http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/ 2007-03-16T14:37:05+01:00 http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/2007/03/so_long_and_thanks_for_al_1.html Capetown to Hawaii, the Southern Ocean to West Africa, the Azores to the Philippines. We've seen oil spills, toxic pollution, pirates and fishy tuna fishermen. Together we've pressured corporations, governments, banks and the UN itself.]]> stop_whaling2007 Andrew 2007-03-16T14:37:05+01:00 http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/2007/03/daniel_slideshow.html Throughout the Defending Our Oceans voyage, you've been treated to some fantastic images, as seen through the eyes and cameras of our photographers. The final leg, where the Esperanza went to the Southern Ocean to put a stop to whaling by the Japanese government, didn't turn out quite as expected. This didn't stop our photographer, Daniel Beltra, from capturing some amazing images. stop_whaling2007 Andrew 2007-03-09T22:55:56+01:00 http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/2007/03/lets_go_to_tokyo.html After a brief 48-hour stopover to refuel, resupply and recrew, the Esperanza will be off again, this time heading directly for Japan! stop_whaling2007 Dave 2007-03-09T02:47:28+01:00 http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/2007/03/esperanza_sydney.html Hi folks - after a 7,000 mile voyage, lots of unexpected situations, and 42 days at sea, we're currently alongside in White Bay, Sydney. Earlier, we sailed in past the famous Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Right now, we've got a ship-full of customs and immigration officials, so we haven't yet put foot on terra firma. stop_whaling2007 Dave 2007-03-09T00:11:10+01:00 http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/2007/03/last_night.html Dialogue is now starting to happen in Japan. The government's motives for whaling are being questioned in the media. The worm is turning, the shoe has dropped, the tide has turned and... well, many other appropriate idioms from the English language. stop_whaling2007 Dave 2007-03-08T11:30:25+01:00 http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/2007/03/keep_the_pressure_on_denm.html In February, the Japanese government held a meeting in Tokyo to "normalise the IWC. As we reported, it seemed that "normalise" means "business as usual" – in this case, keep catching whales. Denmark was one of the countries participating in the meeting. Because of statements made by the Danish commissioner, the Danish Foreign Affairs Minister is under pressure. stop_whaling2007 Dave 2007-03-08T10:08:33+01:00 http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/2007/03/ocean_defenders_tv_distre.html The last three weeks have not only been about a vessel and a crew in distress. The tragedy in the Southern Ocean has shown how vulnerable the Antarctic environment is. It has been an alarm bell for every one and a warning of what might be if the whaling fleet returns. stop_whaling2007 Dave 2007-03-07T23:30:19+01:00 http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/2007/03/last_birthday_of_the_trip.html Today was Viktor's 50th birthday - how does that man manage to look so youthful? It's the last birthday of the trip - and between the cooks and Slava, there was an incredibly rich chocolate cake manufactured, along with a little metal man sitting on a torpedoe - Viktor used to work on Russian submarines! stop_whaling2007 Dave 2007-03-06T12:56:59+01:00 http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/2007/03/the_last_of_the_roaring_f.html By the time you read this, chances are the Esperanza will have left the Roaring Forties. It's some days since we left the Furious Fifties behind. It's got to be said, those old sailor men weren't mucking around when the coined those names, referring to the Southern lines of latitude. stop_whaling2007 Dave 2007-03-05T10:36:35+01:00 http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/2007/03/its_not_fair.html But the ocean doesn't let go her grip that easily. By mid-afternoon we had sailed around the tip of New Zealand and were striking out into the Tasman Sea. Within hours we were pitching like the wildest rodeo and the winds were a force 10 stop_whaling2007 Dave 2007-03-05T09:28:05+01:00 http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/2007/03/the_power_of_the_ocean.html Sometime around 2am, while Maaike and Joe were on watch, there was an almighty bang from the starboard side, as a wave smashed in one of the portholes in Slava and Paul's cabin stop_whaling2007 Dave 2007-03-03T09:55:05+01:00 http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/2007/03/the_really_really_big_col.html Now wait a moment... most people have heard of the giant squid, but whenever the colossal squid is mentioned, a sceptical eyebrow is raised. "What's next?" is the question, "the Really Ginormous Squid". stop_whaling2007 Dave 2007-03-03T09:31:59+01:00 http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/2007/03/rough_weather_chatting.html Anyway, seems things have gone wobbly, and Dave is having a rough time. The Esperanza is built to take this stuff, and the crew is more than capable of seeing her through it. But things can't be fun on board. Here's our chat from earlier (IM names have been changed to protect the arguably innocent): stop_whaling2007 Andrew 2007-03-02T18:20:20+01:00 http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/2007/03/inky_black_splendour.html So when you look down at the ice and water, you are seeing a bed of white slush, with beautiful ice sculptures rising out of it. Then, as the ship moves the ice, the most wonderful blues are revealed, just below the surface... stop_whaling2007 Dave 2007-03-02T10:58:15+01:00 http://weblog.greenpeace.org/oceandefenders/archive/2007/03/international_polar_year.html The air and sea temperature is starting to warm up, and after spending several weeks in Antarctic waters, it's a little ironic that I'm going to tell you about International Polar Year. Especially considering we're now 600 miles north of the Antarctic Circle. stop_whaling2007 Dave 2007-03-01T08:44:04+01:00