Settling in | Home | Letting go

Hello to the Espy crew!

I don't normally read blogs but I visit this one everyday. I love reading your posts and admire the work you do for the oceans.

All the best on the next leg of your tour!!

Hi Dave, ...and all...,
I'm in here for the duration guys supporting you from my website. But this letter for now is more about your predecessor Andrew that just jumped ship. Humor aside, I think some Gnostic words from the time of Plato and Socrates would be appropriate - "...a super sensible substace pervading all space." I guess that would best describe Andrew.
I'll miss your logs Andrew and your common sense approach to it all. Your writings were magnificent, and always to the point. I know you must feel a loss in your heart now walking away from what you Love so much. But I know Greenpeace can see what a fine and noble man you are, and I'm sure they have plans for you.
Wishing you Love and Light for all your days Andrew, ...we'll miss you terribly in this part of the voyage. Just so you know, I've had over 10,000 hits on my RSS feed from you and the ships there in just two months.
Greenpeace: ...don't let this guy slip away, ...some people make it real. You're the best Andrew... - Wes & Grateful Child

I donated to you in support of the work you are doing to oppose whale hunting. Now I hear that you plan to abandon the whales in 2006 and not return to Antarctica. Now I feel swindled out of my hard earned money. Please don't let the whales down. Don't let the whalers indimidate you. It is not right to use the whales as a contribution raising stunt. They deserve better and you should live up to the promise of defending the whales. This is shameful!

Hate mail? mmhh... kind of hard to do. I'll stick with a weird request: any chance to put a placard on the bow of the Espy dedicated to us weblog readers? So that can be seen via the webcam. Maybe something like:

"Talk to us on http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders"

Or something more creative than that.

Hi everyone - firstly, Eric, we haven't abandoned the whales - and never will. And we're definitely not intimidated! Greenpeace are returning to Antarctic at the end of the year, albeit on a Climate mission. Being out on the ocean is only part of the work involved - and even spending 70-odd days with two ships isn't enough - the next part of the work is using political and consumer means to stop the whaling. And, of course, online activists!
Here's an example - the Iceland whale pledge »

Tell Gorton's to stop whaling!

Our next job? Stopping pirate fishermen. There's a lot of Earth to protect.

Hi all - Andrew's jumped ship, and is taking a break. I'm now in the hotseat, currently hanging on to the desk as the Esperanza rolls in the afternoon swells.

Gillo - placard currently under discussion on board...

dave

I've been reading your logs since the beginning. Tried to share from my humble space the highs and lows - the relief of another minke's escape, and the tears when whales are killed.
Ours is a huge Earth - you have many sea miles to cover, many missions to challenge you as your crews work tirelessly and courageously to protect and defend our fragile planet and its wonderful and diverse life. Saving whales is my priority, but I also understand the importance of saving countless other species.
So, I'll be here for the next voyages of Arctic Sunrise and Esperanza to read your logs, cheer you on, and try to do my part to help. I just participated in an Art Show - displayed some of my whale photos - and displayed "Defending Our Oceans" posters, and web site. Now I've been asked to place same display in our local public library for the month of April. I live in a small community, but think every bit helps. Many students saw the display - influencing our youth is the key to the future survival of our planet.
Best of luck - supporting you in my thoughts every day.

Thanks Eric. This news is troubling to me too.

This rift between Sea Shepherd and Greenpeace is stupid. Why can't both orgs work together? Or in cooperation, at least. Though each group's tactics are different, the objective is the same. Sea Shepherd's founder, Paul Watson, was also an original founder of Greenpeace.

Please Greenpeace, continue the work you've started next season against the Japanese fleet. Use the funds you raised for what you said you would use them for. You have far more resources at your disposal that Sea Shepherd. Faster boats, deeper pockets, and more media muscle. Too much is at stake to let the momentum that was built to fade away. I know Sea Shepherd plans on returning next year...even on their shoe string budget.

The whales and ocean creatures are too precious to abandon because of politics and egos.

Hi Orca - While we respect Sea Shepherd's desire for an end to whaling, they use tactics which Greenpeace neither supports or condones - Greenpeace has always upheld principles of non-violence. So there hasn't been a rift - we weren't working with them in the first place.

And we're not abandoning the whales! And you don't have to either - it's your turn to save the whales

Take Action!

