Bob Barker Donates $5,000,000 to Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

[onestepforward]

for ocean conservation and the Sea Shepherd's have named their newest ship after him.

snip-
"The Norwegian flag cracked in the chill Antarctic air as the silhouette of the whaler gave every indication that the ship was sent to support the Japanese whalers.

The Japanese could be forgiven for thinking that the pro-whaling Norwegians had sent a ship to support their illegal whaling activities in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. But any excitement turned to disappointment quickly as the Norwegian flag was hauled down and the black and white skull with crossed Trident and Shepherd’s crook was raised to announce the arrival of the Bob Barker, the latest ship acquired for the Sea Shepherd ocean defense fleet."
snip-

http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-100105-1.html

Thanks Bob Barker! The Sea Sheperds have 3 ships now.

[Catshrink]

1. Wonderful!

[flvegan]

2. She's beautiful

Thanks for putting this up for them.

[izquierdista]

3. Ohhhh, too bad

I guess the Price is Wrong for Japanese whale meat. Maybe they can get a nice parting gift.

[Warpy]

4. He's always put his money (and reputation) where his mouth is

when it comes to animals and consequently environmental issues.

His stage persona drove me bonkers, but he's a hell of a supporter.

[onestepforward]

26. I didn't know that about him until today.

What a generous spirit he must have!

[Brother Buzz]

30. He hasn't worn genuine leather shoes for decades

truly a man of conviction and compassion, but with mean right uppercut.

[Gold Metal Flake]

5. I could never have imagined...

A fleet of anti-whaling vessels. This is what gives me hope.

[Cass]

6. Wow! That is awesome! nt

[Robeson]

7. Excellent.

[Dead_Parrot]

8. As an added bonus, the "Bob Barker" just intercepted the whaling fleet...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x224633

[MercutioATC]

9. Vigilantism that puts the lives of animals over those of people is wrong.

Yes, that's just my opinion.

[flvegan]

12. If that were indeed the case

there'd be a LOT of dead whalers and everyone would be in jail.

Since that's not the case...

[MercutioATC]

13. Ramming ships on the open ocean is inviting disaster.

...and shows a complete lack of concern for the lives of the crews of both ships.

[flvegan]

15. If there was a lack of concern

any ramming (from both sides) would be far, far worse. Also, were they putting the lives of whales over people, they'd be tossing more than butter, don't you think?

So, like I said...

[MercutioATC]

17. That premise has absolutely no basis in logic.

It's like saying "The maniac's assaults are excusable because he just hit people with a brick. If he wanted to, he could have shot them."

You've never spent much time on the water, have you? That hull keeping you out of 34 degree waters is sacred. Actions like this would be unthinkable to any seaman not involved in war.

[flvegan]

18. Just disproving your premise.

As to your assumption, I spent my entire childhood on the water and most of my college years.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

20. In the deep southern oceans?

I too spent a lot of time on the water growing up and subsequently. Its not quite the same at the higher lattitudes

[flvegan]

21. Of course not.

But that's not what the poster asked.

[MercutioATC]

23. My point is that you didn't disprove anything.

Watson rams other ships in open waters. That's a fact.

In doing so he not only creates the probability of injuries caused by the impact, he also risks jeopardizing the hull integrity of one or both ships (or, in a less catastrophic scenario, damaging propulsion or steering systems that could result in a loss of maneuverability).

He's putting human lives in jeopardy.

[flvegan]

24. Wonder why he's never been tried for such actions.

Especially considering every "brush" has been caught on video. By both parties. Hm.

Seems more an accusation, not a fact.

Anyway, you said he was putting the lives of animals over humans. Obviously, he's not.

[MercutioATC]

25. I do, too. That doesn't change the fact that he does it.

As you observe, it's been recorded on video numerous times.

As far as Watson putting the lives of animals over those of people, he actively creates situations that put human lives in danger to "save" animals. That seems evident. How is it "obvious" that he's not?

[flvegan]

49. Hey, moron

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/whale-watch/japanese-ship-sinks-whale-protest-boat--ady-gill-20100106-ltp4.html

Got your wish. Hope you feel good about it.

[Robeson]

50. There's always one...

...doesn't matter where, what topic, or what thread. There's always one on this site.

[flvegan]

51. Fucking cowards.

Same douchebags that'll say the crew on Ady Gil deserved it.

Fucking Ted Nugent wannabes.

[AllenVanAllen]

52. Mother-Fucker.

A friend of mine teased me and said, "The Japanese are going to break it in half."
Goddamn it...

[flvegan]

53. Money is more important to the Japanese govt I suppose than human life.

Yet some idiots here will defend the Japanese for trying to kill people over this.

[AllenVanAllen]

56. They don't get it.

What the Sea Shepherd does is for the good of all of us. They don't understand they need a living ocean too.
I'm grateful no one was killed (not that they didn't try.) It's looks like they'll probably end up losing the Ady Gil. There's gotta' be some repercussions to the whaling corp for this.

