Humpback whale calf breaching
The issue of Japanese whale and dolphin slaughter has been rocketed to new heights courtesy of television's cartoon South Park which aired this week. Wednesday's brutally raw, bloody, obscene and dark episode pits the South Park characters against Japanese whale and dolphin killers, and exaggerates an already emotional and polarizing issue.
On one side of the argument are countries, cultures and individuals who see no error in slaughtering and eating whales and dolphins, or profiting or benefiting from the captive industry. On the other side are those who believe whales and dolphins are sentient, intelligent creatures, mammals just as humans are, and see cetaceans as endangered species to be protected rather than utilized for food or entertainment. Emotions run rampant on both sides.
The International Whaling Commission (IWC) voted for a moratorium, or end to commercial whaling in 1982. Japan and other nations including Norway and Iceland continue to slaughter whales with impunity using a loophole in the IWC agreement. Many whale species have been hunted to the brink of extinction; according to whale conservationists, the survival of these species is dependent upon protections, regulations and vigilant campaigns against illegal whaling operations.
Animal Planet's wildly popular and controversial television series, Whale Wars, has publicized the fight among the Japanese whalers and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS). SSCS has activated its self-described mission of "ending the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world's oceans, to conserve and protect ecosystems and species" (SSCS main page) by intervening against Japanese whaling actions on the high seas.
Comedic, satirical pokes at contemporary issues have always been effective means to galvanize public sentiment and change paradigms. Satire of this magnitude of offensiveness is uncommon; there are very few independent entities left who have the latitude to present this type of critique unencumbered and free from connections to the perpetrators they seek to lampoon.
Comedy is difficult. Consider the rarity of comedians there who are talented and brave enough to tackle social issues. It takes courage to challenge authority and the status quo, to say what needs to be said, or to articulate something that others haven't considered. And, to succeed at this while following comedic rules (yes, even comedy has rules) is rare indeed. Comedy is the best method of delivery for this type of critique, but no one is safe. That's what makes comedy worthwhile and dangerousat the same time.
At the heart of the Sea Shepherd's vessel Steve Irwin and crew is founder and Captain Paul Watson, who is harshly depicted in the South Park episode, "Whale Whores". Watson responded to his being satirized in October 30 Ecorazzi, a web/blog site focusing on environmental, humanitarian, animal rights and vegetarian issues as they relate to those in the public spotlight. Watson shrugged off the personal attack in the episode, and opted instead to focus on the "Whale Whores" message and Sea Shepherd's successes. He also opined that South Park has linked Japan to "the horrific and senseless slaughter of dolphins and whales" (Ecorazzi) and brought the issue to a wider audience.
The international argument between whaling and non-whaling nations has been catapulted to new levels of intensity by conservationist actions, through the televised reality show Whale Wars, and by the recent cinematic release of the wildly acclaimed expose' The Cove.
Watson and Whale Wars have been renewed for a third season on Animal Planet.
There is, and has always been room on our big blue planet for extremists, and everyone in between. Some of us squirm, others laugh, and others rise to action when we are uncomfortable. Are we poised and ready to consider new dimensions and approaches to engaging, respectful and transformative dialogue? Until we are, men such as Paul Watson will act. Perhaps the consequence of controversial actions, movies, television and comedy is energized momentum toward change.
Animal Planet's Whale Wars http://animal.discovery.com/tv/whale-wars/
Ecorazzi http://www.ecorazzi.com/2009/10/30/south-park-whale-whores-captain-paul-watson-responds/
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society Describes its Mission http://animal.discovery.com/tv/whale-wars/sea-shepherd/
South Park Studios http://www.southparkstudios.com/
The Cove http://www.thecovemovie.com/
Comments
A "moratorium" is a temporary halt not an "End" to whaling. Never was and still isn't. Paul Watson is an ego-maniacal douchebag who has never done anything for our shared environment than demonize others for fun and profit.
Whales are food too.
Watson has abjectly failed to effect any real and lasting change in the past 25 years. He is very good at media scamming, and faked news events, that's about it. He is also a bald faced liar.
Are we really CHANGING whaling at all or are we just playing eco dress up and providing the media with made for TV vessel rammings and faked gun shots?
South Park highlighted the problems, it is up to us to solve them. Let's start by voting out the incompetent media buffoons who are Sea Shepherd and supporting an eco group with a plan, not a 30 page script handed to them by Animal Planet.
F U WHALE! AND F U DOLPHIN!
cartman rules, bitches! you know what i'm sayin? :)))
Patricia, the minke whale and dolphins are NOT endangered. There is not a shred of evidence to show they are any more intelligent than other animals that are killed for human consumption. And even if there was, is it proper to evaluate the sanctity of life based upon intelligence?
