THE PERFECT PAIR DOLPHIN TRILOGY PROMOTES TOP ACTIVIST'S VIEW ON ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANISATIONS

​I was originally asked to do a guest blog about the Faroes, as I’m known for my hatred towards wannabee Vikings that like to kill cetaceans and abuse unarmed protestors, but only if they can hide behind the illegal protection of the Danish navy. Beyond that, what more can be said about these pathetic sub-humans?

This started me thinking about the current state of the environmental organisations - and boy was it depressing!

A few years ago, the big names were taking risks – protecting seal pups from being clubbed to death, obstructing whaling ships and even sinking them. And they needed funds to finance this, which is understandable.

But what do they do now?

Well, they still ask for money – some using heart-breaking tv adverts, showcasing a few animals they claim to be protecting. But some are actually supporting the Canadian seal pup clubbing - the very same seals they were once fighting to protect. Others say they support only traditional seal hunting that is done with respect. And they support trophy hunting. How many people making regular donations realise that?

To quote: “WWF is not an animal welfare organization. We support the hunting and consumption of wild animals provided the harvesting does not threaten the long-term survival of wildlife populations. WWF has never opposed a sustainable seal hunt in northern or eastern Canada.” I’m not sure how that sits with the adverts.

According to an article in The Guardian: “In a move that took many people by surprise, three of the world's largest international non-government groups, Greenpeace, WWF and the Pew Environment Group, today said they were prepared to see commercial whaling resumed if six conditions were met.”  I would think that most animal lovers are opposed to all whaling, especially in light of the agonising killing methods used.
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And then there is support for “sustainable” seal hunting, whatever that is. I wonder how many donors know about that?
 
For years, I have been cynical about the activities of these organisations and regarded them as money-making machines. I regarded Sea Shepherd as the only real organisation fighting for wildlife. But, sadly, that belief is now demolished. What do Sea Shepherd do? Film the illegal Icelandic whaling, film the Faroe wannabee Vikings, harass the Japanese whalers … Oh no, my mistake! They don’t go near the Japanese anymore.
 
I cannot believe that filming something of which governments are already aware, but choose to ignore, is going to change anything. Even more amazing are the whale conservation organisations that promote tourism to Iceland – trying to justify it by talking about supporting whale tourism instead. Go on a whale-watching trip and see an illegal whaling ship dragging an illegally-killed whale behind it! No thanks – complete tourism boycotts should be called for.
 
Sadly, I recently encountered Paul Watson in an online “discussion” about the recent Norwegian warship sinking. I was in total disagreement with one of Watson’s cronies. I said that the Norwegians deserved the massive cost of the loss due to their massive illegal whaling programme. The Norwegian Sea Shepherd crony was brutal in his replies. Shortly after, Paul Watson made an announcement that practically matched my feelings word for word. Then, he joined the discussion and blanked me, whilst being chummy with the same Norwegian who had been venomous about our shared opinion. Watson did not even have the conviction to stand up for his announcement. Hero to zero springs to mind!
 
So, what have they achieved apart from selling gullible animal lovers vastly overpriced bags and tee-shirts? (Yes, I have those, but am ashamed to wear them now!) Faroes, Japan, Norway, Iceland and, of course, the Vaquita. Have there been any major breakthroughs recently? A few minor ones, sure, but I wonder if it’s now all getting to be a holiday using other people’s money.
 
They have started on a ghost fishing campaign, but surely that’s just tagging onto an already well-established effort, so not a high-risk, ground-breaking new venture?
 
It’s not just the big international atrocities, either. Take fox hunting – now illegal in the UK, but what has changed? Nothing! Despite its illegality, it continues as before under a false name, with hunters beating up opposing saboteur heroes. And it’s likely to be the sabs themselves who get arrested.
 
Also in the UK: gamekeepers using illegal traps; the mass killing of hares; and protected birds of prey that just happen to die near shooting estates. Shame the police don’t seem to care about wildlife crime!
 
There is also talk about other UK organisations – speculation about the RSPB killing large numbers of wildlife, yet terrified to comment on the massive slaughter of protected birds by cats.
 
