We'll be introducing the crew here as time goes by - stop by later and meet some more of us...
Beate, 2nd Engineer, Germany I started with Greenpeace in 1999 staying on board of the German Greenpeace vessel, the Beluga, for six months as engineer. Since then I have been sailing on the Rainbow Warrior. I have been involved in a variety of campaigns - forest, oil rigs, GE-Food, No-War, ship scraping... Onboard we are a very international crew and I find it a pleasure to work with people from all over the world on the same issues. It is good to get together, share what we know and do something with and about it. I think it is of utmost urgency to preserve what we have left on this planet. May it be the forests, a toxic free environment or the fish and mammals in the sea. I want to protest against exploitation of this earth. We humans are so arrogant against creation we keep destroying this world in order to make profit. Still, too few people realize that without a healthy environment we are nothing.
Frans: Captain
How long have you been on Greenpeace ships?
Since 1991 I have been working on and off on the Greenpeace ships , the last six years more intensely then before.
How did you get involved with Greenpeace?
I found out via a jobcentre that Greenpeace was looking for a mate, so I checked and called the Greenpeace office directly and discovered that they really needed a mate at short notice. I grabbed that chance and started to work on the MV Solo, former Greenpeace Ship, on a fisheries monitoring campaign in the North Sea in Europe. That was my first start.
What motivates you, why do you work the long hours as a captain, out in the ocean?
It is interesting to work on the sea, for the sea with people who are enthusiastic. The combination of the different nationalities of crew and issues we work on, makes it even more exiting & interesting.
The smallest messages are useful to everyone, it is not only about stopping companies from doing wrong or bad things, but even more important the mess sage we send for the future, because everybody cares in their hearts as individuals.
What do you do when you're not captaining a Greenpeace ship?
Creating THINGS: 3D & 2 dimensional
What message would you like to give people reading this?
A message for people reading this? Mmm, we are on sea, and everybody in the world got their things, so luck love happiness for all. A friend once said to me, 'no risk no fun' - maybe true, but reef the sails when you approach stormy weather, and still enjoy.
Carmen: Campaigner
My name is Carmen and I am the lead oceans campaigner on this trip. My career with Greenpeace began many moons ago, when I was a member of the Greenteam, an environmental youth network set up by Greenpeace to teach NZ’ers about campaigning. Nine years later I have been lucky enough to work in a range of roles in different countries. I have been an action logistics coordinator in Australia, New Zealand, India, South Pacific and a toxics campaigner in Australia and New Zealand. This deep sea expedition is going to be my favourite as soon as I adjust to the constant movement of the ship. I am mastering the art of typing whilst sliding around the room, eating food that bounces on my plate, and sleeping on the top bunk without falling out. Growing up on the rugged west coast of New Zealand has connected me with the oceans. But it is increasingly obvious that we are taking too much from our seas and causing extraordinary damage in the process. I hope that this expedition helps people understand the scale of destruction that is happening beyond our shores and inspires others to demand a change.
Emma: Deckhand
I am a committed activist from Brisbane. I have worked as a fundraiser for Greenpeace Australia Pacific and The Wilderness Society. This is my first time in the rough seas of New Zealand. I am grateful to be given the opportunity to consolidate all my theoretical training whilst working as a deckhand and on during my watch with the Captain from 8pm to 12am. My vision for the world is that all creatures great and small will live in balance with the planet earth. This campaign will help contribute to this vision.
Kat: Marine biologist
Kat is a marine biologist. She is originally from the US but lives in Auckland, New Zealand, where she is working on her PhD on squid with giant squid expert Steve O'Shea. She is also interested in octopus (for more on this see www.TONMO.com) and has worked with lobsters and dolphins. Kat also enjoys dry-land activities like camping and playing Scrabble (difficult to do on board) and less dramatic boating activities like canoeing. She also reads, dances Ceroc, provides spelling expertise to her pub trivia team, and travels to new places as often as time and money allow. She currently has only one gold tooth but hopes to be more pirate-like by the end of the voyage.
Lesley: Medic/deckhand I have been sailing with Greenpeace ships for four years, mostly in areas far away from home. While all campaigns are interesting and worthwhile, it is a change and a challenge for me to be involved in a campaign that concerns my own country. Of course i am also saddened to learn just how much the fish stocks in NZ waters are diminishing, and I was blithely unaware of the destruction of fragile ecosystems and extraordinary creatures caused by trawling in deepsea fishing on seamounts.
