Surfpolitik The Politics of Confrontation: Sea Shepherd

In: Surfpolitik by 6 Comments Wed 25th Feb '09

Tags: Sea Shepherd , Paul Watson , MV Steve Irwin , Greenpeace , Whaling , environment , stuart nettle

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Stuart Nettle
December 10, 2008

As I type this the Sea Shepherd boat MV Steve Irwin is heading south from Australia toward the Southern Ocean to meet the Japanese whaling fleet. Unlike past years there hasn't been much mainstream media attention surrounding their departure. Why this is I can't say.

But perhaps it's because Sea Shepherd and their founder Captain Paul Watson occupy a precarious position in the public eye. Many people agree with what they do but they also know that they are one false move away from a public relations nightmare.

In their 31 year history Sea Shepherd have scuttled 10 whaling boats, had their own boats deregistered in various countries and partaken in defiantly aggressive tactics. Captain Paul Watson has consistently undertaken 'extralegal' activities to achieve his ends. He has been jailed in The Netherlands, is persona non grata in Iceland and was charged with attempted murder in Costa Rica.

In 2005 then federal environment minister Ian Campbell labelled them terrorists only to sign up as a consultant a year later. That move, as much as any other, is indicative of the awkward philosophical position Sea Shepherd can put people in.

After all, people want to help. There aren't too many Australians who agree with whaling, it is just the methods used to stop the whaling that have like-minded people disagreeing with each other.

The crux of the argument is: what is the quickest route to permanently end commercial whaling, diplomacy or direct action?

Diplomacy may be dull, yet the 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling is testament to the powers of co-operation. That countries such as Japan, Norway and Iceland have slipped out of their commitments to the agreement is not a sign of failure but a recognition of how culturally ingrained whale hunting is in those countries.

For them to change their ways - permanently change their ways - their must be a prolonged campaign of diplomatic coercion to show that whale hunting isn't sustainable, and that there are viable alternatives. Any other method is cutting off leaves to kill a tree. My fear is that Sea Shepherds overtly aggressive tactics will jeopardise all diplomatic progress and make the Japanese stubbornly bunker down.

Japan is, after all, a land where 'saving face' is paramount. Violent confrontation just doesn't work. Attacks on them, either physical attacks on their boats or verbal attacks on their culture are counter-productive.

Just think about how Australians get their collective hackles up when lectured by other countries on issues such as Aboriginal health or bad sportsmanship. Objectivity is a scarce commodity when the domestic press starts chest beating.

Aussie, aussie, aussie, oi, oi, oi.

So while direct action might feel very empowering for those involved, and the accompanying high sea drama makes great television, does it make more progress? Because despite everything that happened in the Southern Ocean last summer the Japanese fleet went home with a catch and they are heading back down there again this summer.

And Sea Shepherd have been pursuing these tactics for 31 years. If they haven't achieved their ends via direct action yet the question needs to be asked, when will they?

Finally, Sea Shepherd employ a typically American-style method of problem solving. Where 'might is right' and respect is only earned by forcefully imposing your will upon others. Captain Paul Watson is a Canadian, however his primary benefactors are Hollywood do-gooders and US businessmen brought up in a culture of confrontation.

Take a look around the world and ask yourself: how many times has this approach worked?

stuart@swellnet.com.au

Postscript: Greenpeace are not sending any boats to the Southern Ocean this season. Instead they are focusing their campaign efforts on increasing the pressure on whaling within Japan. They are increasing the public awareness of whaling so the domestic population can pressure the Japanese government. They are also funding the defence in the court case of two Japanese activists - Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki.

Greenpeace Australia website

Dave Rastovich's Surfers For Cetaceans website

Sea Shepherd website

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