Anchorage: The Big Blue March
Posted by Dave (in Anchorage, Alaska)
George, Jun from Greenpeace, Heroes star Hayden Panettiere of Save the Whales Again! and Seni from Greenpeace © Greenpeace/Walsh
Well, we're at the end of a great day here in Anchorage, on the eve of the International Whaling Commission. Today, Sunday 27th May 2007, people took to the streets in more than 50 locations around the world for the Big Blue March voicing their support for the world's whales, and calling for an end to commercial whaling. Being so far west, we were possibly the last location to have a Big Blue March.
The fun began at Delaney strip, a grassy area on the edge of the city centre, after massive preparations by Mel, Asbhy, Sarah, and a host of others. The weather looked non-committal - drops of rain, the odd ray of sunshine. Cold one moment, warm the next. That didn't deter the hardy Alaskans, because rom 1:15pm onwards, people started streaming in from all directions. A box of blue t-shirts awaited the first 300 - and more than 20 whale outfits (first come, first server!) Earlier, three Anchorage Police Department officers happened along - and one of them insisted on trying on a blue whale suit!
The crowd grew... and grew. Kids running everywhere, people dressed as whales chatting. One group of little brothers and sisters were treating the figure of their dad in a whale suit with some suspicion... they just weren't quite sure who it was. Several celebrities were on hand - everyone from the New Zealand environment minister, Chris Carter to the star of the TV show Heroes, Hayden Panettiere. Hayden, along with MTV's Stephen Colletti, NYPD Blue's Esai Morales and surfer Dave Rastovich are all spokespersons for Save the Whales Again!. Also there were Skye, Caitlyn and Ayesha from Teens Against Whaling.
And then we were off... down I Street towards the Captain Cook Hotel, where the IWC opens tomorrow. On the front of the group was George from the Greenpeace Anchorage office, Jun, executive directory of Greenpeace Japan, and Seni who is from Fiji, and works with our Australia-Pacific office. Behind them were hundreds of others - including the blue whales and those cheeky looking humpback whales.
At the Captain Cook, we turned left, then circle the hotel complex clockwise - a big long line of blue snaking around the building. Anchorage police and big men in suits with earpieces stood by the doors - but the reception was friendly enough - we weren't there to confront anyone, merely show opposition to commercial whaling.
The parade ended up where it started - back on Delaney strip, where aerial artist John Quigley took over the reigns. John's the guy behind the recent flurry of "Migrating Human Whales" up along the west coast of Mexico, the United States and Canada.
Dashing about the green, megaphone in hand, John arranged the massive crowd into the shape of a massive humpback whale - with the words "Defend" made up of people - some of them dressed as whales - above it. It's hard to explain how complicated a task like that is - rather him than me. Kids, dogs, whales. People chatting to each other, making friends, while lying head to toe under the sky. The rain just about held off until the photographers arrived above by helicopter - then the hundreds of people lying on Alaskan grass were treated to a light drizzle of rain. Not what you want!
Then the photo was taken - and everyone was up. Shaking hands, swapping phone numbers, parting ways... in what was apparently the biggest street event ever staged in Anchorage!
Tomorrow - the IWC begins, and the fate of the world's whales will be discussed, and argued about. Stay tuned.
And then we were off... down I Street towards the Captain Cook Hotel, where the IWC opens tomorrow. On the front of the group was George from the Greenpeace Anchorage office, Jun, executive directory of Greenpeace Japan, and Seni who is from Fiji, and works with our Australia-Pacific office. Behind them were hundreds of others - including the blue whales and those cheeky looking humpback whales.
At the Captain Cook, we turned left, then circle the hotel complex clockwise - a big long line of blue snaking around the building. Anchorage police and big men in suits with earpieces stood by the doors - but the reception was friendly enough - we weren't there to confront anyone, merely show opposition to commercial whaling.
The parade ended up where it started - back on Delaney strip, where aerial artist John Quigley took over the reigns. John's the guy behind the recent flurry of "Migrating Human Whales" up along the west coast of Mexico, the United States and Canada.
Dashing about the green, megaphone in hand, John arranged the massive crowd into the shape of a massive humpback whale - with the words "Defend" made up of people - some of them dressed as whales - above it. It's hard to explain how complicated a task like that is - rather him than me. Kids, dogs, whales. People chatting to each other, making friends, while lying head to toe under the sky. The rain just about held off until the photographers arrived above by helicopter - then the hundreds of people lying on Alaskan grass were treated to a light drizzle of rain. Not what you want!
Then the photo was taken - and everyone was up. Shaking hands, swapping phone numbers, parting ways... in what was apparently the biggest street event ever staged in Anchorage!
Tomorrow - the IWC begins, and the fate of the world's whales will be discussed, and argued about. Stay tuned.
Comments
Great photos! I love them all, but the one that made me laugh is the one with the cops. Too funny.
Posted by: Page | May 28, 2007 1:53 PM
Hello Dave,
Some good news from Holland. The Dutch Goverment wants to sanction Japan, Norway and Iceland. But Japan for the most. At the News of 19:30 h the Minister told that the great numbers of killings the Japanese were making had nothing to do with science. The Dutch Government also want to meet with some other countries to discuss this, like America, Germany and some others. They also want to realize a sanctuary at the Caribean waters around the Dutch Antillen. I think this is great news, you should be informed about!
Keep us informed!!
Kind regards,
Monica (roos)
Posted by: Monica S.D. Franken-van den Berg | May 28, 2007 9:24 PM
Good stuff!
I thought it might be worth saying that a Alaska Podcast has posted some videos of this event at http://www.alaskapodshow.com I asked him if more where coming and he has a few more vids it seems additional other stuff to post as the week passes.
I'm impressed with the efforts everyone has made at sharing this event with the world!!!
Go Greenpeace!
Kev
Posted by: Kevin Myer | May 29, 2007 5:42 AM