The preview looked really good. I missed it but I'll be on the lookout for it now.

Save the whales!

...for dinner.

I caught it tonight, and I thought it was pretty intense, and there's definitely some drama on the ship. It will be interesting to see them actually interact with the whalers!

I can't wait for the confrontation. I hate how the Japanese say it's for research.

This is the first I am hearing about this. I'll definitely set my DVR.

I have it tivo'ed but haven't watched it yet. I did see some pretty gory scenes...Ugh.

I don't know much about the Japanese whale hunting. Do they use any part of the animal, or is it just killing for sport?

They use all parts of the animal. They say they are killing them for research. Whale meet is sold in Japan. They are only allowed to kill 1,000 whale a year by law. This group says that they are killing them for a profit and not research.

I watched this last night. I had to turn my head so many times when I saw the whale catches. I agree it is deplorable. But here is the thing. The dude who started the "Sea Shepherds" was co-founder of Green Peace. They booted him out with a vote of 11-1 (or something like that) with that one vote being him. He says it is because of his extreme measures he liked to take. But I have TO WONDER what else he isn't saying about that. For a co-founder to be completely booted out of your own organization?!

And creating a reality series showing your new gang only further adds to my suspicions. Sure what they are doing is admirable to a degree. But the way they go about it and risking their lives in such a manner kind of alarms me. They signed up for it and are aware of the dangers. But I don't know something stinks of this to me. I wonder where the money is going from this reality series and where the money from the benefactors who fund their endeavors truly goes? I would be totally interested in looking at their financial books. I would need an accountant with me though.

I completely agree aud!

OH and furthermore. Was it me or did it seem they had absolutely no clue on the workings of that ship? My husband and I were watching them trying to lower the powerboat into the sea and we were flabbergasted at how they were doing it. They kept the ship at full speed and thought when the boat hit the sea it would stay afloat? Those people could have been killed and probably would have been had they not been wearing those slicker suits. Really outrageous.

I need to catch this show, I guess. I don't understand why the Japanese would use the research claim if they're using all the parts of the animal, anyway. Wouldn't hunting to the limit for meat, etc., be a legit motive? I also don't really understand why this group would be so enraged about it if the animal isn't being wasted - unless they're like a floating PETA or something.

Aud, I am not surprised to hear your report of their competence. Most of these types seem like ex-Starbucks employees with bullhorns and a boat.

I googled Paul Watson to find some history on him. Once you get past the Wikipedia and official website bios (that which can be written in his favor by him or his supporters mind you) you can find other articles such as the following. Now, mind you, I know nothing of the writer and am only copying/pasting for you to read but take it with a grain of salt please.

"Paul Watson is a strange guy. He was an original member of Greenpeace, splitting off after finding them to be too "liberal" for his tastes. He was more into direct action. He has also been associated with Earth First!, that wonderful, necessary and sometimes confusing hands-on environmental movement. I have come to know members of EF! over the years and have great respect for their bravery and commitment. Controversy and argument has been rife in the ranks since their inception. One such argument has been over the issue of tree spiking. Judy Bari, one of the greater thinkers of EF! who was crippled in an FBI-linked car bombing, was arguing against the practice on the grounds that it was largely ineffective and ignored the issue of class struggle - further endangering the workers who were already endangered by management. Watson, in favor of tree spiking, made the incredible statement that "I have thought about class and it's bullsh*t." (Margaret Thatcher once said that "class is the invention of the Socialists." That's like saying "the solar system is the invention of the astronomers.")

Why am I bringing up all this stuff? There is a real difference between a multi-national whaling concern and a tribal people living on the coast of Washington. Their situations, history and access to power are not the same. How many whales will the Makah kill? Their legal limit is five. How many whales would the big companies kill? Their legal limit is however many they can get away with. There is already a great deal of tension between the white environmentalists and the native populations. This Sea Shepherd activity will only make it worse. Paul should know this. If he is so concerned that the Makah hunt will open the door for further exploitation - certainly a danger - then he should watch for that event and go into action against those forces when they appear. To harass a small nation of Indians is completely missing the point. The problem is not just "humans' but human societies with all of their complex layers.

Sooner or later we're going to have to get real and admit our history and condition. There is a difference between the employee and the company. And there is a difference between the conqueror population and the indigenous. If we don't address these issues we will just continue to perpetrate institutional inequality.

A few days ago Watson yelled at the natives, "Just because you were born stupid doesn't give you any right to be stupid!" I think the echoes of that ridiculous and arrogant sentiment just came back to throw Lisa into the water and confiscate their inflatable. There is some justice after all. I say that the Makah have a right to their cultural practice. Their history demands it. And our history demands that we let them."

SOURCE

According to this writer, Mr. Watson and his crew make no separation between whale hunting among Japanese companies and anyone else who do it. While that is great in theory it gives no credence of livelihood and historical relevance on how certain people survive and thrive. Agreeing or disagreeing with if it is right to condone whale hunting is beside the point. We need to look at if this is more of an issue with money or animal rights with Mr. Watson.

FitTV has been promoting this show during my Gilad workouts, but I haven't watched it yet, I'll look it up!

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"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek." BARACK OBAMA