REVIEW: “Whale Wars” on Animal Planet
We shouldn’t be whacking one of the greatest species on the planet…
- Peter Brown, first mate on the Sea Shepherd anti-whaling vessel Steve Irwin
I had a chance to take part in an advance viewing of Animal Planet’s “Whale Wars,” a TV docu-series that blends activism, adventure, and reality TV together. The series isn’t just a raw look at the conflict between Japanese “research” whaling vessels and environmentalists, but it documents a crew of mostly inexperienced newbies struggling to work together to expose and cease Japanese whaling activity. The series also highlights the feud between Greenpeace and Captain Paul Watson’s Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Captain Watson, a co-founder of Greenpeace, was voted out of the organization some years before, so there is a tension between the two organizations.
At sea, the crew’s home is the anti-whaling vessel Steve Irwin. The vessel embarks into the Southern Ocean in order to disrupt and expose Japanese whaling activity. Commercial whaling has been banned, but a loophole in the ban allows a certain number of whales to be taken for research purposes; however, the Japanese are taking advantage of this loophole by turning the whale meat into profit.
The Southern Ocean is a dangerous place for humans, but the Southern Ocean is also one of the most beautiful places on Earth. The series takes its viewers into this dangerous but beautiful environment, and viewers will note that these high seas result in aggravating seasickness for some of the crew.
Tools used by the crew to disrupt Japanese whalers include inflatable boats and stink bombs. The stink bombs disrupt the whaling activity by clearing the whaling vessel’s deck of her workers. The stink bombs also render any whale meat it contacts worthless, and a good thrower is required to deploy them onto a whaling vessel’s deck.
Launching the Zodiac inflatable is perhaps one of the more dangerous tasks for the anti-whaling activists, and in the first episode, a Zodiac inflatable flips upside down with its crew into the cold Antarctic waters during a launch (see image below). However, the crew’s Mustang survival suits saved them.
Finding the Japanese whaling fleet is a great challenge, and the anti-whaling vessel Steve Irwin uses a special helicopter to aid their search. Although in the first episode the helicopter was accidentally damaged, it later proved absolutely necessary in find the whaling vessels.
Personally, I thought the opening song from the Smashing Pumpkins’s, “Bullet With Butterfly Wings,” was very appropriate. The crew is fascinating and diverse, and there is even a vegan chef that prepares meals for them. I believe “Whale Wars” has the potential to be a really exciting series, and I recommend it. “Whale Wars” premieres Friday night, November 7th, at 9PM Eastern and Pacific on Animal Planet.
Read the press release:
Animal Planet Press Release: Whale Wars
On the Net:
- WHALING: The Japanese are illegally slaughtering minke whale calves
- Prior to Friday’s premiere of the new Animal Planet series Whale Wars, Japan’s Institute of Cetacean Research has accused Animal Planet of ecoterrorism.
- Japan & USA. Animal Planet collaborated with eco-terrorists claims Institute of Cetacean Research
Images provided by Animal Planet.
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I love you guys. God bless you for your big effort of trying to protect whales lives.
Those Whale Wars people are extreme Whale Wars!
I can’t believe they are using Steve Irwin’s name to conduct illegal activities.
I watch only hoping some of the pirates will be injured. International law clearly allows the Japanese to be whaling in this manner and I find nothing positive in the radical actions and lies of Greenpeace exile Watson and his naive crew of misfits.
I was so glad to see others feeling the way I do. This guy running this operation is perhaps the worst example of an environmentalist that I have ever seen in my life. The crew appears to be under a spell comparable to Jim Jones. Don’t they realize what a bad name they are giving people who are out there making a REAL difference. Get this show off the air. These idiots deserve no exposure at all. I am so incensed by these morons that I may never buy a Red Hot Chili Pepper song again.
I was so happy when Greenpeace would stand behind them.