I quote from an earlier comment by my Andrew, who was in the Southern Ocean:

"Because of the history involved, and deep philosophical differences, cooperation between our two groups is simply not possible at this time. The Greenpeace/Paul Watson split goes back to way before I got involved though. If you want to learn more about those early days, than you might try Rex Weylery's book, "Greenpeace". I hear it's good. (http://www.rexweyler.com/)"

"For the here and now, I am simply getting on with the job at hand. I wish the crew of the Farley Mowat smooth and safe sailing, but our two organizations went separate ways long ago for differences that still stand today. Updates from the Sea Shepherd expedition will no doubt be available on their website... http://www.seashepherd.org"

WELL DONE GREENPEACE

god bless you guys and girls out there on the seas fighting for the whales.. It is good to know that the whales have someone on the high seas who want to protect them and not kill them
I wish i could be there with you in person,but as i cant i will always be with you in spirit.
Keep up the good work and remember there are millions of us out there in the world who support you and we will fight along side you always.
Take care we are proud of you.

Big John Wallace

Hi,
Thanks for your response. But I'm not sure you addressed my concerns which were prompted by what Shayne Rattenbury said--that Greenpeace did not think there was a need to return to Antarctica to confront the whalers in 2006/7 since they have accomplished all that they could. And that if they did return, it would be for a research mission on global warming. Your comment about a Climate mission seems to confirm this. And despite your assurances, that is troubling to me. If you are going to be in the Antarctic anyways, why not make opposing the Japanese hunt and saving whales part of your stated mission? Global warming research, while important, will do nothing for the whale in the sights of a Japanes harpoon.
It is clear Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd have their differences in approach. I'm not asking you to use their methods. In any movement for change a diversity of tactics is needed. But you can do what Greenpeace does best and that is document and bring attention to the whale hunt. That is what I hope you all will reconsider. That is what I hope my contribution will go towards. Thank you.

Hi Dave,
Nice job deflecting the point. Alas, I know where I'll be donating my money in the future.

Hello:
I've been an environmentalist all my life and when I learned about Greenpeace I was thrilled!, it is great to see how much can be accomplished by brave people. I would like to be able to participate but not only in heart and soul, writting letters, or making a donation, but offering you my hands and everything else.

Hi Eric - I'm sorry I've not been able to address your concerns - we *have* been drawing attention to the whale hunt - and have been doing so for three decades. While the most visible and publicly accessible aspect of stopping whaling happens at sea, we can't expect to save every whale while we're being there - as Andrew wrote in the last few months, whales were dying in front of the Greenpeace activists.

The key is stop what we can, as well as highlight and document the atrocities carried out against whales. I was at home - 'on shore' during the whaling campaign, and was alarmed to discover that many people didn't even realise that an absurdly anachronistic activity like whaling still goes on on - never mind that we were trying to stop it. It's our job to put the killing back in the public mind.

Greenpeace doesn't have the ultimate power to stop the whalers - it's the Japanese government, and the influence of other goverments, along with the power of consumers around the world - but especially in Japan.

Just because we don't *plan* (who knows what might happen?) to return to the whaling grounds in the next 12 months doesn't mean that we're not working on this. We've only got three ships, and limited resources. We're faced with dealing with myriad environmental problems worldwide, and it's no easy task trying to decide which ones get priority.

Meanwhile, the Esperanza is en route to tracking down pirate fishermen in the Atlantic, and the Arctic Sunrise is making for the Amazon. The Rainbow Warrior is in Papua New Guinea. Here, off the African coast, we've got industrial pirate fishing boats wrecking the environment AND stealing fish from some of the poorest countries on the planet.

There's a lot of Greenpeace work that doesn't have the drama or romance of our high seas adventures - we've got people working at the IWC and at the UN on these issues. The work never ceases - we just have different theatres in which we work, less visible than the ship work.

I understand your concerns about the whaling - but trust us, we're not leaving them to extinction.

Hi all...,
...and thanks for that great response Dave. I won't be part of a discussion that seeks to critisize rather than heal, but to answer your somewhat dubious questions Eric, I suppose I'll answer you with questions. The whales are important of course, as all precious life on earth is, but considering Greenpeace has only three ships for a very large world, ...what would your priorities be? Do you consider the poor and miserable lives of the starving children in Africa less important, or perhaps in the Amazon where we are losing hundreds of species of fauna and wildlife to extinction, and 25% of the earth's oxygen, ...possibly the cures to cancer and other diseases? How about the significant increase of carbon parts per million in our atmosphere transcending into global warming and acidic oceans that ultimately may destroy all plankton, barrier reefs, and 50% of the earth's oxygen? Would you say the whales' survival is greater than man's survival? You need to do some reading my friend, as our friends at Greenpeace have, to see just how serious this is. Thank you Greenpeace for trying to do it all, no matter the risks. ...and for the Sea Shepard, ...violence will never be an answer. Violence can never win, ...only Love can be the loser. We will win this war against our planet with Love, and not hurting others, or ultimately there will be no world at all. If you noticed, the crew of the ships in the Antarctic tried to befriend the Japanese hunters. Let's win their hearts Eric, ...not hurt and destroy them. This is the same mistake we've (the US), made in Afghanistan, Iraq, Viet Nam, and in every insideous cruel response we've made... As you read the logs of these champions on this page, you should be able to see the personal and corporate efforts of these heroes, ...and to appreciate that. Greenpeace and these people that work tirelessly to make a better world for you, are doing as much as humanly possible. Now it's your turn Eric to act in a positive way. Write your friends on the Sea Shepard, and tell them, ...Love is the answer, ...will we ever learn?

