From the crew to our governments
Posted by Karli onboard the Esperanza
As is usually the case on a Greenpeace ship, we are a mixed bunch here on the Esperanza. We have 21 different nationalities onboard, and almost all of our countries are members of the
International Whaling Commission, the IWC: All except Canada, Turkey and the Philippines. That means we represent almost a quarter of the countries belonging to the IWC. Most of our countries are in the "pro conservation" majority, though without exception we want more action from our home countries to bring an end to whaling.
The next meeting of the IWC will be held in Chile - home of our deckhand Gustavo. He has become something of a media star over the past week or so, and in addition to his "day job" on deck, has been up in the wee hours speaking with interested journalists from Chile. In our office the table is a fixed height so many of us sit on pillows in a - probably futile - attempt to maintain some ergonomic correctness at our computers. Sometimes we find Gustavo early in the morning, waiting for a phone appointment with some journalist, crashed out with head on pillow on laptop on desk.
Gustavo has a pretty strong message for his government as they prepare to host the next crucial meeting of the IWC. "It is very important for me and all Chileans in favour of whale conservation, that the government transforms its good political intentions and finally declares Chilean national waters a whale sanctuary that protects these animals and their environment. I hope that these measures are taken before the International Whaling Commission meeting in Santiago next year so that our national intentions are clear and serve as guide for the Latin American bloc, to fortify its determination to protect whales and their only long term sustainable economic use: the observation of cetaceans in the Latin American coasts and the world"
Aki is from Japan, and is writing a weblog in Japanese during our trip. She is one among the majority of Japanese people that do not support whaling on the high seas. She explains her reasons for being onboard, and what she would like from the Japanese Government: "Most people don't know Japan is the only country whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary and our taxes have been spent for it, because we have never studied these in schools. Through my blog I would like to tell Japanese people what our country has been doing in the Southern Ocean using our taxes, and I really hope the government starts using our money in meaningful ways instead."
Sam, a volunteer deckhand from France, was at the campaign notice board when I put up the news about his government calling on Japan to end the whale hunt. "I was very happy to read something about my country finally showing some interest and concern about the whaling issue. For more than a week I had seen most of my crew mates giving interviews to their national media, and their governments condemning the coming hunt. I think it is time for France to step up and become a leader in marine conservation in the South Pacific and Antarctica region. After having shown the worst examples with nuclear testing in Polynesia and the devastating building of an airstrip at its base in pristine Antarctica, my government has everything to gain in changing its environmental policies and improving its image. I would like to see it more involved in protecting the whales. New Caledonia is a prime breeding area for Humpback Whales and whale watching, lot of people depend on them, it could organize a real scientific expedition and prove that there is no need to kill whales to do research. This would send a strong message for other countries to follow."
Gustavo, Aki and Sam are just a few of our diverse crew onboard. We all come from different backgrounds, cultures and educations, but we are all here for the same purpose; to prevent whales from being killed in the Southern Ocean this season. And we all hope that our politicians will be doing all they can at a political level to stop the hunt also.
It has been amazing to see the level of international opposition to the whale hunt already; before the whaling fleet even reaches the Southern Ocean, let alone kills the first whale. Already New Zealand, Australia, France, Chile, the United Kingdom and the United States have voiced their opposition to the hunt. Each time I write an update on the campaign notice board about a new country speaking out against whaling, it makes someone's day on board. A good ship needs a happy crew, so let's hope more governments do the same - and don't forget you can help make it happen by taking part in our "call for whales".
- Karli
PS. as I went round and asked people their message for the Government in their own country, quite a few other crew asked to send their message as well - so stay tuned for part two of this blog!
Comments
Hi Karli...,
...and thanks. You haven't told us if you'll be staying on (fingers crossed), as expedition leader again? ...and yeah, there is certainly more news this year and support from different nations. I can only entertain the notion that you there on the Esperanza and at Greenpeace have been the origin of 99% of that. So your non-violent and documentation methods seem to be working very well in bringing this to the attention of our world. ...And that of course is our only hope for meaningful change. Let's hope the Japanese fleet begins to understand, that this is not their personal commodity. That these whales belong to all our earth and all our nations, and that we consider these magnificent creatures a treasure of our planet.
Hmmm, ...I've an idea. Why don't you see if you can snag your friend Peter Garrett and bring him along. He can sing 'Put Down That Weapon' to the man at the harpoon. Humor aside, it's too bad you couldn't really do something like that, ...at night with an lcd projector and sound system. Maybe mix in some of the footage of the dying whales you videotaped previously for the crew of the whaling ships to look at.
Anyway, take good care Karli. The eyes and the ears of the world more than ever before are watching. Thank you...
