Whale Wars on Animal Planet--Tonight!

by Stephanie Ernst · 2008-11-07 05:26:00 UTC
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I meant to post on this yesterday, but you still have time to plan for this tonight or set your DVR to record when you get home from work. If you were paying attention to last week's roundup of blog posts, you read that I have a big sloppy crush on the whole Sea Shepherd operation. It's still true. And I'm not the only one--they're like the rock stars of the animal rights movement. And now they're TV stars too.

Starting tonight, at 7 PM E/P, Animal Planet is airing a seven-part weekly series titled Whale Wars. Following (after the jump) is a blurb from Sea Shepherd's Web site, and below that is the trailer (more video clips can be viewed here):

During Sea Shepherd's Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign: Operation Migaloo in 2007/08, Animal Planet had a camera crew on board a campaign that saved the lives of nearly 500 whales, leaving the Japanese fleet with less then half of their quota and costing them tens of millions of dollars.  This new seven-part, hour-long weekly series follows the crew of the Sea Shepherd vessel, Steve Irwin as they use non-violent direct action techniques that garner world wide media attention in an effort to shut down the illegal Japanese whaling fleet and enforce international conservation law.

The series draws attention to this issue that has sparked a global controversy over the practice of illegal whaling under the guise of research and has put a political strain between several nations.  This campaign was especially successful. For the third year in a row, Sea Shepherd was able to keep the Japanese Whaling fleet from reaching their self imposed quota saving hundreds of whales.  Operation Migaloo was very intense with multiple engagements with the whaling fleet, capsizing, hostage taking and a shooting and Animal Planet crews were onboard to document it as it unfolded.

The show will focus on the Sea Shepherd crew's dedication to end illegal whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.  The series documents the three-month campaign across the icy waters of the Antarctic. "This is an opportunity for millions of people around the world to wake up to the fact that hundreds of whales are being illegally slaughtered under the guise of research and we as the human species have to say enough is enough," said Jonny Vasic, Director of Video and Film Projects for Sea Shepherd.

If you didn't ever get a chance to read that interview with Captain Paul Watson, by the way, here's the link again: "'Sticking it to the Man,' 20th Century Style.

Stephanie Ernst wrote the original Animal Rights blog at Change.org until December 2009. She can now be found at Animal Rights & AntiOppression.
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