Also, Japan, Norway and Iceland cunduct whaling operations within the law. They are not illegal.
Please check your facts before you go sprouting your inane nonsense on the internet.
Cheers!
Oh nice pro-whaling comments here. What I miss in your comments is, that western nations also cull other mammals.
Killing of animals is cruel and should be stopped completely when the human race wants to survive on the long term.
There is till now no method found (it seems like) to kill whales and dolphins humanly. I'm quite sure, when these beeings could scream like humans, many people would change their mind.
I also hear very often that whales are abundantly in the oceans. What about others? Compared to nearly 7 billion humans are about 2 million whales really abundant?
The oceans are dying in our times and the only responsible person is you. Everyone on this planet has to bear the blame.
Regards
Thomas
blog.migaloo.de
South Park it it right on the head. The Sea Shepherds were good once, now they are nothing but media whores. It's time for a change.
You whale/tree/global-warming freaks are outrageous. Everything is supposed protected. You are gonna protect us right into extinction because we wouldn't be able to eat or use any of our resources. You should watch the South Park episode called "Smug Alert". Freaks.
It's wonderful that the media can present a balanced analysis of a situa....oh wait,....you didn't. Rules in comedy?? Now that was funny!
Save Chicken and Cow. Nobody is talking about how many Chickens and Cows are on death row right now, ready to end up on your tables. I bet centiant whales and dolphins would think it's bad we're killing Chikens and Cows too.
POKER FACE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Patricia, I think its important to investigate the killing of whales and dolphins by the Japanese, but isnt it equally important to find out why whale and dolphin dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima?
lame article.... i believe journalism has it's own rules. what makes any animal better than any other animal. we're all animals. nature decides the winners and losers, get of you're activist high horse.
This article is not balanced in the slightest.
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
FU U Chicken And FU U Cow
The real enemy is the Chicken and the Cow. I mean, the did drop the bomb on Hiroshima.
I think you missed the point about Cap'n Watson. SP's take on him was that he DOESN'T take action. It cracks me up when the crew whines about getting nuts and bolts thrown at them, as proof of the whalers' cold-heartedness. Dudes, they have a HARPOON. If they were cold-hearted, they'd have SHOT you with it. Their weapons of choice reflect their opinion of you as a threat; i.e., a joke.
What a lot of you aren't smart enough to realize is that cows and chickens aren't endangered or threatened. And their endangerment would not collapse an ecosystem. Quite the contrary, cows and chickens at the populations we need for food are HARMING the environment.
And at least Paul Watson is doing SOMETHING besides sitting on his ass criticizing others and accomplishing nothing.
Terrible article. Biased in the extreme to Fox News levels. Completely unbalanced. Failed to properly review and summarise the SP episode.
I worry for your readership if you feel that you need to condescendingly (and incorrectly) explain the definition of a moritorium.
Furthermore the countries you mention do not 'slaughter with impunity'. They must follow strict quotas.
Madam your article is in some cases completely false as well as generally being misleading. I believe whaling to be wrong but you only propogated the notion that conservationists are frugal with the truth. Conservations like you and Paul Watson - lying to and misleading the public. Don't lie. The truth is on your side. You don't need to lie.
You should stick to the truth, to facts, and present your argument in a balanced fashion. Whaling is wring so you shouldn't fear real and honest debate.
You're a disgrace to journalism.
thank you, oh god, thank you. It was.. so absolutely one-sided it was ridiculous.
what is the point of writing anything at all if you are going to be that biased.
hey... good job.
Watson has gone on southern ocean summer cruises for thirty years and has achieved zero , zip , nada ,nothing, hes a media whore who is in it for the fame and fortune on which he lives the 'very' good life. Egotistical and arrogant, a manipulative and cunning man. I wouldnt be giving him one cent towards his retirement fund which is bursting at the seams, hes a fraud and a liar. He has also conned many many decent people and some stupid ego maniacs like himself, of $millions of dollars. Its a sham and a con and the hippie crew are a bunch of useless sycophants who dont ask questions, maybe because they are all brain dead. If people still want to contribute then more fool them, the money will go into the PW fund for his old age, people should wise up and realise its all about publicity , fame, celebrity status and of course money.
Hes had plastic surgery by the looks of it, check out his pics from 2008 -2010, aapart from losing weight by injecting himself with pregnant women's urine, hesgone under the knife too. Botox, fillers, face lift, looks like hes a true blue celebrity now..and a fake lying fraud to boot.
Captain Watson may have his heart in the right place, at least initially, but he strikes me as an arrogant prima donna most of the time. He all too willing to place his crew members in potentially dangerous situation, barking "If you're afraid of this, you shouldn't be here!" yet, HE stays on the ship, out of harms way. Wussy.
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