Anyone watch Whale Wars???

[handejector]

I deleted two posts because WW II doesn't really figure into the discussion at hand.

I'm with you sip. I think what makes whales different is there diminishing numbers. Bad example, but would you be okay with another nation killing bald eagles because it is part of their diet?

Me?
Would I be OK with another nation killing bald eagles?
You're right- bad example.
Where are these eagles? Are they in Japan? Are they here?
If they are here, NON issue.
If they are in Japan, who cares?
Do you want Japan telling us we can't hunt turkeys?
Do you want India telling us the burgers and T-bones have to go?

If we can tell Japan they can't whale on the open sea, why can't they tell us we can't fish on the open sea?

Laissez-faire, my friend, laissez-faire.

You only deserve the freedom you are willing to extend to others.

As I said, I would hate to see the whale disappear from the earth.
I would hate seeing the sovreignty of nations (particularly mine) disappear from the earth a lot more.

 

[sheriffoconee]

It is NONE of my business, or Fatbeards on the Sea Shepard business if Japan harvests whales in compliance with the treaties that have been signed, for research or groceries, it matters not to me...
If ships were doing to our fishing fleet what those so called "saviors of the whales" were doing to the Japanese I would hope our Navy would torpedo them to the bottom of the sea...

 

[KLNFrame]

You only deserve the freedom you are willing to extend to others.QUOTE]

This reminds me of a post a couple of weeks ago.International waters,No whales but the ship was boarded illegally.I suppose it's who you call friends and who you call Pirates ( Terrorists ).


Peter

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

The japanese eat whales. I must assume that the whale does not hold his life any dearer than the salmon and tuna and shrimp that I eat. Though I would hate to see whales disappear from the earth, I can't come up with a good argument for forcing other nations to do my will outside my national borders when no threat to my safety and sovreignty is involved.

Some might say that trading whales for other sea life is an underlying point to this issue.

Interesting article titled: Did Greens help kill the whale?

Summary: Japan objected to the International whaling ban. US told Japan that their fishing quotas in US waters would be cut if they undermined the ban. US and Japan reached an agreement and Japan would stop whaling by 1988. In the meantime.... efforts by US fisherman and Greenpeace led to reducing Japan's fishing quotas beginning in 1984 and by 1988 their quota was zero. Japan continued whaling.

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Did Greens help kill the whale?

 

[sipowicz]

Good point KLN.

And as Phil pointed out, it's an international whaling ban...not just the US telling Japan not to fish...if we can have a UN to decide what countries can and cannot do (no matter how ineffective the UN is), then the collective world should be able to stop the slaughter of whales. We invaded countries to stop the spread of Communism even though a large part of the word embraced it...Then I guess to be fair, Commies should be allowed to invade countries to stop the spread of Democracy.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Since the IWC (International Whaling Commission) is currently considering lifting the ban on whaling........ plans to invade Japan may be a bit premature.

 

[michael thornton]

what do they get from a whale?meat, blubber, how long does it take for a whale to get big enough to prossess?

 

[sipowicz]

how long does it take for a whale to get big enough to prossess?

Not sure of the time, but once they meet Rosie O'Donnell's weight, the hunt is on.

 

[Kevin G]

I've tried to watch it a few times and ended up shaking my head and walking away. I'm a merchant marine deck officer w/35yrs experience, some of the stuff said and shown on the show makes my blood boil.
I don't like what the Japanese are doing at all, but think this is not the right way to go about changing things. Send a msg through economics, boycott Jap goods, it'll get their attention.
I first became aware of Greenpeace as a cadet while ashore down in New Zealand in the early 70's. Cute gal was passing out leaflets and collecting $ for a Batic Trader sail vessel "FRI" to go and protest/disrupt French nuclear tests in the S Pacific. She was cute as a button, I didn't think much of either the testing or the French so I contributed a few bucks and ended up on a mailing list where I recieved GP info for a few years.
Flash fwd and Watson split or got thrown out of Greenpeace for being too militant a few years later. Went out on his own and rammed and sank a "pirate" whaling ship, the "Sierra" I think.
I met Watson in the late 70's or early 80's when he was up in Portland Maine waiting to go up and disrupt the Harp Seal harvest. He's very good at PR, was on the local TV channels drumming up support for his mission. Spoke of his ship having all this fancy gear, water cannon, electric fencing etc. I was home from sea, had nothing going on and thought a trip up into the ice would be interesting so went up to Portland to check out the operation. Because of my experience and credentials I was a desireable recruit and was given the Grand Tour. The ship was a mess. Old steel N Sea trawler around 100' that was well past its prime and hadn't seen much in the way of maintainence in quite a while, few if any engine and equip. spare parts. The reported fancy electronic nav gear was garbage. Security system consisted of barbed wire strung on insulators around the ship's perimeter where the switch would be thrown at the appropriate time. Wonder to this day what effect the salt water spray residue had. The list went on.
Crew for the most part were young dreamers looking to pretend-play being sailors and save the seals. They were contributing $$$ for the right to be there. Rich kid dreamers.
I had quickly decided this was not for me, I was looking at a potential death trap.
Later I read in the paper the ship got up into the ice, got beset (stuck), crew walked miles over the ice to shore where they were all arrested.
Since then I've seen Watson's name in the news now and then. He now seems to have struck gold by reinventing himself as a whale activist and marketing it.
Watching his behavior on board the ship I've concluded he's got awful leadership qualities, he's really not much of a seaman, and he's morally wrong to be risking human sfety & life in pursuit of his agenda.
No good will come of "Whale Wars".
Tks, Kevin