It is TV marketing at its finest. Some genius at Animal Planet has managed to make a reality show that in reality is less exciting than watching baseball become the networks FRANCHISE player. Does anyone, anywhere ask how such an inept crew is tolerated? They are not victims of poor circumstances or bad luck; they are simply inexperienced and unprepared.
International law does not allow the Japanese to conduct whaling in this manner. Whales are allowed to be taken for scientific purposes, but the Japanese are clearly abusing this loophole by taking too many whales and as a result flipping a profit. While I do not necessarily agree with all the tactics conducted by the crew on the Steve Irwin, they are bringing attention to a matter where enforcement has been lacking (so who is making sure the Japanese are complying with international law—the Japanese?); although, the Australians are gathering evidence of Japan’s abuses after they took a calf and probably have taken calves (whale babies), which has been documented (taking calves is not allowed). Baleen Whale Catch Limits under Section 14 of The Schedule to the Convention states: “It is forbidden to take or kill suckling calves or female whales accompanied by calves.” The crew’s tactics may seem like piracy or ecoterrorism to some folks, but whaling is certainly deplorable, and there are many folks very impassionate about the environment and want it protected. Whaling is a stain on human history, and many species have never recovered, and some like the Atlantic and Pacific Right Whales may never recover. Certainly, we have evolved as a civilization not to harm such great and intelligent creatures.
I hate whailing, Love the show, and laugh at the pathetic crew of the Steve Irwin ( Rolling in his grave). Way to show how amateur these Hippie-crits are!
My boys and I watch every week.
Just to see what these SCREW-UPS are going to do next!
The crew is pathetic. They have no business being at sea. The captain was SLEEPING while their crew was lost at sea! They are going to get themselves killed over nothing. They arent even doing any good.
I can appreciate the compassion for the whales, and I whole heartedly agree with the consept. I really have a problem with the captain of the ” Steve Irwin” When I was living in Fort Saint John BC, he and some other protesters came out to have their say about the wolves and they wanted to stop people from killing them.He got lost in the bush and people had to be sent out to find him. He was an idiot then and he is still an idiot today. Sending people out in a little dingy in the middle of the ocean in the middle of the night!!! How come he wasn’t in the dingy? He is just a big looser and I can’t understand people that can be stupid enough to follow such an idiot. There I gave my point of view. I do totally agree with the concept just not the leadership. Thankyou for the opportunity to voice my feelings on the matter.
I agree Dale.
Does anyone have any info on Shannon Mann or her new charity F.L.E.A.?
Hi Jonathan…
I had to put F.L.E.A. on hold during the time I was on the ship, however, I’m on my way back to Canada in the next few weeks and will work on F.L.E.A when I arrive.
If you are interested, you can send me an email… or message on facebook.
Shannon
Does this mean you’ll cease being a terrorist?
The Captain and the crew are such idiots, I end up rooting for the Whalers.
But makes for a great TV show!
Actually, there is absolutely no international law that prohibits the Japanese from doing what they are doing. Restrictions on whaling in international waters are by treaty only. Those in this show have made it quite clear through their numerous inaccurate statements that they have no knowledge of international law; they are manufacturing their own blatantly inaccurate “interpretation” of what is stated in various U.N. or treaty documents to fit their personal beliefs. On the other hand, there absolutely IS international law against piracy. Boarding a ship at sea without permission, throwing items on a ship which are intended to make conditions on the deck hazardous, and attempting to disable a ship at sea are ALL clear acts of piracy. These people are not just inept lunatics, they are criminals. By refusing to prosecute them and by providing a safe harbor for their ship the Australian government is supporting piracy. Their behavior can be considered by Japan as an act of aggression toward a sovereign nation. The actions of these self-righteous individuals actually are disruptive to diplomatic efforts by legitimate organizations to negotiate and produce a real and lasting end to whaling.
Well said. The whales are in deep *&^$ with these lunatics in the fray.
