Good luck. Stop the bastards.

Today is a sad day for us all. How can this happen again? Shame on Japan and all the nations that sit by and allow this tragedy to occur again. As I write this I feel powerless but I am not I will try to help in my small way by sending a donation today to Greenpeace and I hope more of you out there will do the same. I will also never purchase any item made in Japan. I am so very sorry

Maria

Why not sue the government for harming your Whale Trail project,what if they slay a tagged named whale in your pods on the Southern Ocean. Take this trial inward ,onland,and maybe get the slaughter halted,the ocean is going to turn red from whale blood?

I am devasted that this is happening. When are people going to wake up to reality? How can this be in the name of science? Its pointless slaughtering of the Earth's species and its causing massive imbalances in the eco systems throughout the globe. Once again, when are people going to wake up to reality?

I have been away for a bit and had no connection. I missed you guys and see that you all are very hard at work. I hope for all of you to be safe and thank you for your tireless efforts and lending your voice to speak for those than can not. You all are GREAT!

Sincerely,

Aaliyah

For heavens sake, stay on these lying truth-twisting users. They are in the business of taking the largest creatures, whales, and next, if not now, the food source for so many creatures: krill. For what? To feed a wealthy country intellegent enough to know how to obtain their protein from some other source. Go gettem...they disgust me.

Keep strong guys!

We are with You.
all of the people of
TAHITI NUI

This 'research' mission brings utter disgrace upon the Japanese Government. You go out there and show them that this brutal slaughter of these majestic creatures is not acceptable under any guise. Stay strong and know that the world is right behind you.

Good luck and try to stop them from killing those beautiful whales. Put pressure on the Japanese government. And don't let them scare you all with them helicopters and such.

All the best on board there,

Michiel

Good luck and try to stop them from killing those beautiful whales. Put pressure on the Japanese government. And don't let them scare you all with them helicopters and such.

All the best on board there,

Michiel

Hit these arrogant bastards where it hurts - its simple - never ever buy ANYTHING OF JAPANESE ORIGIN - if enough people in the world made this small step and their economy began to suffer it may make a difference. This really really makes my blood boil, when I think back to the whale that swam up the River Thames to London recently and the superhuman unrelenting efforts that were made to try and save it and the millions and millions of people in the UK who were transfixed to their TV screens just willing it to live and here we have the Japanese, unyielding, irresponsible, arrogantly setting out on their murderous journey to slaughter the most beautiful and intelligent creatures on earth- if I had the power to send their factories of death straight to the bottom of the ocean and harpoon all the crew I would do it - they deserve everything they get. Sorry but thats how angry it makes me! Godspeed Greenpeace.

Humpback whales have learned to trust man in the forty-five years since we stopped hunting them.
If Japan carries out its aim of harpooning 50 humpback whales in the Antarctic this Southern Hemisphere Summer, the whale watching industry on Australia's east and west coasts will soon find out.
The humpbacks are the same as those who delight Australians each year and have created a $AU 300 million a year whale watching industry.
There is no benefit to mankind by killing these whales. Their meat won't help the poor ease their hunger but will grace the tables of the wealthy. The killing is done in the name of science but is it science to kill the subject?
chris pash
http://thelastwhale.blogspot.com

It's disgusting that the Japanese are hunting whales, including humpbacks, and calling it research. Thanks for your efforts.

I do not understand why people continue kill these beautiful and harmless animals... and in such a barbaric way. Evidently, this is only the beginning of what could end up being an ecological disaster as we have seen with the near extinction of numerous species of sharks.

I truly admire those who contribute so much to prevent the degradation of these species. The ocean should not be thought of as an endless supply of wealth and food as many naive and uneducated people believe it to be.

BEST OF LUCK!!!! FROM CANADA!!!

I say in behalf of me and my family that this is a shame for the Japanese people... how can they be so cynical!! do they really need to kill the whales as to feed their "starving" people?

Espy crew, my thoughts and heart are with you. I was on the Espy in Alaska in August when we had the most beautiful visitation by humpbacks that you can imagine. How dare the Japanese whaling fleet!

The Whale hunting and recent dolphin killing are completely disgusting and are the murder of sentient beings.These 'Cetaceans' are a higher order of life on the planet and one day all of man will know and bow their heads in SHAME

I live in Japan but there are many of us (Japanese and non-Japanese) who SUPPORT YOU! Please do everything you can to stop them!

I hope you stop these bastards! 1000+ Whales for "Scientific purposes" is a sick, sad lie! These beautiful majestic beings should be left to roam the seas in peace. Thank you so much for your efforts.

brave heart, support u!
hope this will not happen again........

"will we be able to intercept?"

Intercept / verb
-to stop sb/sth that is going from one place to another from arriving.

Are you really going to stop (=intercept) the Japanese whaling fleet that is composed of 6 vessels with the Esperanza?
Is that really your goal?

Please intercept them. PLEASE.

Where do these bastards refuel in Australia? Refuse to refuel them. Surely the losse of income for the fuel is worth the stand. Our governments should intervene and refuse them entry into our waters and refuse our assistance in any way - including fuel and supplies. Don;t here any of the parties making a stand on that in our last election week do we?

