Anyone watch this show? What's your take on it?

Keith

I saw an episode...my take?

Considering how much money the Sea Shepherds obviously have (did you get a load of that boat?), you'd think they'd be smart enough to put at least ten minutes into training the "crew" before putting to sea...

The "crew" was a bunch of completely untrained and inexperienced hippies who couldn't even launch the Zodiacs without completely making a mockery of it...they ended up with one dude with a broken hand, and one woman with a broken pelvis.

It took them so long to launch the boats that they never even caught up with the whaling ship that they had on visual, but soon lost...though that might be in part that the sonar/radar guy had never even been on a ship in his life before leaving port for that trip.

Watson wouldn't put himself on the launch because he was afraid of what they'd do to him if they caught him...so instead he sent an entire boarding crew of women, mostly on their first boat ride ever.

When everything went sideways...and everything did go sideways...it was like a reality show, with interviews of each crew member whining about it and blaming it on someone else.

They have no discipline, no chain of command, no experience, and no qualified leadership...not exactly a recipe for much success.

Whatever good they cause by getting national TV exposure is at best being countermanded by how ridiculous they look...at best...in my estimation they are doing harm to actual environmental activism performed by professionals, not a bunch of self righteous and whining rich hippy kids.

Fish on...

Todd

Haven't seen it. Must be on cable...


Sea Shepherd Preservation Society used to be very hard core. It sank EVERY ONE of Iceland's whaling ships in the mid eighties. I thought Sam S still had a bounty on his head from the country of Iceland (they were a little pissed when the economy of many small subsistence villages was completely destroyed)?

He was the guy who came out in the news and said he was gonna sink the Makah whaling canoes back when that whole mess started. He said that if the coastguard got in his way, he would sink them too ( good luck with THAT)

But he didn't...



And now it's a tv show?????????????

If you added to that, elitist, ego maniacal snobs, you would have my total sentiments regarding these overrated, outdated, social parasites . I have personal experience with this entity, and came away feeling that they could care less about people or Whales, and much more concerned with milking their non-profit Green Peace cash whalecow.

...and just to be clear, just in case it wasn't, I agree with what SS's goals are...but their means are ridiculous and their execution is flat out retarded.

Fish on...

Todd

I would echo Todd on this one, having watched a couple of episodes.

But, they are putting their lives and beliefs on the line. I recall a lot of whining about the Makah troll fishery, followed by folks trooping out to the Rez to go fishing. How many folks deplore gillnetting by the tribes and patronize the casinos, liquor stores, fireworks stands?

Other than playing to the media with their high sea's theatrical antics to get money, they actually do very little in the way of execution, via education, networking, leadership and land based programs. The street solicitor do good-er and lazy donors, are totally clueless that they are being exploited by these self serving goats at the top. Their goals are trumpeted by greed and ego. The Whale Messiah is all hat and very little cattle. Crooks, thieves and Pimps and Phonys.

Now ask me what I really think about them.

Although I have no experience with these whale huggers, they appear to rank right up their with the PETA and Greenpiece counterpart freaks.

It's a stupid show and has no purpose other than as a recruiting tool for other future idiots.

Oh yeah, it's not even good TV.

It's BS that the Japanese are allowed to whale for "research purposes" yet process and sell the meat on the open market.

However, watching that show the Friday Harbor based Sea Shepard appears to be a completely inept outfit which is prone to embellishing the truth. Anyone see the episode where Watson claims to have been shot by the Japanese and his badge caught the bullett? After seeing his tactics it wouldn't surprise me if that was completely staged.

I'l be the first to admitt that I do not no the laws or regulations that the ships must follow, but I am confused as to how when these individuals board these vessels without there permission it is not against the law.

Kind of the page I was on....

I was just concerned there might be a few on this board that were waiting a position on the Sea Shepard....

Keith

From what I heard at the time, the coast guard guys in Neah Bay were waiting with itchy trigger fingers. They had told some tribal members that if any hostile action was taken at them by the shepard they would take it out. I watched part of one episode and way truely impressed by their incompetence. Using they tatics they were I wouldn't be surpised to see them sunk in a defensive action. They have absolutely no legal authority and are pushing the patience of their targets.
I remember a story awhile back about how some of the protesters got lost in the fog and were in danger. The whalers stopped their activity to help look. After the crew was found they regrouped and then came back and tossed acid onto the ship slightly injuring two crew members. ( http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Whaling...0524300133.html)
These guys are such idiots, that as a protest they blocked the road to Neah Bay on Makah days. But, being the idiots they were, they went a couple hundred feet onto the reservation rather than sit outside the jurisdiction of the tribe/ They also did it on sunday evening, keeping everyone from leaving rather than entering. They were real lucky in my opinion as they used a $100K Motor home and rather than seize it the tribal cops just towed it into Sekiu and dumped it.
Regardless about how you feel about whaling, the Japenese are acting legally. The episode I watched the shepard was trying to find out if the whaling boat had military personel on board to protect them, as this would be illegal. They were all about legality of the whalers and would do anything illegal to prove it.

"the Japenese are acting legally"
actually I think the dispute is that they are whaling in an international whale sanctuary designated so by the same commission who grants them the right to "research" whales and no government is willing to enforce it. Japan feels they can whale inside the sanctuary because sanctuaries only apply to "commercial" whaling not whaling for "scientific research".

Yeah, I'm looking forward to the episode whey the whalers sink the sea shepard...

Keith

So much so that I find myself (for once in my life) hoping the whalers kick some SS ass.

Watson is nothing short of a eco-terrorist.

His actions could easily be construed as hostile attacks/actions directed at a vessel. He is very lucky that he hasn't been arrested, imprisioned, shot or all of the above.

Would you feel the same if they were harassing Draggers in the Bering Sea that kill Salmon by the thousands as By-Catch.

If they were using the same approach........then YES.

I agree with Todd (WOW)...it's not the message, it's the method.

Would you allow an unauthorized boarding of your Charter Boat?

I doubt it...

I agree there tactics are wrong but they are bringing to light things that the public should see. The public also needs to see what is going on on the Bering sea. The general public needs to know about all the salmon that is being thrown overboard along with dead Sea lions, Salmon Sharks and god knows what else. Sometimes it's more about getting the word out no matter how right or wrong the tactics are. I agree unauthorized boardings are not right.

Can you imagine this crew out on the Bering Sea?

I thought I read that Daryl Hannah set sail with the Sea Shepherd this month?

Agreed.
Staged.
Totally phony.
Show is so lame.