 

[bk43]

...if we can have a UN to decide what countries can and cannot do (no matter how ineffective the UN is), then the collective world should be able to stop the slaughter of whales.

The "collective world" also wants to disarm US citizens so all our evil, dangerous firearms will stop slaughtering the rest of the world. Screwum. The rest of the world has no business tell us what to do in our own country and we have no business telling other countries what they can do in international waters.

I watched a little last night for the first time just because of this thread. Where do I go to get paid for the 15 minutes of my life I wasted?

Bob

 

[george minze]

Yes the whales are majestic creatures. Yes the Japanese are pushing the limit of the international treaty. However the tactics used to disrupt them appear like piracy to me and very dangerous to the Sea Shepard's and the Whalers alike. remember there are plenty of people that don't like off shore drilling here. i sort of like turning on the lights and heat and getting them when I want. As far as the UN is concerned, what is the last thing they have done constructive, with the exception of the World Health organization. They can't stop the killing in Africa but have the nerve to tell the Israelis they can't protect themselves. I say treat the Sea Shepard's like what they are violent pirates, If they want to stand aside and photo the whale harvest that is fine, that way maybe public opinion would eventually stop all whaling. As i saw their tactics come close to warfare and at best very dangerous seamanship. Remember there are millions here that would ban hunting, gun ownership, maybe next Bass fishing, sic.....Be careful what you wish for, your just might be the receiver of what you wish for, I saw the attempt to ram the Japanese Ship looked like a very irresponsible act to say the least. Glad he wasn't around when we were the largest purchaser of whale oil. Would have been a dark world. When we can't mine coal, which we have the biggest reserve off and can't drill for oil, we become slaves to those who can....Those same people that want to end oil exploration and coal mining also don't want Nuclear Plants...Go Wonder just my opinion everybody has one or more.....

 

[woodsltc]

Yes the whales are majestic creatures. Yes the Japanese are pushing the limit of the international treaty. However the tactics used to disrupt them appear like piracy to me and very dangerous to the Sea Shepard's and the Whalers alike. remember there are plenty of people that don't like off shore drilling here. i sort of like turning on the lights and heat and getting them when I want. As far as the UN is concerned, what is the last thing they have done constructive, with the exception of the World Health organization. They can't stop the killing in Africa but have the nerve to tell the Israelis they can't protect themselves. I say treat the Sea Shepard's like what they are violent pirates, If they want to stand aside and photo the whale harvest that is fine, that way maybe public opinion would eventually stop all whaling. As i saw their tactics come close to warfare and at best very dangerous seamanship. Remember there are millions here that would ban hunting, gun ownership, maybe next Bass fishing, sic.....Be careful what you wish for, your just might be the receiver of what you wish for, I saw the attempt to ram the Japanese Ship looked like a very irresponsible act to say the least. Glad he wasn't around when we were the largest purchaser of whale oil. Would have been a dark world. When we can't mine coal, which we have the biggest reserve off and can't drill for oil, we become slaves to those who can....Those same people that want to end oil exploration and coal mining also don't want Nuclear Plants...Go Wonder just my opinion everybody has one or more.....

+1, very sensible reply. You hit the nail on the head IMO.

 

[dld]

UN

Good point KLN.