Thanks for your response Dave. I agree, generating public awareness is key in this battle against whaling and that is one of the things Greenpeace does best. As you mention, action at sea is the most visible tactic, so you in fact have made a strong arguement for continuing the mission in Antartica. Thank you for the opportunity to express my opinion and for your consideration of it. (It goes without saying that work should continue on other fronts such as pressuring the Japanese government and corporations like Gorton's).

It is important to realize Grateful Child, that critical thinking is not the antithesis to "healing". Blindly following our leaders without question or dissent is what led us into the "mistakes of Afghanistan and Iraq" and that is what allows the violence to continue. As for African children, your question suggests that you have a speciest view of the world so I won't get into that except to say that it is not beyond the capacity of a thinking human to care about ALL life at the same time. Also, the vast majority of contibutions go to causes that solely benefit humans. Animal causes get less than a fraction of one percent. Won't you be content to let us have even that paltry amount? So yes, I would demand that my Greenpeace contribution go to saving the whales over saving children in Africa.

Finally, you seem to imply Sea Shepherd is violent. This is flawed thinking and reflective of ignorance. In all their years of operation, Sea Shepherd has never harmed a single individual. In fact, they have withstood physical attack without retaliation. It is true they have taken action against property, but in my thinking, that does not amount to violence. Violence is the harm of another living being--such as the brutal killing of a whale. It is not that I want to "hurt and destroy" the whalers, it is that I want them to stop killing. Personally, I would not try loving them into my way of thinking. Just as if I saw someone beating a puppy in my backyard, I would not try loving them into stopping. I would take away their stick. However, you are entitled to your tactics.

The battle against nuclear power is a waste.The world is entrenched in nuclear power and it will not relent.To much power,I agree nuclear power has improved however much more must be researched.Titanium comes from nuclear uranium and the world needs titanium and advancments.Sir I mean no dissrespect,I can not lie to you.Wars are based on nuclear intervention and the ways are set.It started in a small factory back in germany and continues today.The NRC.has hands in their pockets and are really in the pockets of world leaders.I am for safety advancments,although nuclear medicine be a must.Research the gamma knife.Nuclear research is not all bad.America must keep up as we have already been threatened by a foolish chinese general whom has shown all he has.America can remain unseen without nuklear threats.America will not relent,we will not let foolish threats deter our advancment in the need for peace,at all cost.Sincerly,Steven S.Shell.

Steven - forgive me for asking - but what does this have to do with 'Defending our Oceans'?

Since when does vandalism = violence?
If one implies that Sea Shepherd used "violent" tactics (I infer because of their action of side swiping of the Oriental Bluebird) the same can be said for Greenpeace painting "Whale Meat from Sanctuary" on the side of the same ship.
The only violence during the Antarctic campaigns was on the part of the whalers.

Hi everyone again...,
...and hi to you too Eric. I won't make this our platform, and I hope you might reach me in my 'contact' link on my website, and we can continue our talk there. I don't suppose this log is getting much attention anymore anyway. I appreciate your heartfelt concern for these majestic creatures, and of course I support this 'paltry' amount of attention. I can tell you I feel the same, and if you've seen my website, you'd know how much time and effort I've spent supporting all this.

But it's time to move on now to the crucial issues facing our planet. They need time too.

And yes, ...like you I would take the stick away from someone beating a puppy, ...but I know if I want him to stop doing it when I'm not looking, I'll have to reach his heart, ...or he'll have no reason to stop doing it. It's true it is the blindness of our people that we have gone to Iraq, ...but if we had real Love in our hearts for those children there, ...we could never have been so blind. Ultimately, we must feel these things in our hearts, ...and then the blindness will finally be lifted. ...and for the Sea Shepard, ...I just have to be concerned that ramming another ship in Arctic waters could have catastrophic consequences.
But thank you Eric for having your passion and trying to do what you can. I promise to do my best too.

One last thing for those who might be interested relating to "limited resources" to put things in perspective.


From 2003 public records:

Greenepeace Income: $23,466,488.00; Expenditures: $19,600,176.00

Sea Shepherd Income: $350,215.00; Expenditures: $529,908.00 (92% used on actual campaigns for the animals)



I think for now I have to agree with Orca. Sea Shepherd is in greater need of our funds and seems to get more done with the money they receive, so that is where my future donations will go. I urge all of you to also look into Sea Shepherd and evaluate the facts for yourself instead of relying on secondhand information.

