11 December 2006
Maaike - 2nd mate
Hi, I'm Maaike.
About ten years ago I joined Greenpeace Netherlands as a volunteer activist. I was studying biology. Basically I joined every action I could. Through the dutch action team I got on board of the ships as a volunteer deckhand and one thing lead to another. Now I sail as second mate on the Esperanza.
My last trip was in 2005, during this trip we worked in the North Sea on the bycatch campaign, then against deep sea trawling in northern Atlantic. It's shocking to see how much bycatch goes over the side, from small crabs to dolphins, to creatures from the deep sea I've never seen before.
After that trip I had a break from Greenpeace. I do that once in a while. I sailed as mate on a coaster (small cargo ship) delivering general cargo in north western Europe. I enjoy this kind of work, it gives me the chance to look from a distance at work I do for Greenpeace. Somehow that makes me more motivated on future trips; which is the reason I alternate Greenpeace work with other (non NGO) work.
After sailing on that coaster I wanted to do another trip on the Esperanza, but a challenging opportunity came up: ships co-ordination for a windmill-park that was being build in the Northsea. A job ashore, but working with ships and renewable energy! I took that change and it became a very interesting summer.
So now I'm back on the Esperanza. It's very good to be back at sea. You only know how much you missed it when you're actually sailing again. I haven't been a lot in this part of the world, so I'm very excited about being here. For now I hope we can start a campaign in the last part in the Year of the Oceans that will have impact. That we can make people aware of the fact that the state of the oceans and the life in it, is actually quite alarming.
Comments
Hoi Maaike! Good to see you back on the Esperanza - I think she missed you! Hope to see you soon and look forward to hearing all about your adventures! :)elaine
Posted by: Elaine at December 19, 2006 12:37 PM
hi maaike, good to see your photo, we are all proud of you for doing this work, hope to see you in Ijmuiden soon, groetjes louise
Posted by: Louise Bambridge at January 21, 2007 8:22 PM
Hi Maaike,
good to see you're OK on board and even dare to mention youre windfarm experience with us here in IJmuiden.
Erik Z
Posted by: Erik Z at January 26, 2007 10:33 AM
All updates from the Southern Ocean whaling 2007 leg »
All updates from the Pacific transit »
All updates from the Mexico leg »
All updates from the Hawaii leg »
All updates from the Pacific leg »
All updates from the Philippines leg »
All updates from the India leg »
All updates from the Red Sea leg »
All updates from the Mediterranean leg »
All updates from the Azores leg »
All updates from the Pirate Fishing/Africa leg »
All updates from the Southern Ocean »
Avast ye land lubbers! The ocean critters need your help!
Take action today!
