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A Whale Warrior Comes Home


Environment  (tags: Sea Shepherd, peter brown, whaling )

Claudia
- 146 days ago - capecodtoday.com
First mate Peter Brown leaves Sea Shepherd's Campaigns
Comments

Claudia Peters (322)
Friday July 3, 2009, 1:43 am
Peter Brown is first mate aboard the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s 180-foot, steel-hulled ship R/V Farley Mowat, which chases Japanese whalers on the hunt for minke in the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary, carrying an earnest crew dead-set on harassing the whalers out of a catch. As Brown says, “Once we’re on their tail, they can’t whale.”
While his regular gig as a director-cameraman for film and television usually finds him behind the camera, his 27-year-long hobby of volunteering with the SSCS has recently put him front and center in Animal Planet’s surprise hit series, Whale Wars. The June 5 premier episode of their second season was seen by nearly 1.2 million viewers who tuned in for an edge-of-your-seat ride in aggressive environmentalism, complete with heaving seas, deadly ice flows, flying stink bombs and returning flash bombs. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, these folks are wildly committed to their cause and undeniably brazen.

Grassroots with Greenpeace

The SSCS got its start in 1977 when Greenpeace co-founder Paul Watson started the Earth Force Society in Vancouver, BC and soon purchased his first ship, the Sea Shepherd. According to Peter Brown, Watson was summarily voted out of the Greenpeace power structure for being “too extreme.” Brown was working in television in Los Angeles at the time, but it wouldn’t be long before Watson and Brown’s paths converged. In 1982, Watson made a trip to Japan’s Iki Island to meet with local representatives regarding the island fishermen’s slaughter of dolphins. He called on Brown, who produced the first 25 weeks of Entertainment Tonight, but was working on a popular show called Real People at the time, to film the events, and the issue received a great deal of publicity. The fishermen stopped driving dolphins for the next four years, and a friendship was formed between the two men. “I realized then I could do something to help,” said Brown.
As an activist with the SSCS, Brown has found himself in a Japanese prison – “being served what I think might have been whale meat” – jailed with his 10-year-old son in Ecuador, imbedded with Canadian seal hunters who forced him to eat seal meat to prove he wasn’t an environmentalist, and living for 18 months on the Pacific, fighting the Macaw Indians’ plans to kill grey whales, just to name a few of his exploits.
Greenpeace, a bit too soft?

A contentious relationship with Greenpeace also exists. Brown contends that Greenpeace refuses to divulge the location of the Japanese whaling fleet in the Antarctic Ocean – a key piece of data in the hunt for the whalers. Greenpeace locates the fleet in order to take pictures that Brown insists helps the organization make money. “The whalers don’t think twice about killing whales when Greenpeace is around,” he says. “They almost never kill a whale in front of us – they know we will go nuts and try to ram them or something.” According to Brown, the Sea Shepherd crew has even asked the Greenpeace boats to radio the location of the Japanese fleet after “they get their photos, so we can come in and actually stop them from whaling.” Greenpeace has refused, leaving the Sea Shepherd crew to pull up the Greenpeace webcam and try to figure out their latitude and longitude from the weather and condition of the seas, a tactic Brown says once worked. Repeated calls to Greenpeace press contacts in Washington, DC and New York City were not returned for comment.

Despite lengthy campaigns in Antarctica that have kept Brown away from his loved ones for the last two Christmases and left him with a crushed thumb that required titanium part-replacement, Brown shows no signs of wearying. “I’ve been on 25 to 30 missions over the years, and the Antarctic campaigns are huge,” he said. “Missions usually last four weeks or so, but during the 2007 effort I was at sea for four months.” The ship can only hold enough fuel for four to six weeks, at a quarter million dollars a fill-up, so it returns to refuel, and during one of those stops in the 2008 mission, now airing on Animal Planet, Brown got off to travel to South Africa to film Jars of Clay in concert. “I’m sure they’re going to make me look like the bad guy, but they weren’t hurting for people to come on board and crew.” It’s hard to believe Paul Watson will hold it against him.

Brown has had the opportunity to speak publicly, and, with his newfound fame from the Whale Wars series, one can bet those engagements will increase. “It’s great to get the kids riled up,” he said. “I was lucky enough to end up in a situation where I can really make a difference. People will get mad at you, people may even scream at you, but eventually the great middle ground will follow. I don’t think it’s a waste of time; if you’re passionate about something, do something about it. Take hold of an idea and don’t let it go – there is no turning back.” Brown offers a further word of advice for conservationists: “Stop bumping into the trees and try to save the forest. Once the oceans die, we’re next.”