Well said!!!! The criminal activities of these “activists” disturbs me to my core! I am amazed that these people are proud of their activities and ludicrous behavior toward other human beings. I cannot understand how these people can seriously take the livelihood of the Japanese fishermen and look themselves in the mirror in the morning. Granted, the company that conducts the research are not hurting for cash , but the people who are actually on the research boats are NOT the company they work for. The fisherman on the Japanese research ships probably have families themselves, and unless the crew of the Steve Irwin (God rest him) are willing to offer employment and or/ training for alternative employment for the crew of the Japanese research boats, they should consider saving the whales by other means. The people who participate in the activities of the Sea Shepherd are bullies and need to be brought to justice, not given publicity and their own t.v show!!!!!
If you have a genuine interest in FLEA, you can email me at shann.mann@gmail.com and I’ll provide you with some info
-shannon
Hi Jonathan,
I happened to browsing through this page… I started the FLEA Foundation a few years ago but obviously had to put it on the back burner since I’ve been crewing with Sea Shepherd abroad. Anyway, If you would like some more info… email me at shann.mann@gmail.com and I’ll provide you with some info
-Shannon Mann
Norway and Iceland opening defy the ban on commercial whaling. Japan is the only country that gets criticized though.
The subject of whaling is quite emotional for many people. I’m not quite sure who’s correct. But I think the “Sea Shepherd”‘s tactics are dangerous.
http://tokyo5.wordpress.com/2009/02/07/sea-shepherd/
all of you idiots out there dissing the sea shepard should burn in hell. at least someone is out there doing something about it. there is no need to kill whales or in the volumes that they do. the fact that anyone could see nothing wrong with what people are doing to animals disgusts me. most of the comments that i have read are only that of hate towards the sea shepard and its crew. there tactics may be ”out there” but the japenese and any other people doing what there doing to the whales or any other animals need a rude awakening. they say they do it for ”research” is a load of shit. where are the records of the ”research” that they are doing? and im pretty sure we have had enough knowlege about them that we dont need to do anymore. and if its for research why do they kill a mother and her calf? steve erwin would be rolling in his grave over the abuse of the whales.
This is obviously an emotional issue for you.
But the fact is, Japanese whalers are operating legally. The IWC gave Japan permission to hunt whales…and they agreed that there are plenty of whales in the ocean.
But the “Sea Shepherd” group are dangerous and act illegally.
Um…. first of all, you obviously lack a proper education in terms of spelling and various other disciplines. If you had a clue, and I highly recommend you get one, you would check up on the difference between legal and illegal activities. If you did, you would realize that the crew of the Sea Shepherd are actively participating in illegal activities that could potentially RUIN the LEGAL activities of those who are truly trying to make a difference and save the whales. The bat-shot crazy Captain of the Steve Irwin is clearly on a power trip and could care less about the whales or any one else but himself! If he, and everyone else in the crew , really cared about the whales, they would go through the proper diplomatic channels resulting in permanent solutions rather than “putting a dent” in whaling activities. The issue can only be solved at the root, through the governments of companies who conduct research on whales and NOT by sticking a preverbal band-aid on the problem with stink bombs and piracy. And for God’s sake- get a spell checker!!!!!!!
the only question i have for this crew is how are they actually going to stop this japanese people from whaling? this is so rediculous, all they do is chase them around and end up wasting alot of money for gas, food and others. I think this crew is just want to have a tour in alaska and they not there to stop the japanese. They are useless and rediculours. If they want to stop Japanese find a better way and stop wasting american dollars for nothing.
i love whale wars!!
thy do some crazy stuff but it bis for the whales
ship of fools.
I am disgusted. We shouldn’t even be discussing the hunting of whales in this century let alone hunting them. Whaling is morally wrong and should be condemned period. We take for granted that we are superior when we decide what other species should live or die, a concept which shouldn’t have lived through the 19th century. Sure, Paul and his crew are stumbling about, but at least they’re doing something about it. Whaling is NO, regardless of laws and treaties!
