Shifting Baselines Blog

1/9 - Firing the Imagination: Sea Shepherd and Greenpeace bring drama (and a can opener) to ocean conservation

As the world of ocean conservation has settled over the past decade into the mud flats of politics, bureaucracy, focus groups, and political correctness, there are a couple of groups of warriors still out there waging the battle in a way that can stir the public's heart. Sea Shepherd and Greenpeace are combatting whaling the old fashioned way -- by actually being seen doing something, which is very good for media and the general public. In case anyone has forgotten.

So this week they're taking a giant can opener to a Japanese whaling ship to open that sucker like a tin of sardines. Yes, its important that we put lots of effort into politics and diplomacy, but without a little drama like this, the whole movement just gets so dull that nobody cares. Here's to these two groups.


At sea collision and "The Can Opener"