hugs to you from Washington!

hi ,im from argentina.im live in bahia blanca.i have 16 years old and be greenpeace volunteare. kisss and i love you!!

por favor!!! no se mucho ingless pero en bahia hago mucho para que toda la contaminacion d3e la ria desaparezca y no mate mas peces! te queria pedir si pueden venir a el puerto de bahia blanca para ayudarnos ya que nuestra oficina no viene!!...les deseo mucha suerte y creo que hay un argentinoi en el barco si mal no recuerdo,dile que argentina esta con el !!

suerte y NO A LA MATANZA DE BALLENAS!!

Your dwindling supply of salmiakki is, indeed, a grave development. Normally a freehanded man myself, I still might consider not sharing any more....

Hope this is the worst of your privations in this dangerous voyage.

Best of luck and go get 'em!

Obnoxious! Oh well lol been called worse..lol Hopefully everyone can keep their spirits up and I see the weather cleared up. Take care..Stacey

GO ESPERANZA GO! and stop them! There shall be no whale meat on Japanese tables next year. Best of luck, Paul

Hello Irene and crew,

I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that we need more updates on what's happening out there.

Do you have a lead on the location of the Japanese fleet?

Have you figured out the identity of the ship that is following the Esperanza?

How is the news that the new Australia labor government might send a naval vessel out impacting your mission? Have you heard any news on your end about that?

For god sake, tell us what is happening out there!

Peace

My little daughter Irene (who loves whales and Greenpeace, especially your blog) would be excited to see your updates!

Cheers!

Hey all!

Hugs back to you Steve-o!

Thanks for your sympathy Mike, all my salty licorice is gone now - what a horrible miscalculation on my behalf!

I will give you as much information as I can Dean, promise.

Hey - a little Irene! Our name means "peace", but I am sure you knew that!

Hej Iréne!
Vad glad jag blir att en svensk är med i Esperanza. Hoppas att det har gått bra hittils.
Jag är 23 och är med i Greenpeace sen 4 år tillbaka. Jag blir så glad när det blir mer mer folk som verkligen bryr sig om djur och natur.
Kram

A friend and I were discussing the whale issue over dinner last night, and he said one of the most effective ways of influencing public policy, and that of large corporations, especially those linked to governments, is by hitting them in their wallets. Large corporations are very vulnerable to financial pressure by large numbers of customers, who underestimate the financial power they have. His suggestion, is a series of full page advertisements in the popular press of various countries reading something like this:

Do you disapprove of the Japanese killing whales? Vote with your boots and your wallet - don't buy Japanese products if you avoid them!

Hi Irene,
Thanks for the ability to be a virtual crew member, many thoughts and best wishes are with you as you begin your journey south. I risk being boring and repetitive here but the new Australian Prime Minister said today that by the end of this week he will make a significant announcement of the depolyment of Australian assets to monitor the Japanese whaling fleet. This is though to involve Naval ships and aircraft to take photos to use as evidence in a legal challenge in the world court.

Australian politics enjoys bipartisan support for protecting the whales, and finally we are doing something about it. Cheers, GA

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22921997-31477,00.html

Hi Irene,

Thanks for all the great work you and the other crew members are doing! Lots of respect from me. I wish i could join you on the Esperanza myself. I want to wish you and all members a Merry Christmas and a Happy Newyear. May 2008 be a year of great succes!

Love,
Elvera

Hi Irene and Crew!

Just want to say "HI" and you guys are just wonderful!!! Good luck...go get em!
Take care of yourselves out there!
Tracey, Broome Western Austalia.

Hi Irene,

it has been nearly a year from now, since we met on the esperanza in mexiko. wish you all the best on the tour, merry x-mas and a happy new year. send greetings to frank, regine and caterina - should remember me, not only my cookings ;-)

I finish my studies by now and start in february working for a local theatre - I am the one lucky of a thousand people who got the job...

So, keep your head up and give a hug to the espy from me,

Nina

JAG SAKNAR DIG MYCKET !! (OCH FRANK). GOD JUL OCH STORA KRAMAR xxx

Greetings to all the brave souls on Esperanza.

