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 | ||
I think the entire Whale Wars Saga can be summed up by the brief exchange between Captain Lard (I’m sorry, now it’s Admiral Big-Ass), and the millionare who has actually done something with his life, Bethune.
Bethune risks life and limb to get to the Steve Erwin, boards in the middle of the night, and immediately is asked “do you want to take a shower”.
Incredulous, Bethune says no, he wants to get to work. So Admiral Lard-Ass says “your job is to hold up the Marou while we run far away”. Again incredulous, Bethune, who wants to actually stop whaling, not waste his time “slowing down” other ships, asks how they are supposed to accomplish the task.
Captain Do-Nothing tells him they have prop-fouling gear Bethune can use. Bethune then makes the fatal mistake of asking the question that dare not be voiced: Do the prop-foulers work?
To which Admiral Poindexter replies “It’s more of the threat of the foulers, than actual efficacy.” (I wish I could remember the actual quote).
That sums up this entire series — it’s more about the THREAT of something happening, not anything actually happening.
Meanwhile, Bethune has done more to save wildlike in the 1 hour he’s been active on the show than Captain Lard has done in the entire series. Plus Bethune had the great idea to shoot the whales with small amounts of chemicals so the whales can still be used for research, but can’t be eaten.
If Captain Lardass learns of this, he’ll be upset, because I’m sure he is against shooting even dead whales.
I haven’t decided if the Japanese Sonic weapon is more annoying than the Vevezulas at the World Cup games.
I agree, not a very good episode. They keep the stupid meter pegged as Captain Chuck Swift (I still can’t believe that’s his name) took his rickety 60 year old boat into a storm like he was Bull Halsey in WWII. Just to save a few hours. I know they play it up for the cameras, but I have the feeling they are still drooling idiots when the cameras are off.
That was the collision alarm on the Irwin.
I think I saw in another article that when Bethune got arrested the Sea Shepherds dumped him because they “didn’t know” he has a bow and arrows on board. I’m looking for the thread now.
It amazes me how incompetent that actual whale people seem to be, but I also wonder if a TV network could really send their crews out with incompetent people, and still get insurance coverage. So my guess is there are really competent people on the ships somewhere, maybe under the employ of the network, and ready to step in before the idiots running the ship actually get the thing capsized.
Imagine the lawsuit if an Animal Planet employee was killed because a known idiot flipped over the boat they were on?
Like I said, he seems like the only guy in the group that actually is willing to take action. Of course, he’s a criminal because of it, but I imagine he was pretty disgusted with the pretenders he had gotten hooked up with.
I’m not sure how it would be criminal to have a bow and arrow on your boat — I think the criminal charges were all based on his actually boarding another ship without permission.
Of course, I think the people throwing stuff onto the boats could also be charged, but you’d have to catch them and prove who did what.
The former captain of the Sea Shepherd's anti-whaling vessel Ady Gil pleaded guilty to four of five charges, including trespassing, vandalism and holding a knife, but has contested an assault charge.
The bow and arrow were the Sea Shepherds' excuse to try and distance themselves from him. Like Admiral Coco Puffs comment about Bethune being a two edged sword.
Thanks for the ping. I forgot it was on and watched, laughed like crazy. It is a very funny show.
What would happen if the Sea Shepherd fleet decided to take on the crab fleet from Deadliest Catch?
The thought of Sig's brother Edgar force-feeding Admiral Lardass a raw herring puts me in a really good mood this morning. (The Hansens have a family tradition...at the start of every crab season before setting their first pot, Edgar or some member of the Northwestern's crew bite the head off of a raw herring, Ozzy Osbourne-style, and eat it for good luck.)
Guys like those Alaskan crab crews are real environmentalists. They depend upon that sea for their livelihood, so they take care of it.
}:-)4
The Crabbers have AR-15’s and other goodies on board. No chance that the Fail Warz folks would win.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_rGxa4BJ9w&feature=player_embedded
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