And as Phil pointed out, it's an international whaling ban...not just the US telling Japan not to fish...if we can have a UN to decide what countries can and cannot do (no matter how ineffective the UN is), then the collective world should be able to stop the slaughter of whales. We invaded countries to stop the spread of Communism even though a large part of the word embraced it...Then I guess to be fair, Commies should be allowed to invade countries to stop the spread of Democracy.

what if the UN decides we can't own guns, should the collective world should be able to stop us from owning them?

 

[red14]

what if the UN decides we can't own guns, should the collective world should be able to stop us from owning them?

If there is money, bright lights and reporters in it, Watson will lead the charge.

 

[Losov]

I'm happy to see that I'm not alone in rooting for the Japanese. However, I cannot tolerate watching that show long enough to see how it turns out for either side. The cameras are on the wrong ship.

 

[bushmaster1313]

I think the anti-whalers are related to the tree-huggers who spike old trees.

 

[DeathGrip]

It appears as they are gonna go hassle the Vikings in a new show coming soon. I hope they get "it" handed to them. I wonder how much finance they get from who.

I love whales but I love bacon too. Does anyone think the Japanese could raise enough beef to support their needs? They gotta eat and if you think about it they'll eat about anything. I draw the line with Shark Finning or Bear Gallbladders etc. Get your jollies somewhere else. Go eat a Blowfish. I don't care. But don't harvest an animal for just one part.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

This ought to be as good as it was the time the PETA people showed up at the Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo. Some of those people damn near got killed!!!

 

[chud333]

I'm with you Caj. I root for the Japanese vessels too. You see the
shows where the Japanese vessels have the ultra-high frequency
radar/noise makeing thingy? I keep watching and hoping all the
hippies **** their pants when they get bombarded with that deal.

Terrorists Plain and simple.

chuck

 

[Smokin' Iron]

Paul Watson, who captains the eco-whackos' ship, has quite a history of violence directed against those he deems worthy of attack. I think his real goal is to get some of his fellow shipmates killed and thereby create a firestorm of protest that will end whaling.

This. Paul Watson was thrown out of Greenpeace because of his radical and violent behavior.

 

[COL Jagdog]

Under Geneva and The Hague guidelines/convention, closing with and boarding or impeding a flagged vessel under way on the high seas is actionalble as piracy or an act of war (the importance of a "flagged vessel") -- I am not a proponent of whaling but absolutely defend the right of the Japanese to defend their vessels -- if anything, the Japanese have shown admirable restraint. Not that the French are the model to emulate in things militaire' (except perhaps for their paratroopers and the FFL); the French got it right by kicking the
brie out of the Greenpeace crowd and sinking one of their vessels.
Great video opportunity: the Japs harpoon one of the Greenpeace
protesters, reel him in, gut him and throw him back in. End of Greenpeace protests.

 

[COL Jagdog]

Alibi: meant to say "actionable"

 

[kraigwy]

What is the difference between Japanese harvesting whales for food and Alaska Natives harvesting whales for food??

 

[chud333]

What is the difference between Japanese harvesting whales for food and Alaska Natives harvesting whales for food??

"BINGO" !!! But the Inuit would probably not be as kind
to the terrorists as the Japanese. Would'nt make for good
TV i suppose to see an alaskan native on a snowmobile
shoot an eco-terrorist with a .30-06 or would it ???


chuck

 

[NE450No2]

Random thoughts.
The anti whale people would also ban all hunting, and all fishing...

I would not want to see ALL the whales killed, nor ALL the deer, wild pigs, ducks, or elephants. And I have killed all of the former, including several elephants... AND I have eaten the meat from all of them...

Here is a bit of trivia. After WWII, the Japs were facing a severe protein shortage. It was none other than General Douglas Mac Arthur, that authorized the reformation of the Jap whaling , and other fishing industry...

The "Rules of Whaling" were designed/engineered/established, to allow the Japs to continue to harvest the number of whales they need to sustain their whale food industry. The Norwegiens have their quota as well.

I have never eaten whale meat. But I have eaten seal, and I liked it.

I like lobster, crab, salmon,shrimp, most other "seafood", cows, pigs, and chickens. I would not want any of them to become extinct.

But Green Peace would not let us eat any of the above... If they had their way.

IF, I owned a Jap Whale fishing company, I would buy a few 50 cal Barretts, a "few" RPG's and the TV show would be in its Final season...