Put Down That Weapon by Peter Garrett/Midnight Oil (GC editing) - http://www.gratefulchild.org/projects/gcweb/gc/html/video/PutDownThatWeapon.html
Original version - http://www.gratefulchild.org/projects/gcweb/gc/html/video/weapon.wmv
Posted by: Grateful Child | December 11, 2007 3:46 PM
Regarding Greenpeace's non-violent methods, Jun Hosokawa of Greenpeace Japan has expressed his concern that they may not be so easily regarded as "non-violent" in the mind of a typical Japanese person. He suggests in his recent book a return to the "bearing witness" philosophy, rather than attempting to directly interfere with the whaling activity. To my mind the only thing Greenpeace gets out of it is some D-grade stuntshow video footage. Otherwise it puts human life in danger, rarely (if ever) saves a whale, seemingly puts that whales that are killed through more pain due to conditions for the hunting activity being less optimal than they would be otherwise, and finally sees Greenpeace regarded as eco-terrorists by many in Japan and other nations. None of which is productive or likely to help resolve this long standing dispute. On the other hand, "bearing witness" would at least be consistent with the "Peace" in Greenpeace, and draw a much clearer distinction between Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd.
Also, people who hunt whales also consider them a treasure of our planet. The idea is not to hunt them to extinction, the idea is to utilise them as a valuable source of food for humans in a sustainable way. Is there not room on this planet for both people who wish to eat whales and people who wish that whales be only for watching (or left alone completely)?
Posted by: david | December 12, 2007 5:47 AM
"oh yes, let's cross our arms and watch the whales be peacefully murdered"... No way, man! Why eat whales? Go eat vegetables!! It seems to me that you are on the payroll of the whale produce factories... are you?
Posted by: Teca | December 13, 2007 8:02 PM
Hi (Tokyo)David...,
...and thanks for your reply. But I'm still hoping you will someday, and on a personal level see the needless suffering of these creatures have more meaning to you than sustainability, ...whether Greenpeace happens to be watching and documenting or not. Once you do, ...and when it hurts enough, you will begin to realize it really shouldn't be happening, ...just because it tastes good. Personally I don't think any of these forms of life on earth were meant for us to 'utilize', and the sooner we get over that notion, the sooner we can reach a new level of human evolution. After all, we are primates, and primates by nature are vegetarians. But I think it's the barbarity of the killing, and that these happen to be the largest and perhaps most intelligent creatures of our planet that is the reason most of the world is very upset at what you are about to do. In nations, and in people's hearts, the momentum is gathering against you. Yes they are a priceless treasure to us, ...they don't belong to you, ...and we want you to stop.
Years ago, one day when the spirit was setting me free and I was hiking. Love was not to be denied that day, and the birds and creatures were feeling this in intimate moments, and they came quite close to me. It was a bond I found I could make through Love, and by caring about them. I decided to even watch my footsteps all that day, so that I might not crush something, break it's arms and legs. Later in the day, I thought about my experience, and I asked myself if this was just going to be for one day, or would I hold this Love for all creatures in my heart forever. I think you know the path I chose, ...to respect life and be a grateful child, not hungry for the flesh of an innocent and feeling creature that wants to live just as much as you or I. We can get beyond this, and perhaps one day realize that all wars and acts of violence were just the absence of Love, ...an illusion of selfishness. What kind of creatures are we that we can't feel the fear and hurt in others, and to be 'human' enough to find a better way. That's our biggest problem today...
Posted by: Grateful Child | December 13, 2007 8:16 PM
Excelent answer, Grateful Child.
The bottom line is: whales don't "belong" to anyone and they are not ours to "utilize"!!!
Can you put yourself in their places, david?
Can you imagine them speaking among themselves (if they had the power to decide things like that like we have):
"Ooh, lets UTILIZE david for food - lets watch that country slaughter david peacefully...."
Can you do this, david?
Can you exchange places with them just for a moment?
Just for the briefest moment???????
Posted by: Teca | December 13, 2007 9:47 PM
i havent had time to read all your blogs, and when i checked the web cam today, i thought wow, different scenery... last night on our news, it was announced that our new government, Kevin Rudd is sending the Navy out for extra support to the Antarctica....great news.. you proberly already know
Posted by: taylor | December 14, 2007 3:51 AM
also the great Terrie Irwin is now behind us in saving these whales, she has had her late husbands name put on the sea shepherd Steve Irwin and sent them off, with her involvement alone alot are taking more notice, and getting behind her in this whaling hunt... she also has a bit of power behind her.... and our government are sending the navy out there... somehow i think this year might make a big difference... the main reason John Howard lost his election was because he wouldnt stand up to other governments, GO KEVIN RUDD for standing up to the japanese... should try and get his attention in reading these blogs...hopefully everything will go to plan....
Posted by: Taylor | December 16, 2007 12:14 PM