Good luck on opposing pirate fishermen. I bet the people who profit from them and fund them the most are multinational corporations (like the companies that profit from black market cigarette sales in southern Europe). Just goes to show that big business doesn't care about the law nor about the individual; the fact that they steal from poverty-struck countries in Africa, and use methods such as bottom trawling when the fish runs out in their normal fishing grounds goes to show that they're blinded by money.

There's something really wrong with the world when big companies can break the law with impunity and governements turn a blind eye to it. That's why I don't trust globalisation. If politicians are already so corrupt that they sell human and planetary rights to business, then there is no reason to trust them not to sell the last few protective barriers we have against those b*stards, namely our regional voices.

The more globalisation is permitted to have a free reign, the fewer rights individuals and local communities will have and the more companies that fund pirate fishing, and the companies that buy the fish, will be able to behave with impunity.

Eric - where did you get your Greenpeace figures from? It seems rather low! According to the 2005 Greenpeace Annual Report, the total income for 2003 was €163,439,000. The total (non-fundraising) expenditure was €111,082,000, and the surplus for the year was just €9,410,000.

List of Greenpeace offices worldwide - we operate in 40 or so countries - so I'm guessing you may be referring to the US office's income?

Also, you appear to assume that Sea Shepherd and ourselves are attempting to the same job. It's not that simple, however - while our paths intersect on some issues, such as whaling, Greenpeace has many other remits. We've got three ships patrolling the world's oceans 12 months of the year, campaigning on many different issues - while they're all environmental issues, they're not all directly related to wildlife or oceans.

As well as trying to stop whaling, we spend our money on many other issues, including campaigns to:

--Stop climate change
--Protect ancient forests
--Save the oceans
--Say no to genetic engineering
--Stop the nuclear threat
(ironically, the last one relates to Steven's post on nukes)

Back on the issue of working to stop whaling from beyond the Southern Ocean - thanks to
Argentinian Cyberactivists - An Argentinean company pledged not to buy from Nissui (a major stock holder in the company owning the whaling fleet). Two companies followed soon afterwards!

My big thanks to Greatfulchild, echo and all the others who took the time and were imaginative enough to make a positive contribution to the whales work. Please keep it up because I know we can win this thing.

For Eric and Orca -- Every year Greenpeace makes tough decisions what projects to dedicate their ships to. There is a lot of ocean to cover and many different problems to address. With all of these competing priorities, decisions have to be made about where the most good can be done with each ship (getting the best "bang for the buck").

The fact that Greenpeace sent two out of its three ships down to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary this past season was an enormous commitment of resources. If the organization was simply interested in fund raising and media exposure, it could have achieved the same result with the Esperanza alone. The truth of this can be seen from other one ship anti-whaling trips (including the Sea Shepherd's).

However, Greenpeace committed two ships - both to maximize the chance of finding the whaling fleet and for saving individual whales (twice as many boats, boat drivers and crew). Our success in both respects has been well acknowledged in both the media and even by the whalers themselves.

But, as we said all along, the best chance the whales have is in the hands of shoppers around the world who can pressure companies linked to the whaling industry. This work continues both by Greenpeace and other organizations (the Humane Society and EIA).

Reading through this thread I notice a small number of people complaining about Greenpeace's choice of priorities and not working with the Sea Shepherds. Why is it that some environmentalists, and others on the "left", spend so much time bitching about people who are on their side? What are you really trying to accomplish? Who really benefits the most when we fight amongst ourselves? (Hint: Their ships have grenade tipped harpoon guns mounted on the bow.)

Positive suggestions are one thing, but don't waste your time (and mine) with complaining and infighting (which I see a lot of here). If you like the Sea Shepherds better than Greenpeace, then get out there and raise some support for the Sea Shepherds.

The work that Dave and the rest of the current crew are doing is just as important as saving the whales. At the very least, I would like to hear from you that you support them.

And frankly, I do not think this is the proper place at all for a discussion about Greenpeace and whaling. This is a crew weblog, and none of the current crew were involved in the whaling work.

I would say this discussion should be continued on the Southern Ocean Whaling open thread. And I encourage Dave to either start a new open thread, for the current leg and crew, or move all of this to the whaling open thread.

-- Andrew
Previous Espy web editor.
Now traveling Africa.

Watched Larry King Show last night regarding issue of the Canadian Seal Hunt. Lively interviews/debate with ex-Beatle Paul McCartney, wife Heather and Premier Danny Williams of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Couldn't help thinking that we could use a high-profile celebrity to speak on behalf of the whales. Doubt that Larry King would tackle this issue on US TV. Think the McCartneys are a bit naive about whaling - seemed to think that whaling had been stopped.
Anyone know of a celebrity we could enlist on behalf of whales?

