Whale Wars

[TylerC]

I caught an episode of Animal Planets show "Whale Wars," and I didn't know what to think. Is what they are doing legal? For those who don't know about this show, I'll provide a brief summary of what they do, and this episode in particular.

Whale Wars takes place on the Steve Irwin, a ship full of volunteer "Sea Shepherds," who patrol the waters off of Australia looking for any illegal whaling activities. These men and women are not law enforcement officers, and they claim not to do anything illegal themselves. There goal is to deliver transmissions (and in the case of this episode I saw, the Japanese whalers wouldn't respond to them, so they actually sent a team to board the whaling boat to deliver this letter seen here - http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-080115-2.html ) and if the whalers don't listen, the Sea Shepherds throw acid "stink bombs," and other items to harass the whalers.

Now, here's the thing, the Japanese took the two men who brought the letter on board hostage, and according to the captain "kidnapped" them. They were held hostage for 3 days before being released.

In all of this pirate controversy, are you surprised that nothing is done about them, they ARE self-proclaimed pirates, and the U.S. Government is actually keeping surveillance on them.

What are your thoughts on this topic?

EDIT: That should fix the link.

 

[traceur_]

I think our navy should get off their arses and get rid of those fucking whalers, the bastard whalers sidestep a law by saying that it's for "research" but I think it's quite unusual to pack and sell your specimens to be eaten.

 

[Tech Team FTW!]

They do it in international waters.
No one is willing to put their navy into a situation that could be misconstrued as an act of war.

 

[Wordsandstuffwillbenexttothis8465]

Am I the only one who imagined two armies of whales fighting when i read the thread title?

And, just a heads up I got a 404 error when clicking your link might just be me though.

 

[Abedeus]

Am I the only one who imagined two armies of whales fighting when i read the thread title?

And, just a heads up I got a 404 error when clicking your link might just be me though.

I thought the same - giant armies of whales slamming themselves underwater.

International waters? Nothing can be done, there's no law 10km outside of the borders. Unless they get an international "WANTED DEAD NOT ALIVE" ticket, there's no way anyone will even try to get them.

 

[GodsOneMistake]

It really is a dick move by everyone involved, stop killing the whales whalers, and like a letter is gonna do anything to make them stop.

 

[Sparrow]

Now, here's the thing, the Japanese took the two men who brought the letter on board hostage, and according to the captain "kidnapped" them. They were held hostage for 3 days before being released...

What are your thoughts on this topic?

Nothing can better describe my feelings than LOL.

 

[InProgress]

Lookis like PETA has some supporters. Illegal whale hunting is bad, but so is being a dick at sea and throwing acid bombs at other people.

Both of the parties should be put in jail.

 

[lenin_117]

Am I the only one who imagined two armies of whales fighting when i read the thread title?

No, i thought that too. Everyone seems to just know that Japan is abusing a loophole rather then specifically carrying out what the legal document says. In the document (whatever it's called) it says that in the case of scientific research, the animal must not be wasted. Also, the whaling ships are running a loss and the government has to contribute just to make it so the comercial companies aren't losing money.

 

[ElephantGuts]

The whole policing the waters thing is fine as long as the people they're policing are in fact whaling illegally. However that doesn't give them the right to assault the whalers' boat and certainly not to board it. If they're going to board someone's boat without permission, the captain is completely within his right to capture them. It is an illegal act, after all.

 

[garfoldsomeoneelse]

Anybody else find it ironic that their boat is called "The Steve Irwin"?

I mean, the guy devoted his life to harassing animals.

They do it in international waters.
No one is willing to put their navy into a situation that could be misconstrued as an act of war.

Also, this.

 

[pffh]

There is nothing wrong with whaling if they aren't killing endangered whale species then let them whale in peace. I don't understand why whales are so much holier then other species.
Besides international waters and if the Australian navy would do something it could be seen as an act of war.

 

[TopHatTim]

Am I the only one who imagined two armies of whales fighting when i read the thread title?

And, just a heads up I got a 404 error when clicking your link might just be me though.

yeah i thought so too...then i thought "oh shit what if the whale wars turn in to world whale war and have to end it by nuking whales...."

then i remembered thats a retarded thought.

i got the 404 too

 

[TylerC]

And, just a heads up I got a 404 error when clicking your link might just be me though.

It's fixed now.

 

[Leorex]

There is nothing wrong with whaling if they aren't killing endangered whale species then let them whale in peace. I don't understand why whales are so much holier then other species.
Besides international waters and if the Australian navy would do something it could be seen as an act of war.

this, the whales can take care of them selves, and that caption is the dumbest, asshole of a caption ever, he sends 2 people to bring a letter to the other ship, and then says " i knew they would take hostages" well then why the fuck didnt you tell the 2 dumb asses who volunteered.

 

[FinalGamer]

I am surprised, but then again we've had enough of PETA's crap. Some experience will give them something to complain about for real.

 

[Flour]

I remember seeing that show being advertised. The captain of that ship got shot in the part I saw.

Since it's not their job to patrol the ocean looking for illegal fishing/whaling, I'm finding it difficult to sympathise with them, especially because they're not the ones that need money.

 

[Dahemo]

There is nothing wrong with whaling if they aren't killing endangered whale species then let them whale in peace. I don't understand why whales are so much holier then other species.
Besides international waters and if the Australian navy would do something it could be seen as an act of war.

Endangered whale species? They're not exactly a renewable resource. Whaling is illegal these days to begin with, regardless of international waters. Piracy on IW is still a prosecutable offence, as is any other crime. I'm no animal rights activist, I would lose limbs for bacon, but working tirelessly to destroy living things seems massively cruel to me. There's no major market for the produce anymore, just corrupt and wealthy people wanting to profit from an illegal activity. Your second point on the navy is very valid.

I apologise for this rant-ish post. I'll leave you to be incredibly blase and ignorant "in peace"...

 

[Neonbob]

Am I the only one who imagined two armies of whales fighting when i read the thread title?

And, just a heads up I got a 404 error when clicking your link might just be me though.

Sigh...that would be a wonderful, wonderful thing...

whales meh

Spoiler

I think I love you...in a brotherly kind of way.

On topic, I think the Japanese sailors did a great thing. Showing the protesters they weren't going to just idly sit by and take their crap is always a good step in my book. Especially after the stink bomb thing.

 

[Deleric]

PETA makes me lol.