[onestepforward]

54. Oh no!!!

My heart just sank. :(

Glad no one was hurt.

[MercutioATC]

63. Perhaps the Ady Gil shouldn't have run itself directly into a 450-ton ship's path.

18 tons of carbon fiber and kevlar vs. 450 tons of steel...and they accelerated right into them!

What the hell were they thinking?

[blindpig]

66. What is the difference

between this and putting oneself in the front line of a demonstration when the cops start swinging?

None that I can see.

[MercutioATC]

67. Both are pretty stupid ideas.

This stupid idea cost $1.5M...and accomplished nothing.

[blindpig]

69. Think so?

Tell that to the civil rights movement.

[FBaggins]

71. That wasn't the best comparison

Better would be trying to save cattle by parking your car across the railroad tracks in front of the train carrying them to slaughter.

Publishing a press release claiming that they intentionally destroyed your car and should have stopped will only get support from the fringe that thinks PETA is an over-funded group with no desire to help animals.

[SidDithers]

68. Video here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Z0diQocPLE&feature=player_embedded


Sid

[muriel_volestrangler]

76. That looks like a deliberated ramming by the Japanese ship to me

Notice how the 3rd ship in the distance starts to starboard of the Japanese ship, but has disappeared off to port by the time of the collision; and how the Sea Shepherd boat is well to the starboard of the Japanese one at the start of the video, but end up under its bow. It looks like the Japanese ship turned to try to hit the other one. And their fire hoses meant the Sea Shepherd ship has no visibility, and wouldn't have been able to judge the upcoming collision as the Japaesne could have.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

36. There is are questions of jurisdiction

which will only be sorted out when someone gets seriously hurt. As long as its more street theater than anything else, no nation will risk political capital or waste funds in this matter. His continuous losing losing of national registry/flags is instructive. No nation wants to take responsibility for his actions.

Last year or perhaps the year before Watson had some people board one of the whalers with a declaration or some such. They were rightfully taken prisoner. The master of the vessel would have been within his rights to take them back to Japan for trial, where they would have been convicted and sent to jail. Japanese jails are very unpleasant places. There must have been some interesting behind the scenes discussions that got them released. It also saved the rest of us from an entire season of whining about "unlawful kidnapping" so perhaps it was for the best.

Last season I was both amused and concerned when the whalers turned Watson's own tactics and even his own fouling line against him at one point. His "righteous rage" that it was intolerable that the whalers might somehow hurt his ship while he trying to do the exact same thing to theirs clearly showed Watson's true colors. My concern was that while it would have been stunningly ironic for him to be hoist on his own petard, it would have been a major PITA for Australia or NZ national navies to have to come and rescue them. Then again, the cost of a salvage tug might well have hurt them so bad financially they would be in harbor and litigation that out making more bad TV shows.

In the end, clearly Watson is instigating the inter-human violence, and would be the seminal cause of any serious calamity. When there is a serious accident, he will be the one having to answer for it.

[Goldstein1984]

62. They would argue that it is war

My financial contributions to Sea Shepherd Conservation Society certainly are intended to support both the war on whaling and the war on dolphin slaughter.

If they were only following the Greenpeace example of "witnessing" whale slaughter, then I'd only be sending them what I send Greenpeace ($0.00).

[PVnRT]

64. You don't do much damage ramming a whaling vessel with a speedboat

In fact, you're more likely to sink the speedboat, since whaling vessels are generally made of thicker steel.

Sea Shepherd basically just tries to interfere with whaling operations. They aren't pirates trying to sink boats.

[MercutioATC]

72. Their new boat is a 1200-ton ex whaling ship.

How much you want to but they ram a Japanese whaler with it in the next few weeks?

[tabasco]

34. Every dumb fuck has one.

Take yourself, for example.

[devilgrrl]

37. +1

eom

[Bluebear]

41. Fine, then you donate $5 million to the International Whaling Federation

or something.

[onestepforward]

48. There is a bigger picture to consider.

It really isn't animals over people, but it is about the survival of both animals and people.

In Paul Watson's words: "It is not a question of saying we should be doing all that is possible to save our oceans, but rather that we must do all that is possible or else. We no longer have a choice. Failure to act, failure to reverse the pattern has only one consequence – global eco-system collapse or to put it another way the complete failure of the life support system for space ship Earth.

What the great majority of people do not understand is this: unless we stop the degradation of our oceans, marine ecological systems will begin collapsing and when enough of them fail, the oceans will die.

And if the oceans die, then civilization collapses and we all die."

We are all connected.

[NoSheep]

55. good post.

[Cetacea]

58. And Buckminster Fuller:

In no other area is mankind assuring his own destruction than in his decimation of the cetaceans.

[galledgoblin]

65. +1

[Cetacea]

57. Their tenure as "animals" will come to an end

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/article6973994.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797084

Fuck the whalers. They are barbarians.

