Calls for Japan to halt the whaling fleet
Posted by Iréne onboard the Esperanza
This is us, not the shadow...
©Greenpeace/Jiri Rezac
Our ship might be a micro cosmos of its own, but we do have internet onboard. Even if the connection is not under all circumstances very fast, we have received some good news during the last couple of days:
- Australia and New Zealand have called on Japan to halt the whaling fleet heading south.
- The European Commission has also expressed concerns over Japan's hunt in the Souther Ocean.
- The United States urged Japan to refrain from this year's hunt.
- Britain is considering to make a "high-level diplomatic protest" to Japan.
Many express that lethal methods are not necessary to perform research on whales, from the EU statement:
"Adequate data for management purposes can be obtained using non-lethal techniques. Japan's scientific whaling undermines international efforts to conserve and protect whales."
The Japanese governments whaling programme has very little to do with science. We all know it's a sham, and now it is being openly admitted: the head of the FAJ was quoted at the departure ceremony for the whaling fleet as saying that the purpose of the scientific research was to overturn the international moratorium on commercial whaling.
Of course we will not let that happen, but I'd appreciate if we at least could call things for what they are. I am getting tired of putting quotation marks around the words science and research - that button on my laptop keyboard is getting all shiny and worn.
Comments
Hi Irene,
keep up the good mood. I have seen you are sailing in heavy weather. I hope this will go away eventually and that you have Neptun's help on your side.
I am an artist from Munich and doing the best I can from my side to help the cause to stop this irresposible and criminal hunt.
Good luck for your journey. May you all come home safe again!
Posted by: Petra Voegtle | November 22, 2007 10:48 AM
Take our message with you, you are not alone. We love the whales, we cannot allow them to be murdered. Please stop those who wish harm on these ancient, graceful and peaceful creatures. Have a safe journey, be brave and keep up the fight!
Posted by: Ben Norton | November 22, 2007 7:32 PM
Our family support you all. Keep fighting..
safe trip.
x
Posted by: margrete | November 22, 2007 10:58 PM
Hello everyone aboard the Esperanza ship. I want to thank you for your hard work, your immense courage, and let you know that i appreciate what you are doing. We hope that the global community joins you as well in the fight to save and help preserve the whales for future generations. My family and I wish you all a very happy thanksgiving.
Posted by: yvette nunez | November 23, 2007 12:05 AM
Thank you for standing up for what we all know is right. We support you in stopping this disgusting and barbaric act. Stay safe
Posted by: Maryvonne | November 23, 2007 12:25 AM
Thinking of you with gratitude for the challenge you are undertaking. There are so many of us supporting you in this amazing work to do what is right! May Neptune protect you and the whales.
Posted by: Tracy Rademaekers | November 23, 2007 2:54 AM
It's prob. hard to be on the ship and away from the comforts of home but WE ALL appreciate you!!! Keep up the hard work.
Posted by: jillG | November 23, 2007 3:22 AM
Million thanks to those on Esperanza ship.
We're supporting you all the time!
Keep holding on.
Posted by: xinyang | November 23, 2007 4:09 AM
Thank you for your sacrifices! Keep up the fight and stop this hunt!!!
Posted by: Jeff | November 23, 2007 4:58 AM
I have been visiting Japan since 1980, first on a scholarship and since on business. I like Japan, its culture and the people.
However, this is not a cultural matter. It is an ethical issue. No human need is being fulfilled by killing a whale. There is no cure for cancer or a solution to hunger. The meat ends up on the plates of the affluent. And no great scientific knowledge is being gained by the death of any whale.
Whales are wild stock. You cannot compare the death of a whale to the death of a farmed animal. We know so little about whales and we can never be sure of their numbers. There is no argument to justify the whale hunt by Japan’s government.
http://thelastwhale.blogspot.com
Posted by: chris pash | November 23, 2007 4:59 AM