Good call echo - that's one to sleep on, for sure...

I continue to applaud Greenpeace and all that you do and have done. Greenpeace doesn't stop just because the ships leave a certain area. You continue to keep the issue alive and it's the job of all who believe that whale killing should stop to continue to fight - by writing letters, not purchasing products that even remotely support companies and countries that support killing of whales - participating in the Greenpeace campaigns and spreading the word to all who will listen and even to those you think won't listen (give them the opportunity to decide), etc. etc.
We who sit on the side lines and read, send money, etc. have to take action as well and not sit back expecting Greenpeace, the organization, to do it all - that's no different that the mess the U.S. is in when the attitude of so many is that "it's someone else's responsibility to fix it." No, it's our responsibility to fix it - each and everyone of us. So take action people and don't stop until the mission is accomplished.
Don't buy....read labels and make sure you are not supporting whale killing without knowing it.l

Hey srcorca - thanks for the comments - you've got the nail on the head. After all, we're not an environmental *service* - we need our supporters to act too!

This is a letter that I've sent to various newspapers and friends around the world.

Calling all concerned members of the public,

In response to the article "Japan's cutting-edge research - or just supersized sushi? in the February 2006 issue of noseweek. I would like to call on all concerned members of the public to make a stand against the Japanese whaling programme, by taking the antiwhaling battle from the high seas to the supermarket shelves. We are calling on everyone who cares about whales to use their consumer power to send a strong message to the Japanese Government and the fishing companies that continue to finance Japan's whaling programme in the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary.

To follow the progress of the Esperanza, the Greenpeace ship that has gone to intercept the Japanese whaling fleet, log on to www.greenpeace.org/stopwhaling and become an Ocean Defender. Simply by adding your name you can make a difference in the fight to stop whaling in our Southern Ocean whale sanctuary.

It is most unfortunate that Paul Watson, captain of the Farely Mowat and his crew were put under boat arrest when they sailed into Table Bay last week. It's unbelievable that the South African port authorities complied with the Japanese Government's request to arrest Paul Watson and his 42 crew members who were on their way to intercept the Japanese whaling fleet in a whale sanctuary.

Whale watching is the fastest growing sector in the tourism industry world wide. More people came to SA last year to go whale watching than to go game viewing in our National Parks.

South Africa is not sending out the right message by obliging the Japanese Governments request to detain Paul Watson. South Africa is not in favour of commercial whaling and should make the Japanese Government aware of our whale watching tourism industry and what it's worth to our economy. There is a huge whale watching tourist market out there with over nine million people that go whale watching each year, in more than twenty countries. If we let the Japanese continue with their whaling programme they will soon be hunting Southern Right's and that will be the end of our whale watching tourism, we wont need to have a declared whale sanctuary on our shores. This year they have plans to kill 935 minke whales; 50 sei whales and 50 humpback whales in a declared whale sanctuary. What's it going to take, to make them stop killing whales?

Let South Africa and Hermanus send out the right message. Let us publicize the fact and tell the world, that Walker Bay is the only whale sanctuary on the African continent and is the whale capital of the world, with the best land-based whale watching in the world. Whale watching tourism is one of the primary economic drivers of this sub-region. We must make the Japanese and our own Government, realise how much whale watching tourism is worth to South Africa's economy and other countries that have a whale watching tourist industry.
If the South African Government does not want to take a stance against Japan's whaling programme, because of political and economic reasons then it is up to us, the concerned consumer to take the battle to the supermarket shelves and not buy Japanese products until they stop killing whales for "scientific purposes".

"Alone we stand as mere drops of water, but together we are a mighty Ocean."

Best fishes

Giangi Negra
Bientang's Cave Sea World
Hermanus

Excellent letter, Giangi Negra. Hopefully we as cyberactivists can follow up on your initiative and send more letters.
Thank you. echo.

Yeah - good post, and a good way of leading by example!

I am a new member of Greenpeace and I think what you do is amazing. Thank you for all your work out on the oceans - I am always fascinated to watch your videos - both in awe of what you do and horrified what others do. You are true heros.

I live in Thailand and was devastated to read an article in the Bangkok post (5th March) about Japan's reintroduction of whale meat on school lunch menus. The article quoted some horrific figures of meat volumes eg in January 2006, the board of education for selected regions provided DOUBLE the amount of whale meat that was consumed in the WHOLE of 2005. As one of your videos said, many of the Japanese people think that whale meat is a thing of the past, yet the reason for the reintroduction of whale meat in schools is so that schoolchildren know "Japan's traditional dietary culture".

I am sure you know all of this information already, but am interested if there is any local protest at this awful news.