I watched whale wars for the first time last night.I saw a killing of a whale.
It was really horrible!!!!!!!!Japan makes alot of money doing this.They could
give a shit about science!Look at the way they kill dolphins!They give a shit
about nothing but money!The sea shepard is really wasting their time but they
really care about this and really this has to stop!I will not whatch the show
again, it really was horrible!
ok think of this japan, what if you were a whale having a harpoon shuved up ur asses. would u think that would hurt or even affect you at all? o wait you would be dead crazy eye motha lovers. hunting whale is illegal and has been since 1986. so why dont u do some thing else for a living or are other jobs as poor as you? get a brain or a head screwed on right before acting on animals who mean no one harm. i would be happy if all your whaling boats were on the bottom of the fucking ocean
These people are nothing but thugs, pirates and just plane idiots. I am against whaling but this fat ass so called captain is all for his own glory. They are not helping by any means. One day he is going to get one of these crew members killed. But maybe that is his overall plan.
SEA SHEPHERD’S VIOLENT HISTORY
1977: Founding member of Greenpeace, Paul Watson, expelled from the organisation after a campaign against sealing during which he threw the sealers’ clubs and skins into the sea.
1977: Watson establishes Sea Shepherd organisation. States that Sea Shepherd is not a protest organization. “We are [a] self-appointed policing organization given credibility by the terms of the United Nations Earth Charter of 1982.”
1978: Watson admits to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) programme As It Happens that his work is aimed at raising funds for his organisation, Sea Shepherd.
Watson: “You see, the seal is very easy to exploit as an image. We have posters, we have buttons; we have shirts … all of which portray the head of the baby seal with tears coming out of its eyes. Baby seals are always crying because the salt tears keep their eyes from freezing. But they have this image of … they are baby animals; they are beautiful. And because of that, coupled with the horror of the sealer hitting them over the head with a club, it is an image which just goes right to the heart of animal lovers all over North America.”
1979: A Sea Shepherd vessel rams the whaling vessel “Sierra”, causing considerable damage. “Sierra” survives attack.
1980: The IWC at its meeting in Brighton, United Kingdom, assigns high-level protection to two Canadian Government delegates after Watson threatened to kill them for voting against a moratorium on sperm whales. Delegates given Royal Canadian Mounted Police protection until their return home to Canada.
1980: The “Sierra” is sunk in Lisbon harbour. Sea Shepherd claims responsibility. Investigation shows limpet mines used to blow up the vessel.
1981: Sea Shepherd claims responsibility for the sinking of the two whaling vessels, Ibsa I and Ibsa II, in the Spanish harbour of Viga.
1983: Paul Watson and “Sea Shepherd” vessel engineer Paul Pezwick, tried and convicted in a Quebec, Canada, court for “interfering in the annual seal hunt in the Gulf of St. Lawrence”. Trial followed arrest in March 1983 when “Sea Shepherd” vessel boarded by Canadian police. “Sea Shepherd” fortified including electric barbed wire around the deck’s edges. Seventeen crew arrested. Watson and three others flee across ice to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, but caught and arrested. Watson charged additionally with piloting a ship in a dangerous manner, intimidation of the sealers and being unlawfully within a half mile of the seal hunt – a violation of the Seal Protection Regulations. Watson sentenced to 15 months imprisonment.
1983: In retaliation for Watson’s arrest by Canadian police, animal rights extremists slash car tires and spray paint slogans on walls of buildings in the inner city of Quebec. “Fisheries Murder Seals” and “Set Paul Watson Free” slogans spray painted on the Department of Fisheries and Oceans offices in Keele Street. Animal Liberation Front delivers letter to the Quebec Star newspaper admitting causing several thousand dollars worth of damage to the Department’s Keele Street offices.1986: Sea Shepherd attempts to stop Faroe Islands pilot whale harvest. Using rifles, Sea Shepherd activists shoot at Faroe Islands police in an attempt to sink their rubber dinghies. The vessel “Sea Shepherd” was ordered to leave Faroese territorial waters. The police report of 7 October 1986 states: “One of the rubber dinghies was attacked directly by a “Speed Line” line rifle. The attack … endangered the lives of the police crewmembers … and signal flares containing phosphorous was thrown at the police. At a later stage the Sea Shepherd used “toads” (rotating iron spikes, pointed and sharp at both ends) against the rubber dinghies … petrol was poured over the side of the ship and signal flares were thrown from the “Sea Shepherd” in an attempt to set the petrol on fire.”
