Whale Wars

RidgeRunner · #1 01-06-2010, 01:50 PM

Anybody see the latest video? Care to comment?
http://www.thisisbrandx.com/2010/01/...ed-racist.html

Sorry about the terribly long link.

RWilson2526 · #2 01-06-2010, 03:00 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rar9zxH1kts

Here's another view of the hit....the hot topic seems to be who hit who....in the first video if you watch the stern of the boat he appears to me to be idling with not much forward progress so the whaler is closing the distance by heading towards him....then I think the guy f's up and guns it to maybe turn away but the boat doesnt respond fast enough to starboard and he runs right into it...

either way it was bound to happen sooner or later...I've watched a few seasons of that show...I guess I have to admire their determination because everything they do seems completely futile other than they get to be on TV and maybe get their cause out there......The whalers have a loop hole in the law it appears and until they change the law I guess they are within their rights to do what they want....

RidgeRunner · #3 01-06-2010, 05:13 PM

RW, I agree about the hot topic being who hit who. I had not seen the video from the Bob Barker. The commentary from there was interesting.
Your video sure looks like the Japanese ship was aiming at the smaller craft. The footage from the Japanese ship appears to show the smaller vessel in gear but idling, barely making headway. Only after the collision did the capt. pull it in reverse. It moved rather rapidly in reverse too.
Very Crazy stuff. If they keep it up somebody is going to get seriously injured or worse. I really don't admire what they do, but agree with you they are very determined. Killing whales should not be allowed. I think they are absolutely out of their mind and some of the stunts the captain has pulled, damn crazy. Motoring into an ice flow with equipment that isn't up to the task is risky but putting your crew at risk is insanity. I would like to see the waivers the lawyers came up with for the crew.

RidgeRunner · #4 01-06-2010, 05:26 PM

Why can't the International Laws against harvesting Whales be enforced on the Japanese anyway? I know they are calling it research but they are doing it in a most invasive manner. I don't think the world is buying "Research" when they are sending out a harpoon ship to get their samples.

chumbucket · #5 01-06-2010, 11:29 PM

I don't agree with whaling, but that captain (if he in fact really is one) is a tool and is going to get someone killed.

RWilson2526 · #6 01-07-2010, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RidgeRunner

Why can't the International Laws against harvesting Whales be enforced on the Japanese anyway? I know they are calling it research but they are doing it in a most invasive manner. I don't think the world is buying "Research" when they are sending out a harpoon ship to get their samples.

I've had that same question while watching that show....Is there just no policing body that's out there to enforce it or what? I'll have to do a little research and try to find the actual text in whatever legislation it is that allows "research". Problem with researching emotional stuff like that is that most resources online are by people with an agenda and its hard to distinguish fact from opinion....

RWilson2526 · #7 01-07-2010, 12:43 AM

http://www.highnorth.no/Library/Publ...d/wh-an-in.htm

This is some interesting reading....no wonder whaling continues....I'll have to take some more time to read more thoroughly but it seems that the whole non whaling thing is voluntary and even if you volunteer not to you still can if you want to.

RidgeRunner · #8 01-07-2010, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWilson2526

http://www.highnorth.no/Library/Publ...d/wh-an-in.htm

This is some interesting reading....no wonder whaling continues....I'll have to take some more time to read more thoroughly but it seems that the whole non whaling thing is voluntary and even if you volunteer not to you still can if you want to.

I read enough. If there is no treaty prohibiting whaling then aren't the activist breaking the law with their constant harassment and attempt at disabling the whaling ships?
New Zealand, Norway, Japan and a few others still practice whaling, as part of their heritage. I remember the story National Geographic did recently on the Eskimos taking the Norwhals in Alaska. Generally, I hate it when someone comes up with a cause and then tries to ram it down my throat so I am back and forth on this one. I feel for the fisherman who are trying to preserve their way of life but in no way do I believe the whales should be harvested anymore. I visited the Whaling Museum and the Bethel in New Bedford, MA. The impression I had was that whaling was done. I guess it is for the US proper.
I understand the emotional powderkeg involved with the issue but, does anyone have unbiased data on whether or not their harvest presents a danger to sustainability? What a waste of a resource, those animals are unbelievable.
I did see where the captain was banished from Greenpeace. It appears that he was a charter member (#8) when Greenpeace began but Greenpeace has distanced themselves from this guy. They claim they disagree with his tactics, he claims they are jelous of his results.

RABBITFISH · #9 01-07-2010, 10:24 AM

If those guys were protesting the catching of Salmon, or trout or tuna whatever, could they pull off those stunts to you? I wonder exactly how far their responsibility goes when creating a dangerous situation like that?

Pipe_Dream · #10 01-07-2010, 10:28 AM

Watching the first video twice, I felt it was likely that the Japanese ship turned into the SS vessel, because as RW said the SS boat didn't seem to be making any headway. The second video confirmed that this was indeed the case, in a big way. The Japanese captain may have felt he was going to force the other boat to veer away in time, but he was mistaken. Note how the hose spray continued, even after the collision.

Edit: I'm not taking a position on the pros or cons of the issue, only the collision.