[texastoast]

70. I don't agree

That's my opinion about your opinion. It just amazes me that humans can't control their numbers or greed and that they are too damned primitive to wake up and realize that this whole big world is a network of life and that losing one species is just a nail in the coffins of our children.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

79. seconded

refusal to control our own desires...

If more of us would just moderate our desires, we'd ALL be better off

Even here, so many react with rabid foaming mouths when confronted with the need to reduce our numbers. The self-serving hostility reactions to any posts about population control illustrate the point.

[Crunchy Frog]

80. But insurance companies that put profits over people's lives

are just fine with you. Peculiar set of priorities you have. :shrug:

Oh, and I happen to think that the lives of whales are probably more valuable than those of most people.

[crispini]

10. .

The Japanese whalers are discovering that the price is no longer right.

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[tammywammy]

31. +1

Best statement that could be said.

:rofl:

[texastoast]

74. +2

You seem to be showcasing your wit there, Crispini. (sorry)

[glitch]

11. Bravo Mr. Barker!

Signed, your newest fan.

[bigwillq]

14. Cool.

Thanks, BB. :bounce:

[gateley]

16. He walks his talk. I've read he's vegan, won't wear leather, is committed to

not "using" any animals.

[flvegan]

19. The entire expedition is vegan.

No animal products on his boats. Very committed.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

22. Have to wonder how long they will have that flag...

[Peregrine Took]

27. I love him. He is a wonderful human being. n/t

[PSzymeczek]

32. If only

he weren't a serial sexual harrasser.

[Bluenorthwest]

28. Love that Bob!

Five million.

[Doremus]

29. It's nice to hear of a good story for a change. Thanks Bob Barker!

I hope the new ship saves many whales!

:hug:

[tabasco]

33. God bless him!

He's such a great guy!

[JNelson6563]

35. Nice.

:toast:

[DainBramaged]

38. The price IS Right.........Thanks Bob, you done good..........

[Robb]

39. Don't forget to spay and neuter your whales. nt

[Bluebear]

40. Spay and neuter your blowhole!

Barker is a loyal friend and true to animals.

[Unrepentant Fenian]

42. Fair play to ya Bob!!

[NNadir]

43. Just for reference, what is the fuel for the $5M baby?

It doesn't look wind or solar powered.

http://www.seashepherd.org/images/stories/news/news_100105_1_1_Bob_Barker_(JMc8739).jpg

They wouldn't be, um, using Sumatran biodiesel - the kind that uses rototilled orangatan/sumatran tiger/sumatran rhino habitat to help Germany meet it's, um, "renewable portfolio standards - for it, would they?

[texastoast]

77. Nope.

They use faerie dust.

:bounce:

[BrklynLiberal]

44. K&R

[AllenVanAllen]

45. All right Bob!

More tools for an increasingly important battle. Excellent! Each part of our ocean's ecosystems is important to the whole. They need to stay in balance or they will fail.
I wish the Sea Shepherd good fortune in their endeavors.

[lildreamer316]

46. Hell Yes!!

Now I can't wait for the new season of Whale Wars. Get 'em!!

[spoony]

47. Sweet. Rock on, Bob. nt

[ConsAreLiars]

59. Excellent! Of course there will be those critics who believe that plunder and pillaging

and slaughter, whether for fun or profit, should never be resisted. Well they may oppose some of the for-fun variants unless there is a for-profit justification as well. They will whine about some dubious technicality, or wail about the so-called "ramming" in which the structurally weaker Sea Shepherd was pinned between two whaling ships.

But when a resisting ship is sunk, as just recently, or one bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza is rammed and nearly sunk, they will cheer. That their "moral high ground" is phony one needs only to see their support for those who actually murder humans for gain. They support the powers-that-be, and whether it is Japanese whalers or 'their' armies which serve greed and profit, they will stand with them.

(edit a tiny bit)

[AllenVanAllen]

61. The "critics" will love this news.

Japanese Whalers Ram Sea Shepherd Ship Ady Gil

http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-100105-4.html

They don't realize that they need the ocean's ecosystems in balance for their survival as well. Kill enough animals in an ecosystem and it will fail. We get most of our oxygen from the world's oceans. You would think that would be important to people...

[G_j]

60. awesome!

that is wonderful!
:applause:

[Blue Owl]

73. Go PLINKO on their asses, Bob!

That is freaking AWESOME!

[Ignis]

75. I've met Bob Barker. He's a really warm, caring guy.

He actually tried to kidnap my cat once in LA. :) Long story, but the upshot is that he's a fervent supporter of animal rights, and he puts his time and money where his mouth is.

[peace13]

78. Wouldn't have happened if Bob had talked to me first!

The Sea Shepard 'organization' is dangerous to those of us who abide by the rules on the sea. Their tactics are dangerous to man, whale and sea. Too sad IMO.