1986: Sea Shepherd claims responsibility for the sinking of two whaling vessels in Reykjavik, Iceland, and for malicious damage to a whaling station. (This act of violence was carried out after Iceland stopped whaling in line with the IWC moratorium on commercial whaling.) Attack carried out by Sea Shepherd members Rodney A. Coronado and David Howitt. (Coronado linked to Animal Liberation Front and arrested eight years later by United States FBI for his part in an ALF attack on Michigan State University research laboratory. Charges included use of an explosive device, theft and arson.)
1988: Paul Watson returns in Iceland demanding to be held responsible for the sinking of the whaling vessels in Reykjavik in 1986. (He is arrested and held for questioning and told he could face several years’ imprisonment. In a press release, the Icelandic Ministry of Justice stated: “At questioning, Paul Watson has admitted that he has given some remarks that connect him with the sabotage, but in spite of this he now claims that he neither took part in the planning nor the execution of the sabotage.”) There was no evidence incriminating Watson. He was ordered to leave the country and declared persona non grata in Iceland.
1991: A US crew member on a Mexican fishing vessel, reports that Sea Shepherd, some of whose crew were armed with rifles, rammed his vessel causing considerable damage.
1991: Scott Trimmingham, president of Sea Shepherd quits in protest. “We had rules about not hurting anyone, about not using weapons. I left because those rules and that philosophy seems to be changing.” Outside magazine (Sept. 1991). Paul Watson admits there are arms on board “Sea Shepherd”. “We confront dangerous people. As the captain, it is my responsibility to protect the lives of my crew … Therefore, I have prepared myself for the possibility of defending my crew in a situation that could go never occur, but if it does I will use firearms to first intimidate and then to defend,” Watson tells the Los Angeles Free Weekly (April 24, 1992).
1992: Sea Shepherd makes unsuccessful attempts at ramming three Costa Rican fishing vessels. In a written complaint to the local authorities the fishermen report that the Sea Shepherd crew shot at them with bullets containing a red substance, hitting two of them and causing them great pain.
1992: Sea Shepherd makes unsuccessful attempt at scuttling the whaling and fishing vessel “Nybræna” at her moorings in the Lofoten Islands, northern Norway. Attack committed by Paul Watson, girlfriend Lisa DiStefano and one other Sea Shepherd member. Watson later states: “The scuttling of the Nybræna was not a terrorist or criminal act. We were responsible for removing an instrument of death and destruction without causing death or injury.” Charges laid against Watson, who fails to turn up in court. Watson convicted in absentia and sentenced to 120 days in prison.
1992: Sea Shepherd vessel “Whales Forever” collides with Norwegian Coast Guard vessel “Andenes” on July 4. Charges against Paul Watson include negligent navigation, refusal to leave
Norwegian waters on orders of the Coast Guard and transmitting false distress signals. (Tape supplied)
1993: Paul Watson orders the crew on board the Sea Shepherd vessel “Edward Abbey” (formerly US Navy) to open cannon fire at a Japanese fishing vessel. Sea Shepherd crew do not carry out the order, but instead fire a shot across the bow of the Japanese vessel. The Japanese vessel does not stop. (Recorded by Yorkshire Television Documentary “Defenders of the Wild – Ocean Rider”.)