Also, I went into Tesco and noticed that they are selling box sets of shark fin soup. This is disgusting - we have been diving in the
gulf of Thailand and there are NO sharks, in fact not a lot of much really. I wouldn't justify the sale of shark fin soup in a Thai supermarket but for a British based company to be selling it (unless I am wrong about Tesco origin?) it is ridiculous.
Furthermore, many of the resorts down on the islands that are frequented by millions of tourists, are serving shark meat/ marlin and other fish that are threatened - even the supermarket fish are all seem undersized (eg Tesco).
I wish that tourists would make conscious judgements when travelling/ eating "local" dishes so that the demand for these poor fish decreases.

Dear All

I would like to inform you that you have made the colour pages of our newspaper, St Helena Herald and our news on the website concerning your fight for the ocean.
Our website is WWW.News.co.sh
Can you send me your email address for the ship and I will send you the password for the newspaper which comes out on Friday.
We have also promoted your fight against pirate fishing in the oceans.It is sad that you could not come ashore and see our beautiful island.
Keep up the good work.

Vernon Quickfall
Acting CEO
St Helena News Media Services

Keep up the good work

Hi Vernon -thanks for the coverage - and I'll be in touch by email.

Hi Dave and others reading this thread. I have been a silent watcher and reader for the last few months now and today decided to log on to "galley gossip" and see what that was all about. Not being much of a techie I ran into problems, but suddenly realized there was my "screen name" showing as being already logged on. Reading the comments I nearly fell off my chair when I discovered a comment attributed me....I'd made no comment!!! The mystery was quickly solved Dave....you and I share the same screen name grdnkat!!! Funny coincidence, especially as I have been involved in whaling issues now for several years. I was a very close friend of one of the original crew members on the Phyllis Cormack and the Jamesbay on those first 2 save the whale voyages of the early '70s and enjoyed listening as he told stories of the beginnings of Greenpeace, now enjoying your experiences. Thanks for sharing!!!

I saw someone mentioned that Rex Weyler recently published "Greenpeace, how a group of ecologists, journalists, and visionaries changed the world". Robert Hunter also published his final words on the early days of greenpeace "The Greenpeace to Amchitka"....both excellent reads.

Like others I'm sorry Greenpeace has chosen not to confront the Japanese whalers next year but that certainly doesn't mean I'll stop supporting your work. I'd like to encourage everyone that is concerned about the Janapese whale hunt to take time from your busy schedules and contact the Japanese governemnt voicing your concerns. I will post a couple of addresses at the end of this post.

Like I mentioned earlier, I really enjoy reading these blogs and checking out the live cam....but was wondering if it is possible for the most recent comment to show at the top of the list. I'm not a techie, but I have noticed this works better on some other sites.

Thanks for all you guys do and will be checking in now and then and cheering you on from the sidelines....Kathryn aka grdnkat
Now for those addies

Japanese Embassies and Consulate Offices - To find a Japanese embassy or
consulate office near you, link here:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/about/emb_cons/mofaserv.html

Mr. Yoshiki Kimura, the governor of Wakayama
Prefectural Office of Wakayama
1-1 Komatsubaradouri, Wakayama-shi
Wakayama-ken, 640-8269 Japan
Tel: +81-73-441-2034 Fax:+81-73-423-9500
Email: teigen-s@office.wakayama.go.jp

Prime Minister of Japan
Mr. Junichiro Koizumi,
1-6-1 Nagata-cho 1 Chome
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. 100-8968 JAPAN
Tel:+81-3-3581-2361
Send an e-message by completing the form on this webpage:
http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/forms/comment.html

ALSO CONTACT the US STATE DEPT and urge it to put pressure on the Japanese
government:
http://contact-us.state.gov/
AND
http://contact-us.state.gov/ask_form_cat/ask_form_foreign.html

Seattle Consulate General of Japan
601 Union St. Suite 500
Seattle, WA 98101
206-682-9107

The NYC Japanese Consulate General is located at

299 Park Avenue 18th Floor, New York, NY 10171 Tel: (212)371-8222
Fax (212)319-6357

Hi Kathryn - we're hoping we won't have to deal with the Japanese whalers at all. To promise that we're going to go back next year at this point would be to assume that they whalers will continue whaling - we're hoping, with the help of our defender friends that we can get them to stop whaling before that.

Sorry about the length of the scroll - I'll probably archive this page soon!

As for the username on Galley Gossip - that's some kind of software issue, the techies are currently looking into it.

Yes Dave...we can only hope and pray that one day soon there will no longer be a need for Greenpeace to confront whalers of any nationality. That day's been a long, long time coming.

Hello everybody ...I¨m from Colombia, I¨ve been an enviromentalist for a long time during my life, and I have to say that you people from Greenpeace, are a great inspiration for me and all of my friends .... I really want to do something else thant write to you guys and support your campaigns... I wanna offer you my hands MYSELF to work with you guys... that¨s more than a dream for me. Keep going!!! I send you guys all of my strength and a big hug!!...

