I come from a country that won their feedom with peace. It did take time, it did bring pain but it also sent an empire packing, home.

One frail-bodied man and his belief in non-violence, in tolerance, in love, changed the course of history and melted many hearts all over the world.

This is why my faith in our philosophy is so strong. The whalers might not understand it... but the people of this world will... I hope!

In the animal kingdom killing is for survival. No animal kills another for pleasure, it is only us the exterminator species, humans, that kill for pleasure, for sport or for entertainment.

This is the grossest and most demeaning thing about our human race. Human beings must realise the value of life - all living beings, no matter how little or immaterial. We think they are have right to exist and live out their existence.

In this delicate balance of nature we understand so little, even after trying to gather so much knowledge of it. After all thse hundreds of years, nothing goes without repercussions.

This is what I'm getting to - all our actions, even our thoughts have an energy field. This travels - so if we think violently, sooner or later we will act violently. So, if we think of love the most subtle, yet powerful of forces, we might spread it around, and thus have it come back to us.

Last year when I was here in the Southern Ocean, in front of that harpoon, I was scared that my heart would drown in a a sea of hate. My entire struggle, when I saw whles being killed, was how to keep love alive. Love in my heart even for the whalers, compassion to try and understand them and their reason for such violent actions.

It was a difficult struggle - yes I know its a cultural thing but that same culture gave us Zen, a philosophy of harmony.

How is this dicotomy or hypocrisy tolerated in Japan? The Japanese people have been mislead by their goverment and they don't even realise it. This why I feel that our peaceful non -violent ways will show the world, and make people realise the truth.

The images might not always carry all the truth, nor do words but actions speak the loudest. In the long run, peace is the only way. Short-sighted individualistic people shall not see this as easily, for their interests come before anything.

But I know and I believe with every drop of blood in my veins that not all humans are like that.

As long as we are alive and our hearts beating, the power to recognise the truth lives in us all. May this power rise and burn the curtains of our hearts and minds that separate us from our planet and those we share it with.

May the rays of truth and peace shine out onto each and every heart. May this give us all courage to take action against injustice, and do the right thing peacefully!

Om shanti... shanti... shanti

- Isha

About the image: Kwakuitl Indians in Amchitka, Aleutian Islands gave this symbol of life in the form of two whales in a circle to Greenpeace. It's painted on all Greenpeace ships.