Thursday, December 17, 2009

Music vs. Ahab

Sea Shepherd Conversation Society is a nonprofit organization that works to protect marine species and ecosystems. Among its many activities, it sends crews out on high-tech boats to save whales from poaching.

Last year, according to Ecorazzi, the Japanese whaling fleet fought back with a long-range acoustic device that blasted a shrill, high-pitched sound at the Sea Shepherd crew harassing it.
While annoying, it definitely did not keep Paul Watson and Co. from continuing to be a nuisance — and it appears to have inspired them to bring their own “music” [on this year's intervention].

Pete Bethune, captain of the new Sea Shepherd stealth boat “Ady Gil,” has revealed that he’ll be blaring the song “Tangaroa” from NZ musician Tiki Taan. “It’s a pretty spooky dark song and it’s got this sort of ethereal Maori chant going on it and I don’t think they’ll like it at all,” he told a NZ Radio station.
Funny thing is, I liked the song a lot when I heard it on YouTube. In fact, I think it would make great workalong music. Then again, I listened voluntarily on earbuds at a reasonable volume. It will be interesting to find out what happens when it's blasted during an epic confrontation on the high seas.

Have a listen. What do you think? Will "Tangaroa" work as intended? Would it stop you from doing nefarious deeds?

3 comments:

John Wenger said...

You say, "The organization Sea Shepherd Conversation Society is a nonprofit organization that works to protect marine species and ecosystems. Among its many activities, it sends crews out on high-tech boats to save whales from poaching."

Poaching? Does that mean the ships they harass are stealing someone else's whales? Or does it mean they are being cooked in water? Or, does it mean they are simply culling whales from international waters, which is a perfectly legal activity?

cinderkeys said...

Sea Shepherd calls it poaching. They're trying to enforce international conservation laws. Whether the Japanese agreed to said laws, I don't know.

It's a fair question, but for the purposes of my post, I'm more interested in whether spooky Maori music is an effective deterrent. :)

DeppityBob said...

"Poaching" is illegal hunting, which is a widespread problem. Hunting whales in international waters is legal, but with restrictions. Violating those restrictions is poaching, just as taking too many deer during hunting season is the same.

"From hell's heart, I stab at thee! For... I SAID, FROM HELL'S HEART-- NEVER MIND. I SAID, NEVER MIND! Crap."