Just to say at this festive time that we are thinking of you all - and your commitment to tackling the whalers.

Keep up the good work, we are behind you, and in many ways would love to be with you all.

From Mark in UK, following Greenpeace since 1980

Hello Irene
I wish you a wonderful year change down there in South Pazifik.Macht carry on your work for the Wale.Sie need you and your work for the Wale.Ich follow your work over the years and my children 13 and 16 years continued with your job too well for some years apart. The Web Cam on your ship is almost daily once clicked. What is the pity your Web Cam now at the top of the mast is appropriate. visibility from the bridge was better because it was what the board noticed, and life has also seen how the ship through the waves kämfte. Man Runs when you thought you with

Well, I wish you always good trip
Continue to make your Ralf from Germany

Irene, if I may address you so casually, you are doing a fantastic job on the website. It is so thorough, and efficient. It truly adds an element of community to an effort that is so far from most other humans. It let's the world in on a journey that you and all of the crew should be very proud of, and which will be a success without a doubt. Thank you, and happy sailing!

Eu, e muita gente ficaríamos muito felizes se tivessemos a oportunidade de acompanhar se tb estivese em portugues.
Mas não parem. Parabéns, ainda chegaremos lá.

Thankyou all!

Clayton - here is the Brazilian weblog:

http://greenpeace.blogtvbrasil.com.br/oceanos

A big BULA from Fiji and best of luck to 2008....

---

Thankyou Ana, I am not sure what a BULA is - a HUG perhaps?Here is one back to you, all the best for 2008! /Iréne

Hey Irene, I see on the ship tracking web site www.sailwx.info that the japanese research ship Umitaka Maru is NW of the Davis Sea, S 59° E 80° along with some other unnamed vessel south of her, perhaps ice breaker or something else? Do these vessels ever meet up with whaling fleet? Perhaps good to monitor their movements in case vessels have to meet up for some circumstance I suppose???

Go Irene and the Esperanza Go!!!!

Loved your video with the Nisin Maru over your right ear!

Why are the Esperanza's web cams dark? Is it night?

merci ! thank you very much Esperanza for be the gardian of the sea and go on . viana .i am french i live in Paris i am 51 years old

hi do we have the boys back yet information is stetchy here
the world watches what japan is doing
stay safe saving whales

Hi all,

I've been virtually following your steps on the Esperanza for the past couple months, all of you are fighting to ensure to the rest of us, seated comfortably at home or at the office watching the webcams, a better world, and a better tomorrow for our children.

There are no enough words to say a grateful we are, or at list should be, you and the rest of the crew are doing a majestic work, THANK YOU!!!

The webcams and videos are showing facts that are not reported normally by television or newspapers, not everyone is aware of the tragedy that goes on in that remote part of the world, a wonderful world not easily reachable by common people, that needs to be preserved at all cost. Seeing the glorious icebergs, the beautiful whales, makes your heart sing (I’m a romantic), while the whaling ships are destroying animal lives not replaceable (any chance the one you're following is just a decoy, while the other whaling factory ships are happily killing the whales and laughing at your back?)

I hope not, what a great loss that would be!

The addition of the extra two webcams is great, your website is on my screen 24-7 at home and at work (I check it out between spread sheets and phone calls), too bad that lately they are blacked out most of the day (US eastern time), is it a problem at your end, or it is done on purpose?

Please keep up with your great work, and always be safe!

Best regards, ciao e felice anno a tutti!

Giovanna from New York

We are so proud of what you are doing please keep going and stop this barbaric killing of beautiful whales

Hi Esperanza, We are MOBOTIX, the German manufacturer of your funny looking webcams. We tell everyone we meet about your website and encourage them to visit and check out what you are up to. Your images really impress us especially taking into account the conditions.

We are holding our International Partner Conference in a few weeks and would love to show a short video from you guys about what you are doing and obviously what you think of our cameras.

There will be delegates from all over the globe and I am sure they would love to hear from you.

Hope you are able to help and keep up the good work.

