Sea Shepherds draws its line

[The Traveler]

Ya just gotta love these guys ... at the very least, they know what they are about.

The world needs to get serious about protecting the whales. Japan has rejected the ridiculously generous compromise offered by the United States that would have legalized North Pacific whaling by Japan in return for a gradual 20% per year decrease in the whales killed in the Southern Ocean.

<snip>

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society wants this proposal of appeasement to be scrapped and for Australia and other nations to initiate legal actions against Japan to stop their criminal activities in the Southern Ocean.

Sea Shepherd is unconcerned about Japanese threats to withdraw from the IWC.

"We hope they do withdraw," said Captain Paul Watson. "The annual meeting of the IWC is nothing more than a party for a bunch of bureaucratic wankers, most of whom have never seen a whale in their life. Let Japan withdraw and drop the charade, this ridiculous pretense that they are engaged in legitimate research. We would welcome the chance to challenge them even more aggressively for the renegade whalers that they are."

And I just gotta say I really love this part ...

"I'm fed up with them pissing on us and telling us it's raining as everyone responds by opening their umbrella. It's time to kick them in their criminal ass."

Ya know, if I could take three months off from work I would crew with these crazy m*f'ers. Even though it would mean eating vegan (yech) cuisine for the duration. Whales deserve better from us. Actually, we deserve better from us.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has shut down illegal Japanese whaling operations in the Southern Ocean for the fourth straight day. Presently the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin is chasing the Japanese factory ship Nisshin Maru and three harpooner hunter killer boats across the Ross Sea.

Captain Paul Watson and his crew will not tolerate or allow a whale to be killed as long as the fleet is in sight and the Nisshin Maru is unable to outrun the Steve Irwin.

Go get 'em, me hearties! Hoist the Jolly Roger, and chase 'em before the wind.

Sea Shepherd News

** edited to fix link **

Trav

[flvegan]

1. Eh, eating vegan ain't so bad, yeah?

When it comes time to "kick them in their criminal ass".

I'm with you. Had I the time, crewing with the true Ocean Warriors would be, well, just a given.

Regardless, the Steve Irwin chases the floating Death Star, Nisshin Maru. No whales will die so long as that continues.

Go get 'em and chase them before the wind. Agreed.

[The Traveler]

10. I just defended meat eaters

but have been contemplating dietary changes for a while.

The real obstacle seems to be adequately planning the day. Seriously. I eat on the run routinely ... and your basic Whopper is quick and convenient. Of course, it is also seriously artery blocking.

Perhaps vegan folk can coach me on this as I try to proceed towards a reduced meat diet?

Trav

[LeftyMom]

2. Vegan food can be awesome when made by somebody who knows what they're doing.

I know this for a fact, because I have high standards for food, I eat very well, and I've been vegan for nearly seven years.

Anyhow, saving some animals while eating others would require some pretty impressive mental acrobatics to even attempt to justify.

[catnhatnh]

3. All right then...

Fuck Watson and the Steve Irwin. Cheeseburgers rule...

As in, sure, pick on people who support only some of what you support.

[LeftyMom]

4. I'm not picking on anybody, just explaining why they keep a vegan ship.

It's also a logistical thing- while some of the volunteers are not vegan many (most?) are, so making two meals would be stupid, and would create needless friction. Somebody asked Capt. Watson about it at a pre-screening of Whale Wars I attended this summer, and he says it's also part of their public education effort, to show at least any non-vegan volunteers that they can eat well and thrive under very difficult conditions on a vegan diet.

[catnhatnh]

5. Since you admit they HAVE non-vegan volunteers....

do you disapprove of their "mental gymnastics" as well?

[LeftyMom]

6. The idea is to make sure they're vegan when they leave.

And of course I disapprove of the sort of sloppy thinking that can leave one willing to lay their life down for one animal and casually eat the corpse of another. Which is why I'm an ethical vegan. Though I understand that we're all products of a society with some deeply misguided thinking about the treatment of non-human animals, so I certainly don't blame people for having confused thinking on these issues, though I do think that the obvious contradictions in such thinking do need to be addressed, as any sloppy thinking needs to be.

Would you like me to suggest some basic reading on veganism and animal rights theory to better explain this, or are you just looking to be offended? Please let me know so I know whether I should continue this subthread or finish my cinnamon roll and go get ready for bed.

[catnhatnh]

7. The OP supported something I thought was good....

I am a meat eater and so apparently is he. We both support something you support but also you feel the need to say "that's not enough" and I dislike that. That said we have common ground. I certainly do NOT dislike you and apologize because on reread I may come off that way. I'm sorry but your list would be a waste on me at this time but I truly appreciate you reaching out. Your last reply DESERVES a cinnamon bun and thanks for the discussion. Cat

[The Traveler]

9. Different perspectives, my bud

but that's OK. In my viewpoint, the whales are way different than cows.

Whales are endangered, highly intelligent, amazingly beautiful creatures who are also at the top of the food chain in an ecosystem under increasing duress. Save the whales. Save the seas. I can buy that reasoning. I can clearly understand (and am grateful) that there are those who are willing to put their arses on the line to defend these fabulous creatures. If I didn't have a family to provide for ... yeah. I can see doing it. It would be an honor to so participate.

Your basic hereford cow was bred as a food animal. They exist in their current numbers only to satisfy the needs of their predator ... which would be us. Save the cow and ... what?

Vegans have pointed out to me that raising meat animals is a piss poor way of feeding people from both an economic and environmental persepective. I can accept that kind of reasoning, though it leads one to the conclusion we should kill all the herefords and use the pastures to grow legumes. I don't believe that is going to happen any time soon ... too many people like me find too much delight in a rare steak. And for many people, meat is the easiest way to get the range of proteins and amino acids the human body needs.

Still, I wouldn't mind trying a dietary shift towards the vegetarian end of the dietary spectrum. Meat animals are raised by corporations, who drug the beasts to make them more efficient food animals ... growth hormones, antibiotics, all kinds of stuff. All that gets into our bods, too, when we cut into that nice red slab of juicy steak. There are so MANY reasons to avoid or cut down on meat in our diets.

I think you can see this is a subject I am ruminating on ... and I am glad to have vegan folk to advise me on this matter. But the two issues are for me quite distinct. I can without twinge of conscience scarf down a 16 ounce porterhouse for dinner and without the slightest hint of cognitive dissonance and throw rotten butter on the deck of a whaling vessel for dessert.

I ain't gonna risk my ass for a cow. But I would for a whale.

Trav

[tkmorris]

8. Kick their ass Captain Watson

I love these people. I really do. They believe in something and they put their butt on the line to make it happen. Most people just whine ineffectually, (including me, most days) but these people dedicate their lives to it. Here's to you all.

:toast: