Whale Wars?

[Captain4242]

Anybody watch this show? Animal Planet Channel, Friday nights at 9 EST? How the heck does this Captain, Paul Watson, not lose his Maritime Certificate???? He intentionally rammed another ship. I'm sympathetic to his cause, but Jeez. C'mon, fella.
Don't try anyting like that with your Transport licence, guys.

 

[acpilot]

I caught that episode in a hotel last night. What an idiot. If that's the "norm" for this guy, he's bound to do some real damage eventually.

 

[svcta]

I love watching that show because of the sheer incompetence displayed by that crew. THe fact that they haven't killed themselves yet is just amazing luck.

That man will get someone killed before he's done.

 

[dlwdracos]

If you understood the damage the Japanese are doing to the endangered whale population you would better understand why the crew behaves like they do. If it was up to me, I would by a cold war surplus submarine and torpedo every one of those Jap boats.

That show makes me sick when I think about the slaughter of a very intelligent creature such as a whale. Supposedly the Jap's are only doing "research."

 

[svcta]

There is no justification for that captain to put a naive and completely inexperienced "crew" so close to peril. I honestly think that if most of those people knew how irresponsibly that guy operated that ship they would go home early. It is flagrant irresponsibility disguised and excused by enthusiasm for a cause.

Greenpeace even kicked this guy out and he was one of the founders. He is a loose cannon.

 

[acpilot]

There is no justification for that captain to put a naive and completely inexperienced "crew" so close to peril. I honestly think that if most of those people knew how irresponsibly that guy operated that ship they would go home early. It is flagrant irresponsibility disguised and excused by enthusiasm for a cause.

Greenpeace even kicked this guy out and he was one of the founders. He is a loose cannon.

He's not even a licensed captain! He just calls himself one!

He has no business being in command of a 200 foot, 885grt ship.

 

[dlwdracos]

Everybody is entitled to their opinion. However, I would ask how you would protect this precious natural resource. Yell at them over the radio?

 

[acpilot]

So you would rather see unlicensed "captains" with non-professional crews roving the oceans ramming ships to protect whales?? What happens when a foreign fishing vessel is damaged or destroyed by this psycho’s "tactics?"

I wonder if the Japanese fisherman can be granted authority to fight back...

NOTE: It's not a "precious natural resource" if we don't use it.

 

[dlwdracos]

So you would rather see unlicensed "captains" with non-professional crews roving the oceans ramming ships to protect whales?? What happens when a foreign fishing vessel is damaged or destroyed by this psycho’s "tactics?"

I wonder if the Japanese fisherman can be granted authority to fight back...

NOTE: It's not a "precious natural resource" if we don't use it.

I guess you do not believe in conservation of endangered species. It would appear that apathy reigns here on this topic.

What exactly do we "need" from the whales that we cannot get elsewhere?

 

[noperf]

Is it different when Alaskans hunt whales? Or is it just the Japanese that are the problem?

 

[acpilot]

I guess you do not believe in conservation of endangered species. It would appear that apathy reigns here on this topic.

You guess incorrectly.

 

[dlwdracos]

Is it different when Alaskans hunt whales? Or is it just the Japanese that are the problem?

There are not 127 million Alaskan Eskimo’s

 

[dlwdracos]

You guess incorrectly.

Then enlighten me as to how you would protect endangered species?

 

[svcta]

I saw one episode where Greenpeace was in the same area. They, as it was indicated, don't really advocate the use of the same tactics as the fat slob on the Steve Irwin.

Ask them what there ideas are.

By the way, it bothers me endlessly that "captain" Watson (is that right?) won't ever close his mouth when he breathes. He always just sits or stands there looking like a fat idiot breathing through his mouth.

Also, I just remembered that in one episode the Dutch g'vt called them and told them to knock it off. Apparently they sail under their (Dutch, as I recall) flag and have been told to stop using their ship as a platform from which to assault other ships. So now they have to use the zodiacs.

 

[noperf]

There are not 127 million Alaskan Eskimo’s

How many whales do the Japanese take per capita?

 

[PUNISHER]

So you would rather see unlicensed "captains" with non-professional crews roving the oceans ramming ships to protect whales??

Why yes, yes I would like to see that. It makes for great entertainment!

 

[acpilot]

Then enlighten me as to how you would protect endangered species?

