Posted on 06/18/2010 4:15:48 PM PDT by Pan_Yan
Welcome to Hippies Failing Badly!TM
Episode 1 (showing at 7PM e/p):
SURROUNDED BY SPIES
Premiering Friday, June 4, 9PM e/p
As whaling season begins in the Antarctic, the Sea Shepherds embark on another dangerous campaign. With three vessels all launching from a different port, Captain Paul Watson now faces the daunting task of being the admiral of a fleet.
Last week’s episode (showing at 8PM e/p):
CROSSING DANGER
Premiering Friday, June 11, 9PM e/p
After repeated attempts to outrun and engage his pursuers, Captain Paul Watson makes a dangerous decision. Meanwhile, the Sea Shepherds' speedboat, Ady Gil, has returned to dock to repair their damaged radar.
This week’s episode (showing at 9 pm e/p):
FROM HELL'S HEART
Premiering Friday, June 18, 9PM e/p
The Sea Shepherds have been relentlessly followed by the whaling reconnaissance vessel for two weeks. They find themselves in a full-on engagement on the high seas as Captain Paul Watson orders a massive butyric acid bottle attack on his nemesis.
This week let’s look at the Sea Shepard’s arsenal, or as I call it the Tools of the Tools.
| THE STEVE IRWIN Vessels/Vehicles The Sea Shepherd vessel once named Robert Hunter was officially renamed the Steve Irwin in honor of the late Australian conservationist in December 2007. The ship was named by Terri Irwin in honor of the life and work of her late husband, who was in the midst of discussing joining the team when he passed away. The Steve Irwin is 35 years old and holds approximately 35 crew members this campaign (2009/2010). It is captained by Paul Watson and is Sea Shepherd's flagship. |
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| Video: The Steve Irwin | Video: Close Quarters & Collisions | |
| Video: Charging the Japanese | ||
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THE BOB BARKER Vessels/Vehicles Aptly named after its main financier, television host and avid conservationist Bob Barker, this ship was purchased using part of a hefty $5 million donation in 2009. Ironically, this ship was once a Norwegian whaling vessel, and is now used to combat illegal Japanese whaling vessels. It is 60 years old and holds approximately 32 crew members. This ice-class vessel is captained by Chuck Swift. |
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| Video: The Bob Barker | |||
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THE ADY GIL Vessels/Vehicles This futuristic vessel, previously known as Earthrace, recently set the world record for global circumnavigation. It was designed to be ecofriendly and fully submersible. The craft is now named after California businessman Ady Gil, co-owner of American Hi Definition and Sweetwater Digital (digital video equipment companies). Mr. Gil donated approximately $1 million toward the purchase of the boat, proving himself an avid supporter of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. The vessel was sunk on January 6, 2010, after a collision with a Japanese whaling ship. Fortunately, all crew members were rescued by the Bob Barker and taken to safety prior to the vessel sinking. It was five years old and held a crew of approximately five. It was captained by the builder of the ship, Pete Bethune. |
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| Video: The Ady Gil | |||
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THE OUTBOARD BOATS Vessels/Vehicles Sea Shepherd is not afraid to use mini-vessels to get directly between the harpoon and the whale. At present, they use four types. The Zodiacs are small inflatable boats that hold four to six crew members. The Delta is larger, faster and holds more crew members. The Zeppelin is faster still, but small, holding only about four crew members. And lastly, the Sea Shepherds use personal water crafts for short-distance missions. These outboard boats allow Sea Shepherd to get up-close and personal with whaling ships. |
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| Video: Outboard Boats | Video: Launching Outboard Boats | ||
| Video: The Boat-Launching Checklist | Video: The Delta Capsizes | ||
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THE HELICOPTER Vessels/Vehicles The helicopter, piloted by Chris Aultman, is basically Sea Shepherd's "eye in the sky." Operating off the Steve Irwin, it increases the range that they can scout for Japanese whaling vessels. It's also helpful for reporting changing weather conditions and ice patterns so that crews can constantly stay ahead of the game. |
