After last night’s rain we can see yellow sulphuric sludge surrounding the puddles outside our tents. We’re feeling the impacts of the toxic environment here in Jangsaengpo. Melanie, our fellow activist has come down with a rash – an allergic reaction to working here. On doctors orders she’s been evacuated from the embassy for a few days while she recovers.

We’ve been here for three weeks now preparing for the impending monsoon season. ‘The Compound’, our living area beside the Whale Embassy is looking great, providing us with both a psychological sanctuary and a shelter from the sun, wind, sandstorms, and rain. We now know that our activists can work here in the coming months, communicating our message to the people of South Korea. We have created a functional platform to continue our campaign to stop Korea’s plans to build a whale and dolphin meat processing factory on this land we have occupied. If the processing factory is built, it will further encourage South Korea’s farcical “accidental” whaling, or even start “scientific” whaling, like Japan.

When the International Whaling Commission meets in Ulsan, we will have done our best to make the public and IWC delegates aware of the importance of this meeting. The decisions made here will have great impact on the future of life in the sea.

Off Topic: The 1st of May in Korea is some kind of shopping festival, apparently celebrating consumerism, providing a stark contrast from the activities which take place on this day in our respective homes, Denmark and Australia, on this day.

By Anne Marie Rasmussen and Adrian Wedd.