Whale Wars

 

I just sat down and watched a marathon of this show on Animal Planet called Whale Wars.  It follows this group of environmentalist that are too extreme for Greenpeace and got kicked out and now started their own group called the Sea Shepards.  Now, I don't know much about sea warfare and this is the closest I can come learning about it without actual people dieing.  The Sea Shepards are aboard a boat called the Steve Irwin, named after the late great Crocodile Hunter (funny link) trying to deter Japanese Whaling Ships from bringing aboard whales on ships labeled "research."  So, I have watched a few episodes of this show with some guys that have spent long periods of time on the water and went to maritime schools.  Their analysis of this show is that the Sea Shepards are fools and are breaking many international maritime laws while putting both ships in harms way and should not be allowed to fly the Dutch flag.  When the Sea Shepards start throwing these gas on board the Japanese ships to try to get the crew off the deck or have the whale meat spoil, it is incredibly funny because the Japanese are much more prepared and have many more resources.  The Japanese have huge water cannons as well as the LRAD which shoots loud audio that can make people disoriented.  I would highly reccommend watching this show if you like/hate whales and enjoy seeing nautical positioning without deadly weapons.