June 14, 2009
Humpback whale and baby (photo credit: Animal Planet)
I don't usually sit around on my fan-fan-fanny watching TV. But this week started crazy and ended that way, and by the time Friday rolled around, I was brain-fried. Don't ask! The details are gory. But the most strenuous thing I could manage by Friday night was to catch up on my Google Reader a little, and to press the TV remote control channel button until I landed on Animal Planet.
I happened upon the premier episode of season two of a show called “Whale Wars”. Have you heard of this show? I hadn't, but 5 minutes into one episode and I'm hooked. I found myself watching with my breath held, and my hand covering my mouth. It's emotional, dramatic, suspenseful, action-packed, and real. There is wicked weather, life-threatening storms, treacherous icebergs and ice fields, in addition to the threat against the whales. And since I've been a vegetarian for 15 years solely because of my love for animals, the fact that the show's focus is on saving whales makes it mesmerizing to me. After seeing humpback whales in Hawaii, I can't imagine that anyone could harpoon them for their “meat”. They seem to be the most joyous, innocent, peaceful animals that you could imagine.
I didn't know it, but in 1986, commercial whaling was outlawed internationally. The co-founder of Greenpeace, Paul Watson, knew it. In 1977 he founded a group called the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. In “Whale Wars”, he is the captain of an aging ship called the Steve Irwin, and Paul's passion is enforcing the whaling ban, regardless of the cost. In “Whale Wars”, he hits the international seas with 36 volunteers and a mission.
I saw 2 episodes, both featuring the Sea Shepherds' hunt in Antarctica for Japanese fishermen who were illegally killing whales. The Japanese claimed to be killing the whales legally for research. You know where I stand in that debate; on the side of the whales. Watch this show. Make up your own mind.
~BigSis- Leave a Comment (10)
- Find more in Animals, Whale Wars
June 14, 200911:32 am
That sounds really interesting. I’ve never even heard of that show. We’ll have to check it out.
June 17, 20094:28 pm
Absolutely the most entertaining and the most important show being broadcast on television right now.
June 17, 20095:40 pm
Hi Hart; thanks for coming by and thanks SO much to taking the time to leave your thoughts. I agree with you completely. I was pretty naive to not realize that whales are STILL being slaughtered for their flesh!
June 17, 200910:07 pm
Here’s my favorite quote from Captain Paul Watson:
“Monkey-wrench a bulldozer and they call you a vandal, spike a tree and they call you a terrorist. But if you destroy an entire forest, or a mountain, or a river, they call you a logger, a miner, an engineer.”
June 18, 20094:33 pm
Hey Hart! Captain Paul is definitely a brave man and eloquent too. I can’t wait to see the new episode this week. I’m rooting for the Sea Shepherds and the whales! I was biting my fingernails last week as the ship got deeper and deeper into the ice field.
May 26, 20102:48 am
I initially thought whale wars was going to be a great show but after watching several episodes it just makes me mad, I have not seen the crew do any good and stop the harming of whales, they are no threat whatsoever. If you want to watch whales get harpooned and nothing happen about it watch whale wars.
June 10, 20102:54 pm
Maybe you should watch more than two episodes then, Taryn.
June 12, 201010:47 am
Hi Hart,
I agree Whale Wars can be hard to watch, so I can understand Taryn’s opinion, but I think we have to know about it. “The Cove” was really hard to watch too but I went because I needed to see for myself what was going on. True, whaling still goes on, but if the Sea Shepherd stops what they’re doing, who’ll look out for the whales? If they interfere with the Japanese whaling ships and save even one whale, then their work is worthwhile, in my opinion. BTW, kudos to Bob Barker for his $5 million donation!
June 18, 20109:38 am
I am from Venezuela, I never have enjoyed a show as much as Whale Wars. If I could, I would volunteer to join the Sea Shepherds. Hopefully Sea Shepherds will get more ships. I have seen the the Japanese are getting more and more aggressive in every season.
June 18, 20102:46 pm
Hi Deibi, thanks for taking the time to leave us a comment. I agree with you…it would be awesome to have the opportunity to volunteer with the Sea Shepherd. I think we can still participate by donating to their effort though, since it isn’t realistic for most of us to leave our jobs for 3+ months.