Wildlife cull is popular now – usually with tenuous attempts at justification. Badgers killed en masse, whilst hunts with hounds rampage on the same ground. The Scottish Natural Heritage allowing a mass cull of geese, and now a mass slaughter of stoats. This may be justified, considering the ability of the stoat to wipe out native ground-nesting birds; but they seem to be blind to the issue of birds killed by the non-native domestic cat and feral cats.
 
Sadly, SeaWorld continues. Travel groups make bold anti-SeaWorld statements, but omit to mention that they have involvement in captive cetaceans elsewhere.
 
Balloon releases continue unchecked, but beware of criticising. Apparently, it is in order to celebrate the loss of one person by mass littering that has the potential to kill wildlife. If you dare politely request that they use a different, not-so-damaging memorial, not only do the offending group “go” for you, but you are also branded a heartless monster by your so-called fellow animal lovers.
 
Another issue is the fear of not being politically correct. It’s got to the point that you cannot criticise anyone, no matter what they do, in case they are offended.
 
And that brings me to public involvement. Sadly, social media is overrun by ‘PC prudes’. In their eyes, it’s more offensive to call someone an unpleasant name than to illegally fire an explosive harpoon into a whale. What sort of logic is that? I would rather someone call me names than shoot me with a harpoon. Apparently, criticism is wrong, so we must be polite and understanding towards lowlife scum. Well, that’s been tried for years and nothing has changed. Such people should be outcasts. After all, the UK government was once happy to go to war with Iceland, but now it is too spineless (or, is it corrupt?) to offer any meaningful opposition to its illegal whaling.
 
It’s a sad state of affairs when barbaric and illegal activities are considered to be less of a problem than a bit of bad language and, to me, the sad reality is that if you say anything slightly rude or non-PC, you get stabbed in the back by the very people who should be supporting you. I have now withdrawn all connections with what I consider to be fraudulent organisations, as all I get is infuriating news that I am not allowed to comment on for fear of getting savaged by people claiming to be on the same side as me.
 
Until animal lovers have the intelligence to realise that, despite our relatively minor differences in approach, we need to unite and focus on the common enemy rather than fight between ourselves, then the activist movement is a waste of time. Nothing will change. The whalers, hunters, hare coursers and other assorted nutcases that enjoy killing know this and use it to their advantage. To be blunt, they regard wildlife protection as a joke – fragmented groups bitching about one another. What we really need is for all barbaric abuse to be graded as to severity, and then attacked with a combined effort and wiped out before moving on to the next atrocity. A war will never be won by fighting 50 subjects at once. Animal lovers need to be organised and co-ordinated, or they are useless.
 
I am sure I will be regarded as yet another armchair warrior, but as someone involved in practical wildlife rescue for many years - as well as rehab and other activities, all self-funded, I am far from that. But no matter what you do, you are considered worthless unless you are a vegan. But that’s another story! It sometimes amuses me when I am criticised or stabbed in the back by some who do nothing but shout their big mouths off. Especially as they have no idea just how active and devoted to wildlife rescue I am.
 
Finally, let’s talk about parents. I think that all the combined efforts of recycling, renewable energy, etc would be overshadowed if one other logic could be drummed into people’s mentality - the insane over-breeding obsession. The world is massively overpopulated by the worst possible species and, insanely, even those who claim to want to save the planet seem oblivious to this, breeding to excess.
 
In my opinion, the most valuable work is done by individuals and small charities, largely underfunded due to the big charities fraudulently winning the majority of charitable donations. I’d be interested to see the wages of their top people. I was recently offered a £50 donation from someone who reported an injured corvid that I rescued. I politely turned it down as I was not comfortable getting money from someone who couldn’t afford it. I later found out that the money was paid to the veterinary surgery I use towards my ongoing bills. That kindness reduced me to tears, but it at least proved that there are some decent people left.
 
To finish, I have given up campaigning to concentrate on rescue and rehab work. I consider this to be important, because I can see the results of my efforts. Rescue and rehab may not change the world, but it changes the world for each particular animal rescued, and if I can improve the world for just one animal, I will have achieved far more than so many of the gobby armchair experts out there!

RESCUE AND REHABILITATION ACTIVIST
Due to this activist's ties to several environmental organisations, he has asked to remain anonymous.