Whale Wars airs Friday nights at 9pm on Animal Planet. Previous episodes are also available on Comcast OnDemand and on Hulu and on YouTube.

AFTER 25 YEARS OF CAMPAIGNING,I'VE DONE MY PART FOR THE WHALES
 

Claudia Peters (322)
Friday July 3, 2009, 2:02 am
Everyone who follows Sea Shepherds anti-whaling campaigns or Whale Wars on tv, has his/hers own opinion about Peter Brown. Many call him incompetent.

I call him a hero,for protecting whales for 25 years !
 

Cheree Million (126)
Friday July 3, 2009, 2:13 am
Nicely Done. Noted. Thanks
 

Gemma H. (43)
Friday July 3, 2009, 2:14 am
25 year of devotion to whales must be recognised. Bravo Peter Brown !! Thanks Claudia
 

mary f. (74)
Friday July 3, 2009, 2:31 am
i agree 25 years is great service thanks peter
 

Cristina S. (250)
Friday July 3, 2009, 2:55 am
You are right, Claudia! Thanks!
 

Pamylle G. (245)
Friday July 3, 2009, 3:29 am
25 years says it all. No one is perfect; keep that in mind, all critics.

Thanks for the post, Claudia.
 

Margaret S. (79)
Friday July 3, 2009, 3:51 am
Well done Peter!
 

Alicya L. (184)
Friday July 3, 2009, 3:55 am
He worked very hard and you know what they say:the best steersmen are on shore
de beste stuurlui staan aan wal
 

Karen S. (97)
Friday July 3, 2009, 3:57 am
Thanks Claudia. I think Brown was a rather "colourful" addition to "Whale Wars" and as contentious as he appears at times, he has talked the talk and walked the walk.....put himself out there for the benefit of our oceans. I will miss his antics.......
 

Rain Away no message pls (162)
Friday July 3, 2009, 4:37 am
Thanks Claudia, I may not have liked his "personality" as shown on Whale Wars, but I honor him for his service to protect the whales. I am grateful for his service from the HEART and not money! How many people in this world would risk their lives for the whales. Thanks Peter. Blessings, Rain
 

Michelle M. (83)
Friday July 3, 2009, 4:51 am
Thank you Claudia. I have not seen the show (don't think it is regularly aired here or if it is, it's in small increments not on public channels?) but I really like this guy's commitment and his last statement about the trees and the forests and the oceans...
 

liz c. (204)
Friday July 3, 2009, 5:10 am
Bless him for everything that he does to protect the whales. Thank you.
 

Jamie L. (220)
Friday July 3, 2009, 5:51 am
hmmm... Thanks Claudia!
 

bernadettemp P. (74)
Friday July 3, 2009, 6:16 am
goodf new claladia
 

Joycey B. (693)
Friday July 3, 2009, 6:54 am
You will be missed Peter. Thanks for your 25 years in defending whales. Thanks Claudia.
 

Leigh B. (178)
Friday July 3, 2009, 7:20 am
Thanks Claudia, I personally am glad to see him go, he brought so much negativity to the crew. I think things will go more smoothly with him gone.
 

Mike K. (42)
Friday July 3, 2009, 7:58 am
Good job Peter,but i am also glad to see him go on to new horizon's.thanx Claudia.
 

Sheila G. (237)
Friday July 3, 2009, 9:45 am
can only thank the man for risking his life doing the right thing, most of us don't just love everything about each other, from time to time we differ, but we always need to respect one another and just hang in there knowing our end result will be the same, life and freedom.
blessings to Peter in the future.
ty Claudia
 

Tierney G. (300)
Friday July 3, 2009, 9:59 am
Thanks Peter and Thanks Claudia!
 

Holly S. (225)
Friday July 3, 2009, 10:59 am
Thanks Claudia for enlightening me on Peter Brown. I have despised his behavior, arrogance and disrespect for the other volunteers but see that he has committed many long years to fighting for the cause without pay. I give him kudos for his dedication and commitment but agree with Leigh B. that operations should go much smoother without the negativity he seems to be projecting on the bridge.
 

Karenbee B. (257)
Friday July 3, 2009, 12:46 pm
You either loved him or hated him. Personally I never had a problem with him. All I know is that he dedicated a big part of his life fighting for what he believed to be right. Kind of hard to not like a person who knows what is right and fights so hard regardless of the dangers. I saw his announcement and felt really sad. I for one will miss Peter. Thanks Claudia.
 

