DEFEND, CONSERVE, PROTECT

To say that the earth is in danger is to put it lightly. The ice caps are melting, weather is becoming more and more unpredictable, and the doomsday preachers are getting louder. The need to conserve our natural resources has never been more imperative. Whales play an often overlooked and crucial role in contributing to the world’s oxygen supply, yet not everyone seems to acknowledge this, with Japan resuming commercial whaling just this week, killing these animals under the guise of “science research”. As such, the timing of ‘Defend, Conserve, Protect’, a nail-biting documentary following attempts to shut down Japanese whaling fleets, could not be more justified.

Four years in the making, ‘Defend, Conserve, Protect’ follows the journey of Sea Shepherd, a volunteer group dedicated to conserving marine life across the Southern Ocean as they work to confront and hopefully put a stop to Japanese whaling activities. Having saved over 6,000 whales across 12 campaigns, Sea Shepherd have both the experience and the ethical high ground on their side. The journey from Tasmania to Antarctica is long, difficult and emotionally trying for those involved, but it’s a testament to their bravery that the crew never gives up hope, even in moments of the documentary where it seems like hope is lost. This is a crew that knows the risks of their mission but regardless face it with a steely determination, knowing that even in the face of extremely low temperatures, boat fuel freezing up and the risk of capsizing, stopping whaling is far too important to let slide.