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MNN.COM > MNN BLOGGERS > Karl Burkart's Blog

Karl Burkart

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
Read more: ACTIVISM, ANIMAL RESEARCH, CONSERVATION, OCEANS

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.

 

Don't do RSS? Follow all of Karl Burkart's posts and tweets @greendig or on Facebook.

 

 

 

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Comments(9)

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Posted By Anonymous - Thu, Jun 11 2009 at 2:08 AM EST

genius has no off switch

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.

  • reply
Posted By Janean - Wed, Jun 10 2009 at 9:41 AM EST

MMM good

Shark fin soup is great you all should try it some time

  • reply
Posted By Anonymous - Wed, Jun 10 2009 at 8:27 AM EST

Michael Muller

White Mike is Michael Muller, a California photographer. His website is here:

http://www.krop.com/muller/

  • reply
Posted By Anonymous - Fri, May 01 2009 at 10:25 PM EST

Large predators

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.

  • reply
Posted By Anonymous - Sun, May 03 2009 at 11:55 AM EST

Hey Couch Potato Head

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 !!!

  • reply
Posted By TequilaMockingbird - Sat, May 02 2009 at 12:44 PM EST

Large predators

Speaking of Dangerous Critters.. You seem to be the type of dangerous critter that makes me feel less safe..

  • reply
Posted By Celeste Matthews - Fri, May 01 2009 at 11:44 PM EST

So stay home

Preditors play an essential role in regulation of populations in ecosystems. If you are scared of wild animal, stay home. They belong here.

  • reply
Posted By MediaSavvy - Fri, May 01 2009 at 5:35 PM EST

WhiteMike

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.

  • reply
Posted By Anonymous - Fri, May 01 2009 at 4:55 PM EST

that is cool

can't wait to see who's behind it

  • reply

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