I don't have to have a plan to protect endangered species. It's not that I don't care, but there are greater problems on this earth than whaling...that's a fact. If they can get what they need from other sources, they certainly should!

Protecting "endangered species" isn't the issue here. I'm MUCH more concerned about having a rogue "captain" (in name only, he's not licensed) ram fishing vessels and endanger the lives of his crew as well as those on the victim ship. He's already breached the hull of his ship once, who knows what he's done off-camera. Maybe I'm just crazy, but I place greater value on a human life.

Those Japanese fishermen are professional (or at least to a greater degree than the "Sea Shepards") sailors. They won't put up with this "captain's" shenanigans forever...

 

[acpilot]

Why yes, yes I would like to see that. It makes for great entertainment!

Yeah, I agree. I didn't want to admit it, but if I'm flipping through channels and see a bunch of yahoos recklessly slamming their ship into other ships (and then cheering)...I'm going to watch!

They're idiots with an incompetent, misguided leader and they are going to do serious harm to persons and property before they are finally arrested (or worse), but I am still going to watch...

 

[whaleroast]

They're idiots with an incompetent, misguided leader and they are going to do serious harm to persons and property before they are finally arrested (or worse), but I am still going to watch...

Wow, you just perfectly described the Bush administration under Cheney.

 

[acpilot]

I think it better describes the Obama admin (zero experience, slo-mo car crash)...but this thread is about Whale Wars, not politics.

 

[whaleroast]

I think it better describes the Obama admin (zero experience, slo-mo car crash)...but this thread is about Whale Wars, not politics.

Sorry, I couldn't resist and for the record I disagree with anyone who prevents the killing of whales because whale meat makes a good roast and their ambergris helps me ward off the plague and keeps my libido healthy.

 

[dlwdracos]

Here are the facts as they are now. Choose for yourself which side of the fence you are on. And remember, God is watching and those whales belong to him.

http://assets.panda.org/downloads/wwfiwc2005historyfinal.pdf

 

[NW_Pilot]

If you ever stop in Narsarsuaq, Greenland (BGBW) stay the night in the hotel and have the Greenlandic Buffet or just order yourself some whale it's yummy!

 

[24 carat]

The show really maked me laugh as well. If you are for the cause of fighting these whalers (and why wouldn't you be), then please do not give your money to this bunch of fumbling bafoons.

It's not just the incompetence of it all, it is the lack of vision on their part to even train people to use all the equipment on board properly. The only requirement to join the crew of this ship seems to be passion. Well, ok, cute and all, but in the real world a certain measure of competence would be nice. And training. And preparation. And leadership. Ok, I'll stop.

A good laugh though!

 

[Dizel8]

Around the world, it is just about only the japanese and the norwegians who believe they have the "right" to do "research" by killing whales.

There is no "research" being done, except for the important "whale is a delicacy" program.

 

[ATR-DRIVR]

Watched the collision episode last night. Notice it was Paul actually at the wheel and not Peter or one of the others. Seemed to me he didn't want any others there in case of an actual collision or thought he could do it better. Several shots showed him trying to turn the wheel with little response. Maybe some of you (if any) larger vessel skippers could answer this. As two large ships get close like that, is it possible that they could be sucked together being in close proximity with the helm being unresponsive? I know about the the underway replenishment with the navy but they are much farther apart than the Sea Shepard and #3.

 

[PUNISHER]

Watched the collision episode last night. Notice it was Paul actually at the wheel and not Peter or one of the others. Seemed to me he didn't want any others there in case of an actual collision or thought he could do it better. Several shots showed him trying to turn the wheel with little response. Maybe some of you (if any) larger vessel skippers could answer this. As two large ships get close like that, is it possible that they could be sucked together being in close proximity with the helm being unresponsive? I know about the the underway replenishment with the navy but they are much farther apart than the Sea Shepard and #3.

That's because he already had the wheel turned as far as it would go. The rudder was at its full limit and the wheel was on it's stop. The reason why the ship wouldn't turn is because he had the bow pinned against the stern of the other ship. It looked kind of like he was wrenching on the wheel in desperation.

 

[ATR-DRIVR]

I thought that too but it might have been they way the show was edited. Looked like he was trying to come left prior to impact...

 

[PUNISHER]

Yeah I thought it was ridiculous how they edited that sequence. They kept showing the same shots over and over and out of sequence. It was over dramatized and confusing.