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| Video: The Helicopter | Video: The Pre-Flight Procedure | ||
| Video: Attack on the Helicopter Pilot | |||
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BUTYRIC ACID (STINK BOMBS) Additional Tactics One of Sea Shepherd's primary methods used against whalers, butyric acid (also called stink bombs or butter bombs) is bottled and then thrown aboard the enemy ship. The foul smell makes it almost impossible to continue work as it often induces vomit. Additionally, the chemical itself spoils any whale meat it comes into contact with. |
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| Video: Butyric Acid (Stink Bombs) | Video: Attack With Butyric Acid | ||
| Video: Stink Bombs vs. Water Cannons | Video: Stink-Bombing a Harpoon Ship | ||
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METHYLCELLULOSE (SLIPPERY BOMB) Additional Tactics This non-toxic chemical comes in powdered form, and crew members fill paper bags with it before throwing it onto whalers' ships. Also called methocel, it is virtually harmless until the compound comes in contact with water, then any surface can become so slippery it's impossible to stand, making working conditions for the whalers impossible. |
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| Video: Methocel (Slippery Bomb) | Video: Making Methocel | ||
Please let me know if you want on or off the Whale Wars ping list.
I wish they would combine this show and US Navy Pirate Hunters on spike and have the Navy sink the hippie pirates.
Yes, but one episode a series does not make.
But it would be EPIC.
Maybe several fusion shows. Have Mantracker hunt down ELF logging terrorist hippies in the North East. Have Deadliest Warrior pit a United States Marine against a Code Pinko (all reality of course, no simulations), or Iron Chef versus some vegans.
that was one of the funniest south parks ever.
I would like to see Whale Wars..combined with Locked up Abroad.... The hippies run afowl of a third world gov’t and end up in a horrible hell hole prison......
NUKE THE TREE HUGGERS!!!!
it would appear stink bombs and slippery bombs are now legitimate for the whalers to use as well in retaliation.
They use water hoses and flash-bangs (or something similar). It’s funny to watch stink-bomb-flinging hippies suddenly soil themselves when they realize that the whalers are (gasp!) FIGHTING BACK. Because, as my wife said when I read her some of this stuff, “things that make a ship’s deck too slippery to stand on are *perfectly safe* in a heaving Antarctic sea, right?”
}:-)4
They are always talking about how they WILL be attacked, and how dangerous it COULD be. They are very paranoid about the use of an audio weapon.
Imagine the amount of fuel these bozos waste daily as they harass legal users of the oceans. The money they spend doing this could be better spent focusing on the legal ways to stop whaling, which are extensive. It is NOT about the whales, it is about THEM, and their angst. Watson is of course, certifiable nutso. But they are well funded and tax exempt. Real heros, and real dummies.
Put me on the list-thanks!
I live for the episode where Watson gets a harpoon up the a@@! I’m still thinking about an appropriate fate for that hippy dippy Hammerstedt...
Hippies Failing Badly!TM
Please let me know if you want on or off the Whale Wars ping list.
You'll love this quote:
"We've got the engine room which, I guess, you can only describe as the heart of ship. It's where, you know, oil is pumping through like blood. It's what gets us going out. We're steering up on the bridge but this is really the energy. It's what keeps us going."
Crew Interviews:PETER HAMMARSTEDT
"I know, we'll throw poo at them."
Okay, someone explain to me how you can bump a globe valve and turn it off. Some idiot shut off the fuel to the engine while they were at sea and won’t ‘fess up.
Does Admiral Coco Puffs ever close his mouth?
I think it was the camera crew, trying to do something, ANYTHING, to add some sliver of drama to what is otherwise a completely boring and uneventful show.
An hour of ships moving around in the water, and the only excitement is the narrator constantly telling us how something could possibly happen, if this was an actual action-adventure drama, and not Snore Wars.
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