a human being it is an act of violence…
Get the picture..?”
Apparently YOU don’t “get the picture” Whales aren’t human.
“Killing these wonderful creatures in such a cruel way.. it breaks my heart and honestly.. if you are able to just watch that and then post a message about how normal and okay it is then what kind of heartless …….ahum.. are you?”
Nobody here has said that killing whales is “normal” nor “okay”.
Now you are just making stuff up. (Another SSCS supporter behavior)
“All i really want is for people to realise that killing whales is no matter how you put it an act of violence and in my eyes if you kill a whale you are a murderer.”
Another “opinion” you expect others to accept.
A whale can NOT be murdered. That is not an opinion, that is a FACT.
“If someone shoots down one of your loved ones you’ll fight till your last breath to bring thst person to justice.. whales have loved ones,”
Again, whales are NOT human.
“they are smart enough to realise their mother or daughter just got murdered..”
Says who? Who has interviewed the whales to get their impressions of what goes on during a hunt?
And AGAIN, Whales can NOT be murdered.
“but…….thats not at all violent..”
Who has said that whaling isn’t violent?
“just research..”
Yes, according to THE international organization that regulates whaling.
“well with all the respect.. and thats not much but defending these killers you are as cold as they are.. a good long look in the mirror might make you understand that defending a killer on itself is “violent””
So you are saying that every public defender that defends a person who commits murder is just as “violent” as the murder he is defending?
That is ludicrous.
“I wonder why i’m being so idiotic to even post anything as it already becomes clear it has no point.
People will always have different opinions and thats fine”
Again with the hypocrisy. You say that other people’s opinions are “fine” but then you wish death on them.
“really though things like this i can’t bring myself to try and see someone else his/her point of view.”
How about seeing FACTS? But since you are a SSCS supporter you are insulated from factual information and logical discussions by the lies and misinformation that flows from the organization like a waterfall.
“I can post a thousand messages about how horrible it is to kill whales and all i end up with is double the amount of messages back to how abnormal I am not being okay with the cruel killing of whales and a lot of frustration.”
Your having, or expressing, an opinion about killing whales is fine. (REALLY fine, not your hypocritical “fine”) but what is NOT “fine” is lies, misinformation, threats of, or advocating of violence and death to humans, just because you don’t agree with THEIR opinion.
“And sharon.. one person does not represent a whole country?”
And yet so many SSCS supporters condemn the entire country of Japan for the activities of a few whalers. Again, hypocrisy.
“I’m not at all violent but sure in the Netherlands you’ll find people who are.”
According to you, defending people who are “violent” is just as violent as they are, but actually advocating for the deaths of hundreds of people isn’t? Again, hypocrisy.
“And no matter what country you’ll find them everywhere! I mean for example all those people from different countries saying killing whales is fine makes it all to obvious violence is a plaque 🙂 go figure.”
And all those SSCS supporters, for example, advocating injury and death to Japanese, torpedoing ships, dropping atom bombs, harpooning people, feeding people to sharks, etc. isn’t a “plague”?
Sharon claims it would be cruel to return Lolita to her home to “die a cold and lonely death in these polluted waters.” Contrast this to the facts:
The waters of Biscayne Bay which flow into her tiny, dilapidated and illegal isolation tank are polluted. According to the NOAA: “The waters of Biscayne Bay are polluted by the Miami River discharge and the discharge of numerous sewer outfalls along the Bay front.”
Moreover, Lolita has not had the company of another killer whale for decades. Talk about lonely!
There are numerous scientific studies which illustrate the harmful, even fatal, effects of prolonged captivity on captured killer whales. Talk about cold and cruel!
Killer whale culture and intelligence is unique in the animal kingdom, unlike cows, chickens and pigs which are not sentient beings like Lolita.
So who is going to watch the 2 hour PR stunt on 12/13?