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March in the streets! Find your local Japanese Embassy and hang out front with signs and make lots of noise.

http://www.mofa.go.jp/about/emb_cons/mofaserv.html

This page gives you a list of Japanese embassies and consulates around the world. You can find contact information for the office closest to you. The consulate’s website for its NYC office has a page about whaling (from 2002), for example, so it seems reasonable to contact them about stopping whaling.

One of the leaders in the NZ government wanted to send one of our Navy Frigates down to 'supervise' what was going on... Just incase 'certain parties' got out of hand and started doing more dangerous acts than ramming boats (don't know if you can get more dangerous than that though!)... Didn't pass in government though...

However it shows that people are paying attention to you guys down there! I keep sending Members of Parliament telling them to do something about this whaling... So I feel that I am doing my part to an extent... Wish I could be down there with you!

However I am a High School teacher so will be starting to teach the young about how wrong whaling is etc... Hopefully there will still be whales for the next generation to protect!

Latest addition of sick & sad news: The Japanese have now OFFICIALLY DEMANDED THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT TO STOP GREENPEACE, given that the Sunrise sails under dutch flag. Again the Japanese are using the word piracy in their statement, and accusing Greenpeace of dangerous behaviour. Right... And to top it off all the newssites mentioning this latest development are leaving it in the middle who caused the accident. Those sloppy journalists do not even bother to do some research on the true events.
Just be assured, that if anyone of our disgustingly environmentally ignorant government would only give a hint towards obeying, than the heat is on.... We will be on the barricades! You fight your peaceful fight, we will fight ours in support.
Take care!

RESPONSE FROM MIKE, GREENPEACE MEDIA OFFICER:

Dear all

We have made further inquiries about the Fisheries Agency of Japan
making formal contact with the Dutch Government, as the Arctic Sunrise is Dutch registered, and asking them to stop Greenpeace.

No such communication has been made. The Dutch government have no
document or communication of any description from Japan on this subject.

So complaints from the Fisheries Agency of Japan to the Dutch
authorities are about as illusive a peer reviewed publication from the Institute for Cetacean Research :)

mike

I just want to say that I am very happy to know that you are all unharmed! Being on the Arctic Sunrise, she will always have a special place in my heart (as do whales, of course). My heart has been broken so many times while reading these blogs. I still can't believe the nerve of those whalers! It's like they think they can't be touched, that they have the right to be violent. How can they have a real case when they are obviously doing something illegal? Their "research" mask is very thin; they must think we are really stupid. Their guilt is obvious. I hope the day comes soon where we will see this horror finally stop & that they will pay for their actions.

I would love to be there with you all fighting the good fight, but I'm not so sure I can handle watching the death of an animal. I respect & admire you all for doing this for our benefit, for the animals' benefit, for Earth's benefit. And don't let the "naysayers" get you down; you're doing the right thing in the right way. Sure, we all want to slap someone when they anger us, but is that right? No; violence loses the cause. You are the peaceful warriors that deserve more than they get. You will always get the utmost respect from me.

Emailed your story and provided links for this website today to some major TV news networks here in Canada.
Seems there is some interest now in Canada in airing the story.
GP Canada gave me the green light to do whatever I can - pester the networks to get footage of cruelty of whale slaughter aired.
Keeping my fingers crossed.

Meanwhile - keep up the good work, and KEEP SAFE!!!

In the UK elements of the national press and other media have been reticent about the campaign.

You have people of many nationalities and from many localities on board the two vessels .... perhaps the profile can be raised at a local level around the world by use of the 'local interest' angle?

Families and friends might give that a kick start.

Sincerely hope Greenpeace will find the funds to award you all the bonus you undoubtedly deserve after all this time, all this time away from friends and family, all the discomfort, all this risk and all the fatigue!

And I hope others will join with me in expressing that wish.

Stay strong - the world needs people like you.

I'VE JUST HEARD BREAKING NEWS!!
Apparently, Japan is planing to send military aircraft to protect it's fleet and the Sea Shepards are saying they are willing to ram a whaling vessel. I don't know the accuracy of this info but I found it at http://www.pacificislands.cc/pina/pinadefault2.php?urlpinaid=19454, which was a on a google news search. I just hope you guys stick to peaceful protests down there and stay safe. Is this really happening?

Andrew, I was in the Phillipines once when they brought down a President using SMS. It was very exciting. I've sent an MMS to everyone I know with a picture of a dying whale and the following msg "Please send this picture of a dying whale to everyone you know - help save whales - support Greenpeace." I have sent This to 5 people, already my daughter has sent it to 10 people. If anyone wants to receive this MMS from me, send me an email with your mobile number (my computer is secure). Andrew if you don't think this is a good idea, please let me know (also I grabbed the photo off the Greenpeace website. Is this OK?).

