5 June 2006
Naomi - First Mate
Nationality:New Zealand
Position: First Mate
What is it that you do on a ship that you don't do on land?
Getting up at 3:30 am every morning.
What's the one thing you wish you had with you from home? Or what do you miss most right now?
Sitting on my balcony with a morning cup of coffee. I also miss exercising, having long walks.
Do you know what's the date today?
Yes, itÂ’s the 25th [Wrong! ItÂ’s the 29th]
How often do you look at the time?
Often
One word or phrase you use a lot on the ship.
“You’re on Pantry duty!”
How long have you been sailing with Greenpeace? When, what and how was the first time?
Been sailing since 1973, but not continuously.
My first time we were trying to stop the French nuclear testing, a campaign that has started in 72. We were on the sailing ship “FRI”. She was a peace ship that many Greenpeace people sailed on, (some are still). I was a volunteer deckhand then. No one was paid at that time.
“Since I’ve been on and off the ships for such a long time, I have noticed the change in time: in the early 70s, it more of a ‘shoe string’ (budget with no money) Greenpeace; the modern style of campaigning started in the 80s after the sinking of the Rainbow (1985); more structured campaigns, and more public support and donations. Back then, we were just there to stop the nuclear testing! And that was we were doing! Lots of people working hard for no money, and burning out (and Greenpeace people are still burning out).
However, because of Greenpeace’ size now, we can focus on much more environmental problems. That’s the biggest change really. The type of people that have volunteered on the ships haven’t changed. We’ve had excellent and dynamic volunteers on the ships. (I can only speak for the ships, don’t know about the offices on land) – and off the record, haha! There were much more sex and drugs in the days… Bob Hunter (old campaigner on nuclear testing in 71, from Vancouver) had written about it too; there were no attempts to cover it up!”
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Comments
Hello,
Is amazing what you have been doing in all these years..
I live in Venezuela and here the people really don't care about defending anything, but their own heads!
Well, I'm a sailor too but on web...I take actions by sending emails...but when I look all the people out there, like you, being real defenders of our planet, I'm asking to myself why I'm not there but here, sending mails and writing songs...
(no problem, is only a static crisis!!)
I really thanks what people like you are doing...keep high our Esperanzas!
take care,
karen
Posted by: Karen at August 8, 2006 4:43 PM
Avast ye land lubbers! The ocean critters need your help!
Take action today!
