There's a show on Animal planet called "Whale Wars" in which environmentalists (The Sea Shepeard Conservation Society) and others take to the ocean to try prevent inhumane Whale hunting practices. Often they result to aggressive and often violent means to harass the fishing ships, putting themselves and the fisherman in danger. The question. Does the ends justify the means. Are the Whale Pirates (its what they are referred to on the show) justified in trying to stop cruel fishing practices even if they put humans in danger.
Its an interesting question. Does anyone have the right to circumvent the law in defense of actions they believe are right. Many critics and even a few other environmentalists have been critical of the Sea Shepperd Society. They charge them with being ineffective and dishonest in order to achieve thier goals.
Paul Watson, head of the Sea Shepard Conservation Society and main captain on the show has on numerous occasions been accused of artificially creating media incidents and on one occasion even been accused of faking being shot. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7282760.stm).
In one instance the protesters threw stink bombs onto a whaling ship and the fisherman responded by by throwing flash bangs at the the Sea Sheppard. In another episode Watson had two of his colleagues sneak aboard a whaling ship to purposely create an international incident through their detainment. (They were eventually relased after a huge political standoff between Australlia and Japan.)
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