Hello, I am a Belgian guy living on the island of Chiloé in the south of Chile. Here are 2 types (Humboldt & Magallanes)penguins breeding every year from September till April but since this year fishermen have come with big nets and taking penguins, dolphins, sea-lions,.. in their nets. We have tried to talk with the local authorities but they are not interested. I was just wandering if you could do something, we are only a few people taking action but not succesfull so far.
Kind regards,
Jeroen Beuckels

Hey!

What`s up with the web-cam?

Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease turn it on ;-)

Jan(Sweden)

Hey Jan, we just got it up and running again - we're doing some experiments at the moment, bear with us!

HI There Ocean Defenders - just signed up and been watching your video updates - I have been a greenpeace member for over 10years and am so proud of the work you do. I would really love to join you out on the high seas one day. I have been emailing like crazy to sealord and friends - keep up the fantastic work, I can think of nothing better than seeing what you are seeing, down here in Wellington NZ this summer we had a few whales - 3 Orca and pods of dolphins!
Will write again, and do what I can from land!
Have fun
Cheers guys
Vic

Hey Victoria. Are you in touch with the local GP NZ Wellington group? If not, let me know, and I'll put you in touch!

Hi everybody,
First of all, my name is Guillaume. I will be 21 years old in the 18th of april. I am a French student in engineering’s school in Lille in the North of France. During our formation, the studies’ direction let us a period of 4 months between May and September to do a personal project. I feel involved in your expedition. My father is a fisherman like my grandfather and my great grandfather so the ocean takes a large part in our lives. Is it possible to take part of your expedition on board? I’m a handyman and resourceful so I could be useful to the crew.
Waiting for an answer have a good trip.

Hi
i´m a Mozambican (east coast of africa) and im writing this to tell you of what hapenned a few days ago here in our coast.I´m sure this is not the right place to post a problem but im hoping you will be interested in helping.
I first herd of it on an online news buletin from here (/www.canalmoz.com/default.jsp?file=ver_artigo&nivel=0&id=&idRec=212), if you can read portuguese or translate it ....
First on the 10th of March on the Bilene Lagoons there was a storm and some sea water got into the lagoons and a lot of fish, crabs, shrimp died, the water was full of a sticky yellow substance that was very dificult to wash off the skin. Since i have a house 60km north of that place in Xaixai(i ussualy live in Maputo) i started contacting some friends and they confirmed that dead fish apeared on the beach and that some trees and vegetation dried out, and that with the storm a few of the houses were yellowish (like the rain was dirty), two days later (the day before yesterday) someone told me that in Chidenguele 70km north of xaixai a small fishing boat had seen a container ship dropping a few containers on the water on purpose and that one of these containers washed up on the beach, after that there were a lot of fish, seagulls,shrimo and crabs dead in the water.
Mozambique doesnt have a navy or boats to control the coast, but we have a very long coast (+-2500km).
Hope you can be of some help or someone, because the ministry of enviromental affairs sent some "guys" to get samples from the lagoons and unless they are getting their analisys from south africa they wont know the yellow stuff from coca cola, and they are a small ministry with very small power and initiative.
All the best to you all.

Hey Jorge - I've passed your comment to a few people - hopefully they will get back to you with advice on this!

Hi Guys and Gals

Who's on the deck? I can seeeeeee you.

Happy hunting.

Sincerely
Joan (Durban)

Hey Joan - that was probably me! I usually go out on the bow around 7:30am for breakfast (I think we're two hours ahead of Durban time)

Hi Dave

Cool man! We are 2 hours ahead of you so when I come in to the office in the morning and I log on to your webcam I see stars!

Have followed the pirate fishing vessel arrest with graet interest. They must lock those suckers away.

Ciao for now.
Joan

Joan - we don't want the crew locked up. We want the owners locked up! The crew are working in near-slavelike conditions.

Hi again. This is an update on the story i told earlier.
A large barge with containers, and biddons with the "liquid" was released by a large ship, this is wath the fishermen saw and not them dumping them on the sea. this barge with the current came ashore and its still there in a beach called Dinguine north of Xaixai. People have went aboard the barge and the containers are empty, but the biddons from waht i have been told fell to the sea, and that caused the problems.
In Xaixai people are already bathing with no apparent problems and in Bilene the Laggons are still very dirty.
What are the chances of catching these guys and waht can you do to them?

All the best to you

Jorge

'Morning Dave

Yes, I know it's the owners that need locking up and after what I saw yesterday my heart bleeds for the crew.

Anyway, you guys have a really great day and I will be watching with great interest.

