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April 17, 2005
Tanker free zone!
Today we left Ramberg, and headed out to sea. Over the next days we will patrol the sea area outside the Lofoten Islands and alert all passing oil tankers to keep 50 miles off the sensitive coastline.
From April 1, the Norwegian Government reduced the tugboat capacity from three to two vessels covering the entire 1500 km coastline from Lofoten to the Russian border. This is far less than the minimum estimate from the coastal authority; as long as the traffic is allowed to pass as close to shore as only 12 nautical miles.
Oil tanker traffic along the Norwegian coast between Russia and Europe has increased dramatically over the last few years, and is expected to increase even further in the future. The northern Norwegian ocean and coastline is extremely sensitive to oil pollution. Millions of seabirds, the worlds largest healthy cod stock as well as numerous other fish and marine mammals breed, spawn and nest in this area.
This weekend, an estimated amount of 400.000 pairs of puffins re-colonised the puffin colony at Røst, far West in the Lofoten Island chain. An oil tanker accident close to Røst in this time of year may wipe out this entire population and cover the entire Lofoten coast with oil within few days.
Posted by Irene at April 17, 2005 8:25 PM
Comments
Hi Irene,Christian and all crew,
Didn't know that you had a weblog on this tour, so I haven't had time to read all interesting stuff! Irene, Nina asked me if I wanted to join you as an activist in Norway, but unfortunately I couldn't say yes, due to other committments in Sweden.And I am completely new in Greenpreace, but I read Fiskeribladet every day, so I know a little about Norwegian fishery.But very little!! And fishing gear like SNURREVAD I have no clue about!
Heard that the whaling season starts today. Are you going to protest against whaling, or is this kinds of protests counter productive?
Looking forward to that bar tour in Stockholm!!!
BTW, I volunteer now in our save the seas campaign.
Wish you all good luck and give Christian a hug from me, he educated me a lot on Norwegian whaling!
Ann
Posted by: Ann Novek at April 18, 2005 3:19 PM
It would have been great to have you here Ann, I am so sorry you couldn't make it! Would have been so nice to have you in the team, with your knowledge on the Norwegian fisheries. Good to hear you joined the Swedish campaign.
We still oppose commercial whaling, but on this tour we focus on other issues.
I'll pass on that hug!
Posted by: Iréne at April 19, 2005 9:14 AM
Hello again all friends,
I know the Esperanzas mission in the Lofotens, but many friends of mine including Lisa(Lizardfish, Ekkaia) are wondering how it comes that a Greenpeace's crew and ship doesn't protest against whaling when you actually are in the centre of all whaling activity.
This was posted to me at the Action Centre:
"Ann - can you get someone from Norway to comment here on why Greenpeace feels it is better to focus completely on the one campaign and leave whales completely out of the picture?
It would be interesting to know why they feel they can't they do both, or at least include some action against whaling perhaps at the end of the other campaign?
I'm sure they have good reasons and I suspect I can guess them, but it would be interesting to know for sure so that there is a better understanding of why Greenpeace is not planning anything against whaling this year, in Norway.
I don't want any doubt left in people's minds that Greenpeace is doing the best that they can for the whales rather than being neglectful and lazy as some would imply
Lisa".
Maybe you have some time over and could please let us know the Esperanzas srategy!
Big hugs from
Ann
PS. The weblog is really great and informative!
Posted by: Ann Novek at April 25, 2005 5:03 AM