I have blogged about this and set up a Facebook cause to oppose Japans Whale Hunt.

Isn't it about time the IWC closed the "loophole" to stop this bloody slaughter.

I wish all onboard good luck and to take care - if the Japanese can do this to such peaceful and serene creatures, think about what they could do to those who try to stop them carrying out this murderous act!

As a vegetarian, I cannot think of anything so repugnant as eating whalemeat!

I heard the news and I literally lost sleep. It's unbelievable that Japan continues to kill whales and the other Nations do nothing to stop them. Whales belong to all of us, not to Japan !
And please, Ocean Defenders worldwide, keep fighting, keep boycotting whalers.

This is a terrible shame. Can we not get better exposure of this cruelty. If the public can see what's happening they will react.
All the best.

Reading some of these comments - last year they refueled at sea (in a protected area) not in Australia.

We are all responsible for stopping whaling - hassle your politician of choice, write to your media, protest outside embassies.

But remember, Greenpeace is non-violent, and that goes for our language too.

They are not bastards, they're people just like you and me; worried about getting the kids through school, or paying the mortgage, or protecting a family tradition.

Good luck guys.

In response to "Are you really going to stop the Japanese whaling fleet that is composed of 6 vessels with the Esperanza?"

From what I have gathered, some of these ships are only there as a cover - to create the illusion that they are interested in scientific research. The Esperanza needs to go after the few ships that are actively hunting. The Greenpeace boat is likely faster and more agile, with a more skillful and brave crew. I think it is possible for them to make a difference.

This need's to stop, killing a whale for "science" is insane. Would they kill a person for the same reason ? I think not !!!!

Greenpeace you do the work of Saints.

The vessels of the Japanese whaling fleet have not berthed, for any purpose, in Australian ports for some time.

However, last year the research ship Umtaka Maru did berth in Sydney. Although not part of the whaling fleet, its presence in Sydney in mid Decemeber suggests that it may well have been tracking the "tail" of the humpback migration's southbound biomass.

This year, the Umitaka's tracking transponder stopped working as it was heading south near Noumea about a week ago.
http://www.sailwx.info/shiptrack/shipposition.phtml?call=JPAT

This whole thing makes me feel so sick.

I am so glad that you guys are out there fighting it. I wish I could be there too.

Good luck!

You guys know all the risks and this year it´s going to take a lot of steel dedicated passion to intervene for the whales. Last year you were kind of standing by, but this year looks like it´s going to be hands on! Good Luck!!

Thank you for doing all you can to defend the whales. Sending you many blessings, Love and Light,
Suzy

I am not going to buy a prius now---I am mad as hell about the humpback hunt also--the government of japan has got to do something,, just like we,the us people, have got to reign in our own equally guilty industrial culprits --lets get busy---im going to send some cash to green peace--all i do is drive and warm the place up--im going to pay for some good---thanks green peace--pmcg5000@yahoo in austin tx-- and also since when does 2000 years of humans killing something,anything, make it sacred???

Thank you for all the comments

It is easy to get angry and emotional, but let’s refrain from being racist and hateful – comments of this kind will not move us any closer to the day when whaling ends, nor will they be tolerated on this blog.

To be very clear: we oppose the Japanese government’s hoax science program – we are NOT campaigning against the Japanese people, many of whom

- oppose whaling (there are for example Greenpeace supporters also in Japan)

- are not even aware that their government is whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

- Iréne

Thank you for doing what you are doing.
We wish you all success and safety,both you and the all the wild and beautiful whales, out there in the vast ocean. EYS

the Thought of what could happen to these beautiful, peaceful and extremely vulnerable animals makes me feel sick to my stomach. How can any government still advocate that whaling is acceptable, let alone necessary. Wishing you every success in your attempts to disrupt and publicise these hunts, your bravery and commitment are admirable and i wish i was there with you! It seems to me the tide may be turning environmentally with the masses beginning very slowly to educate themselves and understand the blessing that is the natural world and that we should do everything humanly possible to protect it. Never give up the fight!
Katherine

Why won't you give the co-ordinates of the Japanese to the Sea Shepherd if you spot them first. The more ships and crew out there defending the whales the better. No matter what organisation you are from you must work together especially when you are all there for the same cause. I donate to both Greenpeace and SeaShepherd, I dont like the fact that you do not unite and work together. If you are truly there for the whales, then do what it takes to have whaling stopped forever. If I had a ship and no family to take care of I'd be out there too.

dear espy crew,

having read all the comments on this website how so many people are passionate about the whales and greenpeace is amazing
the whales are not alone
why not give paul watson a call to have a chat to see how you can combine forces there can only be one winner with that and that are the whales
thinking of you

I think this very ugly practice of killing hump black whales should be stopped by Japan.We all have to do our best to prevent them from doing this savagery.
The people who are indulging in this gruesome crime are a shame and black spot to human kind.
I severely detest this as an ugly practice of Japan.If they want to make themselves a friendly nation they should immediately put a halt to this!!!
Prabal

thanks for what you are doing.
you represent a lot of people who would fight for the whales.
god bless you