As we sail to different parts of the world, the more I see how destructive some sectors of the global community can be. I am still outraged at the environmental abuse that occurs in the name of progress or economics.
My role on the Greenpeace ships has taken me to many places. I have met many very interesting and committed individuals, struggling to preserve something as essential as an uncontaminated water source or a traditional way of life, as well as others who strive on a more global level. In either case they are an inspiration and reminder that environmental issues are worth fighting for. I am very fortunate in being able to work with people from all over the world who share similar values and ideals and who are all passionate about preserving the environment of our planet for future generations.
Derek: Radio Operator
A few years ago I was a computer consultant for some big corporations. I was making a lot of money, but I felt my life was pointless. So I quit my job, joined a ceramics studio, and went back to my love of making pottery. Slowly things began to make sense again, and I decided to look for work with a non-profit group. I ended up at Greenpeace as a programmer and network administrator. Now I'm lucky enough to sail on the Rainbow Warrior as a radio operator.
Now I spend my days monkeying around with every type of communications device you can think of. I'm part network administrator, programmer, radio technician, multimedia producer, and hacker (of the good kind). Each day I have the chance to make a difference in the world. So as a geek, sailor, environmentalist, and activist, it's a dream job.
Dave: Videographer
Hi I'm David Woolford, or Wooly to most people. I'm the videographer on board the Rainbow Warrior for this campaign, the 8th of my fantastic voyages with Greenpeace. I started filming for television stations back in 1982 and have probably worked for every major network in the world at some point in my travels. I reside in Adelaide, South Australia, (don't hold that against me)! and I guess living there just makes me want to travel, a lot! Seriously though, there is a tremendous satisfaction of filming issues and bringing them to the peoples lounge rooms so that it causes debate and who knows, great change to the world! If you've got the time check me out on www.cameracorp.com.au
Francisco: Second Mate
Hi, I am from Panama, and I am mostly known as FrAnDiScO.
I am the Second Mate onboard, responsible for the navigation and safety equipment; when I am not busy with my duties, I am lifting weights, eating lots and lots of food and listening to nice and lovely latin music, to keep my dancing skills at the maximum level even if I am in the middle of the ocean.
Hope to meet all of you soon and remember to keep on dancing.
Chris: Logistics Coordinator The mountains of Aotearoa's (New Zealand's) Southern Alps look down over forests of incredible diversity and beauty. It was here that my desire to help protect the wild places on our planet began. I was one small part of an amazing group of people trying to save the forests of the West Coast from the destruction that was fictiously named 'sustainable logging'. Today I find my self typing this bio surrounded by mountains of a more liquid nature. These mountainous seas look down on ancient forests equally as diverse and beautiful as those of Rimu and Beech. The amazing undersea world out here is not as accessible to the public as those forests back home, but they are threatened in a similar way. Industry likes to place dollar values on stuff that they don't even own - the destruction that goes on out here for the profit of a few is destruction of life held in common for all of us. Just like back when my activist life started, I am honoured to be a small part of this amazing group of people he Chris left the high powered world of waiting on restaurant tables 3 years ago for the crazy world of Greenpeace. He hasn't looked back but can still mix a killer martini.
Tamsin: Communications officer
Today we came across hundreds of dolphins. I watched them diving and frolicking
in the wake of the Rainbow Warrior. I wanted to share this with the world and
with all those that wreck destruction to the environment. I am an idealist but
I want to believe that we can change the way we live and achieve a balance.
Logan: Logistics
This is my first time onboard the Rainbow Warrior. I feel committed to the campaign
because of my love of marine life. I have helped out Greenpeace New Zealand
for five years. When I am not helping Greenpeace I make feijoa wine and I am
part of an organic co-op.
Dave - Web Editor Dave usually lives in Ireland, where he works as a web designer, writer
and photographer. He's also editor of www.blather.net,
a notorious website dedicated to gonzo political criticism, environmental
rants and surrealist humour. After a decade manacled to a series of dotcom
desks, Dave now has a desk on the Rainbow Warrior, on his first Greenpeace
voyage. He'll be responsible for editing and publishing the weblog. Dave's
environmental streak and fascination with marine life started by the beautiful
river Slaney, where he grew up with an oar in one hand, and... an oar in
the other hand too. Like other members of the crew, he's a scuba diver,
but also likes a bit of nocturnal mountainbiking. Dave Walsh is a known
troublemaker, and a great fan of the Eurasian otter.