1993: Paul Watson claims in an open letter to the people of Norway that Sea Shepherd has sunk eight ships and rammed and damaged a further six vessels. In the same letter, he states: “The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is a law abiding organization. We rigidly adhere to and respect the laws of nature or lex natura. We hold the position that the laws of ecology take precedence over the laws designed by nation states to protect corporate interests … the smell of guilt is already a stench in the nostrils of God.”
1993: Federal Grand Jury in Michigan State hands down five-count indictment against Coronado for illegal use of explosives, extortion, threats to interfere with interstate commerce and interstate transportation, to commit arson, theft and destruction of government property and for receiving stolen property. Indictments stem from February 1992 fire-bombing of Michigan State University in East Lancing. Coronado involved in sinking two whaling vessels in Iceland in 1986.
1994: Sea Shepherd claims responsibility for the unsuccessful attempt at scuttling the combined minke whaling and fishing vessel “Senet” at her moorings in Gressvik. The vessel was salvaged, but the water had caused considerable damage. Paul Watson tells Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet on January 26 that former US navy “Seal” commandos took part in attack on the Senet. “Certainly these men are trained to kill, but they are also well disciplined and respect my orders,” he told the newspaper.
1994: Sea Shepherd loses observer status at the International Whaling Commission. IWC Secretary, Ray Gambell, declares that the IWC and all its member states ardently condemn Sea Shepherd’s acts of terrorism.
1994: US National Fisheries Institute asks for investigation into Sea Shepherd. “The recent alleged actions against Norwegian fishing vessels constitute a clear case of piracy,” it says in a letter to former US IWC Commissioner James Baker. “Acts of violence against fishermen of any nation cannot be tolerated. Their safety and livelihood could be threatened unless US officials vigorously condemn violence on the high seas.”
1997: Paul Watson arrested at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, Netherlands, for the 1992 attempted scuttling of the Norwegian combined whaling and fishing vessel “Nybræna”. Arrested by Dutch police after Interpol issues warrant. Serves 80 days in prison in the Netherlands, the equivalent of the necessary two-thirds of the 120-day prison sentence handed down by Norway.
2000: Watson campaigns against the Makah people of Northwest United States. He uses intimidation to prevent the Makah from carrying out their IWC approved catch of the gray whale.
2002: Watson tells Animal Rights 2002 Conference in Washington DC that if a person dies from one of his actions, he would consider it “collateral damage”. He believes it is not possible to “commit violence against non-sentient objects. Property damage is not violence.”
By tainting the whale meat or preventing the process of the whale is only going to cause the whale hunters to kill more whales. I can’t believe how stupid these people are. Instead of riding around in boats, polluting the ocean with ropes,acids,and diesel fuel, use whale alarm calls to scare the whales away from the whaling vessels. A bunch of morons exploiting the killing of whales for their personal gains and fame.
This show is the stupidest show I’ve ever watched they spend months chasing or being followed by the whalers Biggest idiots ever STUPID SHOW these guys remind me of the kids I used to beat up in elementary school please quit wasting time on tv VERY TERRIBLE SHOW bunch of little girls
this is so fake on episode 7 when Paul was looking for the fleeet the factory ship was right over his shoulder and paul said he didnt know where the fleet was ..This happens 37 miniutes in the show
Regardless of your position on whaling the “Warriors” seem to be a bunch of Tim The Toolman Taylor, accident-prone, whiners.
However, not since the televising of live baseball have so many viewers, spent so much time, watching nothing that actually happen. Someone at Animal Planet Marketing is a Genius!
How about we find a Brownie and Cub Scout troop and let them replace the crews?
What a buch of stupid people,a group of clowns they never NEVER SAFE nothing hahahahaha ….
WHAT A JOKE!!!!!!!!
Animal planet what a disappointment you guys can make better shows!!!!! this one it is a filth and the sad part is that the poor whales are getting kill and instead the show keeps doing nothing about it….
group of looser!!!!!!!!!!
do somenthing…please safe WHALES send prepared crew….