Yours in support

Marine - Melbourne OZ

Here is an interesting article from a New Zealand website. The Australians are once again to busy sucking up to their trade partners to give a damn, but you can still rely on the NZ government to act with integrity:

Air force watching whalers and Greenpeace
11 January 2006

New Zealand air force Orions are being sent to keep tabs on Greenpeace vessels and Japanese whalers after dangerous collisions and clashes between the opposing groups in Antarctic waters in recent days.

The Government has played down calls to send a navy frigate but Minister of Conservation Chris Carter Chris Carter said planes had been sent to patrol the area.

"The New Zealand Air Force is already watching the situation through our Orion flights - we've been doing that for some weeks now," Mr Carter told National Radio.

"We're doing this for two reasons: one, we are totally opposed to the whaling programme, and we've made that clear to the Japanese. We want to see what they're up to.

"And secondly, we're really concerned about the New Zealanders on board the Greenpeace boats."

Another duty minister, Phil Goff, yesterday told NZPA neither New Zealand nor Japan had the authority to send frigates and what was needed was some restraint from Greenpeace and the whalers.

The Green Party wants a frigate sent to Antarctic waters with leader Jeanette Fitzsimons saying it was time for the Government to act, citing reports that Japan planned to send armed police or troops to guard its whaling fleet.

But Mr Goff said there would be no role for a navy ship.

"We have no legal authority over either party," he said.

"Sending a frigate down there would serve no purpose at all because we would have no authority to act as intermediaries between the protesters and the whalers."

Mr Carter condemned the Sea Shepherd actions in intentionally damaging the Japanese whaling ship.

"The increasing anxiety that the Japanese are showing is partly a response to the very irresponsible behaviour by (ship captain) Paul Watson from the Sea Shepherd group.

"But also that Greenpeace, who I think have acted quite responsibly up till now, that Greenpeace have blown the lid on what the Japanese are doing.

"Japan is under enormous diplomatic pressure internationally over this issue.

"The Japanese are getting acutely embarrassed by these images of bleeding and dying whales being dragged on board their boats."

-------------------------------

So good work guys. You have acted with dignity despite the horrendous sights you have seen. It would be very easy to get anger and do something stupid but you have remained above that. Keep at it and this slaughter will eventually be stopped, I have no doubt. You will all be able to look back and say I help changed the world for the better.

How about psychological torture? (is that peaceful?)Like blasting Metallica or Motorhead or worse non-stop from extremely large loudspeakers at the Nisshin Maru, while the Greenpeace crew members sport earplugs or nifty earmuffs?

Keep thinking, keep thinking...

These blogs provide little opportunity for user debate. Why is the forum still down?

RESPONSE FROM ADELE, GREENPEACE WEB EDITOR

Hi Bobby,

Believe me, I feel your pain! Rest assured we are working as hard as we can to get the new - and much better - forums tested and working by the end of January.

Please stay safe guys. Be careful. These whale murderers have shown the world exactly how much honour they have....

I have never seen a whale and neither have my children, with people like you around we may see one yet.

Thankyou for everything you do.
Raylene

It was on the news this morning in NZ that the Sea Shepard rammed the factory ship... Didn't cause any major damage...

But things are heating up in the South Pacific...

Tonight I spoke to Congressman Charlie Bass at a town meeting in Keene, NH (USA) about stopping the industrial whaling in the Antarctic Sanctuary. No one in the room even knew of this lastest chapter in the Whale Wars. Surprised audience members interrupted, and for a few moments I hijacked the meeting, giving details. The congressman's handlers asked me for details afterwards. The American media blockout of the Whale Wars continues...They really don't know.

We need to change this. Now.

----------------------------

Steve the diver,
Treetopflyer60@hotmail.com

Right now Im reading an amazing book called "Greenpeace: The Inside Story" by Rex Weyler, and I read a few passages last night from the whale-protection campaign back in the 70's that related exactly to whats happening lately. I thought it was incredible how much they could be talking about your work right now. Here are a few that really connected--

Rex Weyler asks Bob Hunter "so whats the deal with the whaling committee??" and Hunter responds:
"to most people, whaling is all nineteenth century stuff. Brave little men in boats. They have no idea about huge floating slaughterhouses, steel-hulled chaser boats with sonar to stalk whales, and harpoons fired from cannons. We have to bring back photographs that will turn the whole thing around, show people that whales are small compared to the technology of industrial whaling. And we have to show people that whales are intelligent beings living in sophisticated societies."