Regards

Mike Lewis
MOBOTIX

Hi Esperanza,

What a day yesterday!
The Wing’s webcam went crazy picking up at close-range images of catcher boat Yushin Maru No. 2 and the factory vessel Nisshin Maru water-bombarding your little vessel, and the two whales blowing up air just underneath the whaler’s nose! Did they have a death whish on their agenda? Perhaps they where on a romantic stroll away from their sanctuary…

Was the Esperanza there yesterday (Jan 17, 2007) when the two Sea Shepherd's crew activist’s members were returned to the Australian Government? I’m so glad they were released unharmed.

CNN published a videos showing up their capture, and one showing a whale being slaughtered. A many more proofs are necessary before Japan will be permanently stopped from this heartless killing?

Irene, could you please add the 6-12-18 hour’s review to the wing’s webcam as well?

Thanks in advance.

You-all are the best! Have a great and safe weekend!

Giovanna

Much Love Irene... can't you sneek the co ordinates to the sea shepherd. Best Wishes in all you do.

Hiya Irene just reading through your blog i saw you are out of "salty Licorice" i have a dutch friend up the road from me ill go check if hes got a supply.. if so ill steal a pack for you and email them to you :) lol
Your doing a fab job with the blogs Irene and the Cams...its geek heaven sitting here "riding along" with you guys...

---

Thankyou Steve, and please email me some of that black gold now! /Iréne

Give us a wave Irene i have Bridge Cam on :) lol

Hej Irene!Va tu ha komi langt i veeden, båå bokstavlit å bildlit!Stsöit om de nu å skå ett så int du får möukkon som vi sejr je i krombi!Hälsn Henrik
------
Hej Henrik - vilken överraskning! Byri no ha liti dryft heim, å salmiak e slut. Få sii hu läng vi kan lömm jär, byri val tomt i tanken å! Häls Krombi, å heila klanen, vi råkas säkert ti somarn!
/Iréne

First I want to bow deeply before all the people who make Greenpeace effective!! What courage! I am disappointed in the Australian government, who in spite of their mouth service to the whales, lack a bit of courage to help Greenpeace with refueling at sea? Mates, prove me wrong!
Then finally, I hereby announce, that one day soon the Japanese fleet will find itself at the bottom of the ocean, when God answers.
My prayers, my mind and my heart are with you, Greenpeace!

Josje - if the Australian government vessel Oceanic Viking gave us fuel that would:

a) contravene the rules about refuelling in Antarctica

b) mean that both ships would stop, and we'd lose the Nisshin Maru

c) leave the Oceanic Viking with not enough fuel to contine longer!

thanks!

hiy dave
is the Oceanic Viking still out in the Antarctica?
and do you know what there planes are?

hey if i won the lottery i would buy greenpeace a newer and bigger ship that will hold a lot more fuel :)

hope you all return home well and take care

Irene, Thank you for the messages you send out. We on the land can only wonder at the dangers you people put yourselves in, but we support what you do. Yes whaling is archaic and unnecessary and like you, Id rather see the whaling ships in a museum, or sunk to form homes for the creatures of the sea. Keep up with all the amazing work you all do and know that the rest of the world is not only watching you, a lot of us are supporting you all in everyhting you do.
Cheers
Susanne Cheekyface

Hi
I hear you will be visiting Hobart on Sunday.
We will come and say hello. Any requests?
dwarvenaoe3@hotmail.com

Hi Irene,

thank you for all the great updates about what you did down there. Great work.

I see land on the webcam, so I'm curious where you are. I beg you're quite relieved to see land again after all those weeks.

Are you in Hobart (Tasmania)?
I missed you in Auckland in December, but I'd like to come see the ship (and maybe the crew if possible) if you're coming back there by any chance. Don't you have to come pick up your heli anyway? ;)

THANKYOU all for your comments and encouragement!

Thanks Dwarven for coming to greet us - it was the best avocado I ever had! I hope to see you tomorrow for the open ship.

Yes Chris, we are in Hobart, and the ship will be open tomorrow - welcome!

/Iréne