Joan

Hey Jorge - I've emailed you directly on this.

Hi

I am activist of greenpeace Brazil, I'm 20 years old and I'm from Rio De Janeiro, I love the sea, the oceans and my dream is to embark with you in this expedition on board the Esperanza. The Arctic Sunrise is here for the Amazon campaign, but I would like to be with you! I have some possibility? kisses!

Hey Veronica - I've got someone to email you directly, ok?

Hi Dave

How are you guys doing? I saw someone on deck with a read cap on. Is it cold? The sea looks "choppyish". Wish I was there.

I watched your video on the arrest of the Lian No. 14. You guys so rock!!

Have a great day

Hi Joan - cold? No way! we're off the coast of West Africa still, and it's 28C by 9am! The sea hasn't been choppy since we left Cape Town!

Now, THIS is choppy (both photos by Kate Davison)
http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/SOEsperanza4.jpg

http://weblog.greenpeace.org/northatlantic/gallery/general1/slides/photographer_wet.jpg

Gorton's, Sealord and Nissui Withdraw from Whaling!

Hello again Dave

WOW - those pics are FABULOUS. Thanks for "taking me there". I see what you mean!!! I would probably get seriously seasick in those waters.

Hi Joan, The first one was in the Southern Ocean, on the whaling campaign, the second was in the North Atlantic, in October 2004. Big seas!

Here's another good one:
http://weblog.greenpeace.org/deepsea/images/imgIH1qSe.jpg
Taken by Malcolm Pullman from the deck of the Rainbow Warrior last June, in the Tasman Sea.

'Morning Dave

Thanks for the other pic. Sjoe those waters are hectic and the pounding must be really severe. I showed some friends the pics you led me to yesterday. A couple of guys here are ski-boat fishermen (I work for a publishing house that produces 2 fishing magazines - dear heavens I may well be shooting myself in the foot here!!) (strictly tag & release - and no, I don't approve since I am a "bunny hugger" {take huge flak from time to time because of it})and his comment was "I thought we had problems launching through the surf"!!!

When you are not keeping all of us updated on happenings in your world or answering my inane comments and drivel, what do you do?

Joan

Hi Joan - do you mean what do I do on the ship when not posting to the blog, or what I do when not on the ship? It's my job to keep you all updated!

Hi Dave

When not on the ship?

HI Dave
Vic from Windy Wellington here, I have chated to someone from GP Wellington but not met anyone - love to get in touch with them, hope its all going well out there, Fab new on the success we had with Nis/Sealord! Now onto the IWC!
Cheers
Vic

Well, I go home (to Ireland) and take it easy. I work for Greenpeace some of the time, as well as doing other work for other people (writing, photography, web). After a campaign, you need a bit of a break, to wind down and rest, so for the first few weeks, I don't pressure myself too much!

Hi,

I may be dumb and maybe I don't get out enough, but I need something explained to me:
1.
If Japan has a whale meat mountain, which I presume means they can't market it commercially

and
2.
They have to forcefeed whale meat to their kids at school (source Greenpeace website)

and
3.
They have a continual International Community battle to keep whaling going, including massive payments to their stooge states

and
4.
The number of Japanese who profit from the trade is miniscule

Then what's in it for the Japanese government to keep fighting on?

It can't be the money
It surely can't be the tradition
They know it can't be to save the fishing industry

So what's in it for them?

I just don't get it. Can anybody give me an insight into the REAL thinking of the Japanese government on this one?

Dennis

PS - Same goes for Norway

Hey Holly,
Nancy Little here (Liz's daughter); great to hear that you are fighting the good fight, keep it up. We miss you in Drumbeg, but undertand your bigger picture. Lots of love
Nancy, Owen (now 4.5 years) and Scott

Japan are like children... When you tell them they can not do something they want to do it all the more... I can't think of any other way to explain it! Also they believe it is their 'traditional right' to hunt whales...

Hi Dave! Love your posts... Even how you answer quick questions on the main pages is awsome...

I think that the work that Greenpeace do is great... You definately do make a difference!

Can you please chop off the first part of this page cause it takes FOREVER to get down to the bottom :)

Smile lots!

Hello
I have been looking at the web cam image off the front of the Esp. for about half an hour now (ok I haven't just been staring at it) and I notice that the picture isn't changing... Like there is a man standing off the Esp. to the left and he has been standing there for the past half hour... I thought the pic. updated every 30sec... Or is it 30min? Anyways have a nice day

You are so PC.
Are you Jesus or do you just think you are?

Fredrik Viberg
Stockholm

Fredrik - who are u talking to?

Hey Heidi - thanks!
We will start a new weblog ´talk to us´ page later today ' no more scrolling!

As for the webcam - our internet access is down right now, thats why the image is stuck. try again tonight!