Another passage describes what is happening so well, and sheds a lot of light on the hugeness of the situation and the vastness of the deep:
"Sunlight filters through the ocean water to the slopes, where red and brown algae grow on the terraces. These light-eating plants are the nutrient store for an ecosystem as large as the entire western half of North America. Salp and prowfish live in the gorges and dells. Mussels and barnacles cling to the ridges of rock, where snow crab graze. Rockfish, halibut, cod and sole feed in the slopes. Shark, octopus, and squid stalk the crab and fish. The giant squid hunts them all. And the sperm whale hunts the squid. Human whalers hunt the sperm whale, and here, over the Dellwood Knolls [or the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary], we hunted the whalers."

I did something pretty dorky to educate others--I informed through my answering machine message. No whenever anyone phones my house and no one's there, they get information about whats really going on with the whalers and how they can help, as well as me telling them to visit oceans.greenpeace.org to see what they can do to help! My family has yet to discover that this is our answering machine message...

I like the answering machine idea! That's awsome...

I have watched the whales here in Queensland Australia. They are great animals. & it makes me mad that these whales are being hunted and killed like this !! barbaric barbaric id like to say more.

Thank you all for what you are doing on the seas to try and save these poor animals from this terrible slaughter. God Bless you all

how about we all email the prime minister of New Zealand pm@ministers.govt.co.nz and the New Zealand's minister of conservation cc@ministers.govt.co.nz and annoy the crap out of them so much, they'll get up of their ass and send down more than planes to observe! i know they're gettin sick of my emails! If the whalers harpoon any whales in NZ waters- the killing of those whales would come under the NZ Animal Welfare Act 1999, they are breaking NZ law. If they attack a whale 12 miles from the NZ base (scott base), they will be beaching the NZ law as well. NZ Navy & Police should be down there to arrest- they have already got the airforce tracking the whalers. Aust and NZ govt say they can't legally do anything about the confrontations- but they can do something about the whalers breaking NZ law.

Jessica, I think this is a really good idea. A while ago I read a story about a guy who started talking issues/politics with people he came across during his day like his dry cleaner and hair dresser. He said he was able to raise their awareness a lot on some things. Having something on an answer machine is great cos they will have to listen to it if they want to leave a message. :-)

Hey
Keep up your great work and my encouragement to the whole crew.

But take a look at this http://www.icrwhale.org/gpandsea.htm
Will GP go to legacy or no?

Bilel

Hey Mike,
I truly hope it isn't true that Japan contacted the dutch government to stop GP. It was in most news broadcasts yesterday and in some respected newspapers today, so I wonder where they got the story from ... Also it appeared in some NZ media. But then, never trust the media, they are very good at adding one and one to make three....

Anyway, if anyone wants to get the latest updates from the media about Greenpeace, (or any other subject) then subscribe to Google Alert, and you get the links in your inbox as often as you want. Very useful if you want to be on top of the latest news (whether true or not). You can stop the updates at any time as well.

MSNBC's web site has a photo slide show showing pics taken by Greenpeace; The 8 pics are graphic, of dead and dying whales recently harpooned by the Japanese whalers. The slide show can be emailed to anyone you think should become aware of this hideous buisness. Go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032493/ or find the link at www.msnbc.com, then click US news, then Environment.

RESPONSE FROM ADELE, GREENPEACE WEB EDITOR:

Thanks Eric. There is also some gruesome but enlightening footage here:

http://oceans.greenpeace.org/en/ocean-defenders-tv

Warning - it's horrible. It's called "Death of a Minke Whale" (not "Introducing Shane", which is of course much less horrible!)

Hi Guys,,

You are all doing such great work, here I am writing to the Government and to Japanese manufacturers, we have boycotted all Japanese made and owned products have done that for a while anyway. We now encourage all our friends and co-workers to do the same, no Japanese cars no TV's nothing Japanese.

We are thinking of the great work you are doing keep it up. from Us at home. (Where that may be)

I`m still a teen but I`m really worry about whales. I think they should be swimming in the ocean and not in a stomach.I have seen whales swimming in the wild ocean alive and I have seen them prepared as a burger and believe me I felt happier seeing them swimming than like a burger.

Re; Comment by Orca-- The following link is that from the Japanese Embassy in Australia outlining events for the Australia-Japan Year of exchange 2006.
http://www.japan.org.au/ACT_YOE_Calendar_English.htm
This provides a list of events at which anti-whaling protests could be held (though not all events would be appropriate). I am sure various embassy sites around the world would have a similar page providing the ability to keep Whaling in the spotlight all year!

can someone post a list of their products to boycott?

Thanks Orca/Bindi. I love your thinking. Just remember this isn't about Japan as a country - only the whaling industry.

Luke - Greenpeace is in negotiations with some companies, and has already had one victory, and our research continues.

For now we are mainly asking people to contact Gorton's. Research continues, and we'll be exposing more links in the coming months. Sign up as an Ocean Defender to be kept in the loop.