Who is White Mike?
Mystery shark sniping campaign has D.C. and L.A. all abuzz.
Thu, Apr 30 2009 at 6:33 PM EST
10
Photos: White Mike's blog UPDATE 5/1: White Mike just attacked Atlanta last night within blocks of the CNN building. Take a look at the twitpic.
A striking image of a great white shark has been mysteriously popping up in cities around the country -- Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and now Atlanta. The perpetrators are remaining anonymous and there is no text on the image.
Los Angeles in particular is abuzz about the shark "sniping campaign" (a term used to describe the somewhat illegal method of posting up images on public property). Marketing executives are calling each other up asking if it's a promo for a new TV show or movie, but no one as of yet has come up with any answers, and each night more and more sharks appear.
But now through an anonymous tip I got this weekend the mystery has been solved... at least partially.
A new Twitter feed just appeared @thisiswhitemike which links back to a blog called This is Whitey. The blog is taking credit for the amazing images but declines to name who is behind the shark crusade.
The blog states that White Mike is a... "guerilla movement meant to spark the curiosity and collective humanistic action with regards to saving the dire state of Great White Sharks and their near extinction in our planet. "
Misconceptions around one of the ocean's greatest predators and a demand for shark fins in asian markets have put the species in grave danger. As of 2004, the great white population has dropped 70% from normal levels and is now on the Endangered Species List.
A great documentary called Sharkwater (whose trailer I posted up on TrendHunter last year) records the massacre of these suprisingly helpless creatures. Last year I met the filmmakers who alerted me to this issue, and though they are not in any way involved in the sniping campaign (I checked) White Mike has a link to their film.
The hope of the White Mike movement is to raise awareness of the plight of these animals, and how important they are to ocean ecosystems. The blog puts it well:
"Sharks, the creatures we fear the most, are struggling for survival in our oceans. They are in desperate need of global conservation and these words, however miniscule they may be, serve the only purpose of revealing the inhumane slaughter of sharks and the Organizations out there to help stop the cruel abuse of Whiteys."Visit the White Mike site to learn more about shark conservation efforts and make sure to follow @thisiswhitemike where twitpics of the installations are being posted in real time.
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Comments
Anonymous
06/11/2009 02:08 AM
the best art is provacative. this art has the added advantage of bringing awareness to yet another problem that will ultimately affect our entire planet. what is the harm in pasting up great pieces on ugly utility boxes? forget about judging and do something to save the ocean, like stop eating fish. **** it.
Janean
06/10/2009 09:41 AM
Shark fin soup is great you all should try it some time
Anonymous
06/10/2009 08:27 AM
White Mike is Michael Muller, a California photographer. His website is here:
Anonymous
05/01/2009 22:25 PM
Do we really need these large, dangerous predators-- sharks, grizzly bears, etc. (Well, wolves are cool and not much danger to humans anyway)? The (geologically) recent Pliestocene extinctions took care of a lot of large mammals, and the planet seems fine, relatively speaking. I would feel safer, in the water and on the trail, without these dangerous critters.
Heh?
03/03/2011 00:06 AM
Your ignorance and general lack of understanding of the basic concept of CONSERVATION is astounding. "Wolves are cool and not much danger to humans anyway?" (!!?) How do you entertain such thought processes and consider yourself educated? Large Predators like the Great White Shark, Lions, Grizzly bear, and your seemingly "harmless" Wolves are ALL endangered because of negative Human interaction with said species and their habitats. The rate at which these animals are dwindling has.... More
Anonymous
05/03/2009 11:55 AM
May a large Grizzly rescue you from a dangerous drug-addled Homey busting into your living room, spilling your warm beer and barbecue potato chips, during reruns of Family Man. Nitwit !!!
TequilaMockingbird
05/02/2009 12:44 PM
Speaking of Dangerous Critters.. You seem to be the type of dangerous critter that makes me feel less safe..
Celeste Matthews
05/01/2009 23:44 PM
Preditors play an essential role in regulation of populations in ecosystems. If you are scared of wild animal, stay home. They belong here.
MediaSavvy
05/01/2009 17:35 PM
Hmmmm, I Wonder!!!! A story is written about a few posters that cropped up in a few cities buy a person sympathetic to the cause. This is a non story, trying to be one.
Anonymous
05/01/2009 16:55 PM
can't wait to see who's behind it
