Whale Wars
I have two distinctly different opinions on this... even in my own mind... which is why Sea Shepard has trouble gaining the support of people with brains. While their actions are noble and in some cases possibly even legal, they are operating "on the edge" and without a lot of common sense. The leader places unknowing, unwitting and juvenilish young men and women in grave danger to advance his personal agenda.
Here is where myself and others are torn in the whole issue. On one hand, we agree the Whales need to be saved and we commend Sea Shepard for attempting to do something about it. On the other hand, some of the tactics used and the illegal boarding of a vessel constitute piracy... no matter what their intent. In other words, blocking vessels, throwing stink bombs etc... I believe are plausible.... however boarding the Japanese vessels are not.
No matter how vile I may believe the Japanese are for conducting the illegal whaling, I must commend them on the amazing restraint they showed when the Shepards boarded their vessel. As a captain of a sea going vessel on the open seas, I would consider any such boarding attempt an attempt at piracy and I would have either shot them as they attempted to board or pushed them back overboard into the frigid sea. There is no doubt about this.
After doing this for many years and still not getting the support needed from world governments, it's time the Sea Shepards take a more tactful approach. The problem is that they have done more damage than good by causing themselves to be seen as renegade vigilantes. If they were attempting to enforce laws in such a manner on land, they would all be in jail. I see no reason why vigilantiasm on the sea should result in any different a result.
I applaud activism and I agree we need to do more to save the whales... but only a sincere effort made by international governments and government patrol boats with full authority on the seas can do this. Boats conducting whaling need to be confiscated and sold and their crews jailed... just the same as vigilante pirates on the sea do.
If news crews can monitor this entire fiasco and put it on TV, I don't think it is much of a stretch to say the government can dispatch a vessel or two and lock up both crews and confiscate both vessels.... now that would make for some damn good TV.