Bee Hive Lady (301)
Friday July 3, 2009, 2:08 pm
I am not that familiar with Brown because I watch very little TV. But I do give him thanks for 25 years of service to the whales and the oceans.
 

Rosemary AWAY NO FWDS PLS (294)
Friday July 3, 2009, 3:21 pm
Peter Brown's compassion became his passion ... saving our Buddha Beings was to him "full steam ahead" ... i don't know about Captain Paul Watson holding anything against him... and one thing is for sure that they both embrace besides a compassionate passionate Spirit to save the whales and that is a consciousness to defend another living being that cannot defend itself ... so it's "no guts, no glory" x2 ... Peter Brown gets my vote and my admiration...
Claudia thank you so much for submitting his 'story' ... awesome !
 

Manuela B. (9)
Friday July 3, 2009, 3:59 pm
Yey!!!!! for Peter,a valiant animal and world defender!!!!!!!
 

Mandi T. (261)
Friday July 3, 2009, 5:42 pm
He has given much of his life at a personal sacrifice. I don't think we can call that incompetent.
WTG you brave and giving PETER!
Tx Claudia Another HERO!
 

Raffi OUT-NO POSTSPLZ (337)
Friday July 3, 2009, 8:29 pm
Noted, Claudia-thanks.
 

Anita Pisana (9)
Friday July 3, 2009, 11:54 pm
nicely done mate
 

David t. (264)
Saturday July 4, 2009, 2:52 am
Great news,thanks Claudia.
 

Alfred Donovan (21)
Saturday July 4, 2009, 5:00 am
Peter has done a sterling job on defense of the whales and is desrving of our thanks and appreciation for his efforts.He will go down in the history of animal conservation as one of the all time greats.It is remarkable that he has kept up the pressure on the Japanese whalers for 25 years.
 

Tony Fields (353)
Saturday July 4, 2009, 5:17 am
Thankz Claudia, Pete iz a wonderful guy and az Paul's right hand, he deserves the same kudos...
 

Nancy Welch (67)
Saturday July 4, 2009, 5:41 am
Thank you Peter for all the hard work you have done in the past 25 years. You will be missed dearly!
Thanks Claudia for sharing.
 

Gary H. (20)
Saturday July 4, 2009, 10:46 am
Kudos to a stimulating TV show and this Dude is a hero for whales! I'd love to see some of the arm chair critics volunteer for duty and test their "sea legs" in that crisp Arctic air. Keep the passion flowing Peter!
 

Debbie L. (171)
Sunday July 5, 2009, 4:06 am
In my humble opinion.....Peter should be commended for his 25 years of fighting to right the wrongs and saving helpless animals who are at risk, not unfairly judged. My hat is off to him, may he retire with dignity and peace knowing he fought the Good Fight and cared enough to make a difference. Thanks Claudia.
 

Chaz Gaily Berlusconi (251)
Sunday July 5, 2009, 10:00 am
Thanxxx, one must always give credit where it is due.... he needs his badge for all his service and dedication, without people like him the world would be a sadder place, and we would have less in our oceans.
 

linda r. (1)
Monday July 6, 2009, 5:46 am
Must admit that I'm sad to see him go, but Peter has done SO very much for this cause which we must be most thankful for and wish him all the best, with his family in this retirement. I know I will always remember and am ever thankful for all the anguish (especially when imprisoned - how many times?) he went through to help save the whales. Take care, Peter and THANK YOU.
 

Amena A. (109)
Monday July 6, 2009, 2:29 pm
May the wind be at your back, Peter. :)
 

Winefred M. (71)
Tuesday July 7, 2009, 7:08 am
Noted thanks Claudia.
 

Hart N. (0)
Wednesday July 8, 2009, 3:50 am
I don't think people realize that traditionally on ocean going ships that the first officer is often the most loathed person on the ship. They're the one who barks orders at the crew, and regardless of his level of tech savy, Peter Brown did the best job he could. The Steve Irwin did not get stuck in Ice because of Mr. Brown. The SI got stuck in Ice on Captain Watson's watch. People seem to forget that. While it may be best for both SS and Peter Brown to now part ways, I think the man deserves a lot of credit, at least as much as anyone else.
 

DIANE S. (103)
Sunday August 23, 2009, 4:23 pm
Agree he is a hero...because he left does not change all he has done
 
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