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Why is this expedition important to you?
The Greenpeace actions to protect the whales and Antarctica were very inspiring for me at the time when I was getting really interested in the environment. So for me to now be here and involved in the same work is really personally very important. At the same time, it is so disappointing that we have to be here – the world has known for many years about these problems, yet still we are fighting to bring an end to whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. It is just not right. That said, I am optimistic we can make a difference, and perhaps we will be the last people from Greenpeace who have to make such a voyage – that we can be successful in stopping the hunt. And the Defending our Oceans expedition is a really exciting thing we are doing for the next year. It has taken us more than a year of preparation to get it underway, so to be here on the first leg is tremendous. As we tell the story of the oceans over the next fourteen months, I believe we can get the world to notice that the oceans are in need of some urgent help. Concrete steps such as a global network of marine reserves will help protect the oceans for generations to come.

How did you come to work for Greenpeace?
Through a newspaper ad! I had been doing lots of voluntary stuff around the environment movement, the one day a job ad appeared for a Political Adviser in the Australian office. That was in 1998, and I am still here! Since then, I have worked in a few different roles, including in our Southeast Asia office, and now I am the Head of Oceans at Greenpeace International.

What are you looking forward to most on this tour?
A few different things – making a difference, saving some whales, journeying to this great wilderness at the end of the earth, seeing some penguins and icebergs, and getting back to land! And the worst bits will be being away from family and friends during the festive season, and missing my nephew Cameron's first birthday (I still haven't met him due to living overseas).

Hi Shane,
Maybe my question to you is REALLY stupid, but I wonder why Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd are not following the Japanese whaling fleet from the very beginning in Shimonoseki or just outside the Japanese EEZ?

Wish you all the very best luck to find the whalers!

=====Reply from Shane====

Hello, Ann! It is not a stupid question, since it makes perfect sense, but there is a very practical answer. The main reason is that our ships do not have the endurance (ie they cannot carry enough fuel). The journey from Japan to the Southern Ocean is around a month, and our preference is to spend the time actually down here defending the whales rather than just tailing the fleet during their transit. For this reason, we have developed a series of other means for (hopefully) helping us find the fleet. I am not sure how the Sea Shepherds propose to track the fleet, but they would have the same endurance issue as us in terms of following from Japan.
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...and how did I somehow know you were Australian by looking at you? How strange that's the first thing I thought when I saw your photo here. Must be that fiesty look like your friend Peter Garrett (Midnight Oil), has.
Anyway, it seems like they've picked the right person for the job. Stay warm my friend, and hot on their heels. Thanks for your sacrifices making this a better world. Wishing you Love and Light, ...and God speed.

=====Reply from Shane=====

Thanks so much for the good wishes. I might say though, no-one has ever suggested I remind them of Peter Garrett before! For a start he is much taller than me! I have met Peter a few times over the years while working for Greenpeace back home in Australia, and he and the band have certainly been great advocates for the environment. And of course I have all the albums, and been to plenty of Oils gigs. Did you know he quit the band to go in to politics?

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Hi again Shane...,
...and yeah I did know Peter went into politics and have been to his web site there. I sorely miss him. I've never personally met him, but have been to many concerts, and last month I ran a tribute to the band and their efforts in my video of the month section. I've since put it in my archive section there, ...all 50 minutes of the Black Rain Falls video in front of the Exxon building in NYC. Peter Bahouth is really great in the video. I've seen Midnight Oil there, ...and Peter is their favorite son. NYC Loves Midnight Oil. I do understand how he feels though and have to respect his heartfelt judgement. I know he is doing his best, ...like you. Thanks so much my friend, ...Wes

Video of the Month (archive section):
http://www.gratefulchild.org/projects/gcweb/gc/html/video/

So why don't you work together with Sea Shepherd?
Like a little child you didn't tell them the position of the fleet?

It shows again that publicity for Greenpeace is more important than saving the whales.

Go home!

Hi Shane...,
Just wanting to wish you all a Merry Christmas today, ...and to let you know we are thinking of you. I'm sorry for the severe weather. You must be taking a pounding on the Arctic Sunrise. The sad news too is that the Japanese fleet has not given this up and returned home. Most of all though, I'm hoping you will not take unnecessary risks. This of course is fraught with risk, ...but with this weather, ...so dangerous. Please don't break our hearts today by one of you getting seriously hurt. This world can't afford to lose people like you. The precious few...
All our Love to you and your Warriors of the Rainbow. ...Wes/Grateful Child

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Andrew replies:

Thanks Wes for all of your supportive comments. I am reading them and passing them on to the whole crew here. And no worries for us. The weather is rough, but our ships are well able to handle it. I'm sure it's not a lot of fun on board the Arctic Sunrise right now, but I've done a couple trips down here on board her myself. She is quite the sturdy ship - our thanks go out to the Norwegians who built her ;).

-- Andrew (onboard the Esperanza)

Hi Shane...,
Just wanting to let you know I've done a new page for your expedition and placed it into my Audio Moment section. I've been concerned there are those that hold this as a reflection of the Japanese, ...a beautiful and Loving people. You have of course two of the finest human beings on this earth with you, ...Yuko and Hana on the Esperanza. This page is dedicated to them, and to you all there. I do hope you enjoy it, and that it might offer something nice for you all today. Thanks so much Shane, ...and all of you. Hope you chase these guys home soon and return safely. Love you all... - Wes

Land of the Rising Sun - http://www.gratefulchild.org/projects/gcweb/gc/html/audio/ or from my homepage, "Audio Moment"

Hi Shane...,
Just hoping you're hanging in there and keeping it together. There was a comment today in Lally's post, ...Tim felt this effort of yours is something very special to him, ...perhaps like never before. You at some point will have to go home, and the hunt will continue. But you have touched the hearts of millions, ...and that is the most important thing of all. Because without it, there can be no change. So I want to bring you some Love today. I've made a special page and tribute to you there, ...because well, ...I just Love you guys, ...and girls. "You are the Light shinning brightly." You are all on the page, ...and you have a special and personal place on my homepage Shane, as a link to the video. No matter what happens from this day forward, ...the world has seen your message, and felt as you do. You have, and are continuing to dramatically change this world. God bless you all for your sacrifices and devotion, ...onward my friend, "...Onward." http://www.gratefulchild.org/projects/gcweb/gc/html/onward/

Hi Shane, Very scarey times, it appears whales, dolphins and now greenpeace are all part of the so called "scientific cull" can I reproduce your article for our student magazine? I remember you visiting our campus some years ago. Good luck & Stay safe Cheerz John

Hi Shane
A big thank you to you, and all your crew.
The animal lovers of the world, and the decent human beings are so grateful for everything you all are doing to protect our gentle giants of the sea.I wish you all the best, stay safe. I hope that one day expeditions like this won't be necessary.

Hi Shane,
I am sitting in my office at home in Sydney, looking at your picture, knowing that the world is a much, much better place because your in it..
I met you in Ibiza, Spain for the Triathlon World Championships in 2003 and then once again in Sydney not long after that..
Who better than you to take those bastards on?
Fight hard, take great care and know that Im supporting and following the expedition from dry land...I will encourage absolutely everyone I know to help you in your quest to save our oceans..
love and best wishes
chris

Hi again Shane,
I just re read my message I posted to you and how could you possibly remember my husband Ray and I if I dont put down my surname!!
Godspeed and best wishes
Chris & Ray Bernasconi