Leaving without Tweety, but with lots of good energy
Posted by Irene onboard the Esperanza
Auckland
©Greenpeace/Walsh
Regine woke me up at 3.45 this morning for my watch between 4.00 and 8.00. I expected to have a few hours on my own: the ship was sleeping, and the quay was empty. Around five o'clock a man came walking along the quay side, and spoke to me using my name! I wasn't wearing my contact lenses yet, and by vanity I had automatically taken my glasses off - who was this blurry guy?
He turned out to be an old crewmember, Simon, whom I've sailed with previously. He had no idea the ship was in town and it was sheer coincidence he walked by while waiting for a bus!
We had a cup of tea on helideck when more visitors arrived, this time an elegant couple I was pretty sure not to have met before (but kept my glasses on just in case). Her name was Corina, and they had just arrived in Auckland from further south. They promised to come back later, since I couldn't show anybody around the ship at that time of the day.
At 7.30 it was time for the wakeup call. I tried to think of more creative ways of doing it than just the regular "good morning - 7.30!" Maybe do it in Swedish or sing a little song? Or something more sadistic perhaps, like banging pots and pans? I decided to abandon these plans, since I might live to regret it, and woke everybody up in a civilised manner. Then I went to sleep for a couple of hours.
When I got up Corina was waiting downstairs, and we ended up having a long talk and a couple of good laughs. She had come onboard to wish us good luck on the expedition. Corina comes from a Maori tribe called Ngati Parou. Ngati Parou counts Paikea amongst their ancestors. Perhaps you've read a book called "Whale Rider" by Witi Ihimaera, or seen the movie based on it? According to tradition Paikea came to New Zealand riding on a humpback whale.
We did a tour around the ship and Corina met some of the other crewmembers. Corina gave me a beautiful blessed bone amulet that I now wear around my neck. I have shown it to everybody onboard and passed on Corina's wishes for safe sailing. Kia Ki Te Corina.
But there is more: Ronnie and Rien went to get some last minute food supplies. A lady in the shop heard they were from Greenpeace, and they told her about the expedition to Antarctica. Without hesitation Shalene picked up the bill for one of the more than full trollies, and wished us good luck. Ronnie and Rien were left speechless (and they both like to talk), blown away by this kind generosity.
Corina, Shalene and everybody who have waved, cheered and left us comments wishing us luck: thank you - it means a lot.
I am getting off the ship for the evening, but it is NOT for a "last night in port"! Every time we've said that, we ended up changing plans and stay longer. So I am simply off for a nice meal and a walk.
- Iréne
Comments
Irene, I may not be sending my comments to the right person but having read many of your posts I am sure you will pass them on to someone who is.
This may be a stupid idea but I felt I had to pass it on because someone else may be able to develop it or develop a modified version that will make a difference.
Currently the best anyone seems to be able to do to stop the whalers is to position themselves between the whales and the harpoons. This is a very dangerous position and not often successful.
I am proposing the development of something like a double barrelled canon that could fire two weights with a chain/wire rope between them across the harpoon line to deflect the aim. I have seen people shoot clay pigeons out of the air with little warning that the clay birds were flying so I believe a vigilant sharpshooter on a boat in parallel course to the whaler could fire the devise across the flight of the harpoon and the weight would pull the harpoon off target. Maybe it could be created to also damage the harpoon and we can make the chase uneconomical.
Just a pipe dream that may set off a chain of ideas to stop the taking of whales for “scientific” study.
dj
Posted by: dj | December 18, 2007 9:04 AM
Have a good trip down to Antarctica. I am thinking of you.
Magnus
Posted by: Magnus | December 18, 2007 7:18 PM
Paikea. A nice story to enjoy, respectful to the true one. Tradition and limits involved. One that can make you think and hav a nice time too. Tears included?
P.S. It'll be one of my Xmas presents (fingers crossed).
Posted by: Marta | December 19, 2007 1:05 AM
Give my regards too Rien. It's Rien reeeeng, right? the one I was assistant to on my very first trip, 2004.
Posted by: Marta | December 19, 2007 1:07 AM
All the best, take care, and thanks so much for doing this for the whales and those of us that feel quite helpless sitting at home. Don't let the second largest animal on earth and one of the least known species, be forgotten next to the charismatic humpbacks.
Posted by: Peter | December 19, 2007 1:52 AM
G'day 'n Good Luck!
Shame about Tweety
Sea Shepherd's Watson maintains that the Japanese whaling fleet elected to pass through the Lombok Strait last week during their passage to the Southern Ocean, which may explain why the research ship Umitaka Maru turned up in the Indian rather than Pacific Ocean and stopped reporting its position on Dec 4 east of Madagascar ... maybe the Japanese are planning to target alternative populations to Group V humpys, whilst OZ Customs/Fisheries, Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd search fruitlessly in the Japanese "traditonal research" area, the Ross Sea ... I hope the Argies, Chileans and South Africans are alert to the possibility of a sneak "research program" on "their" humpy populations.
Posted by: biggles | December 19, 2007 7:26 AM
God speed Esperanza and best wishes to all the crew for the festive season.
It cant be easy being away from your families and friends even for such a wonderful cause as to save these wonderful animals so thank you on behalf of us all.
Sylvia (Glasgow, Scotland)
Posted by: Sylvia Shaw | December 19, 2007 3:27 PM
i read on the bbc that the australian government are to send a naval gunboat and aircraft to monitor the behaviour and actions of the japanese fleet, with a view to a possible future legal challenge against the japanese whale hunt. the ship, is reported to be the oceanic viking, and they are also planning to use an airbus A-319 to monitor the japanese fleet.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7151187.stm
is this going to be a help to your work this year? and will there be any formal contact between the australian vessel, and particularly, its 'eye in the sky' and yourselves? particularly in view of your loss of the helicopter from the esperanza.
anyhow, its an interesting story, and hopefully a good news story. it might even be seen as a bunch of politicians actually doing in office what they promised to do before being elected!! either way, it made the main bbc news in the uk today,
good luck guys, and as the guy on that tv programme used to say, "Lets be careful out there"
Posted by: johnr | December 19, 2007 9:40 PM
Hi everybody - God speed on the waves. You are all very brave & I admire each & every one of you. As a NZer I'm so ashamed the NZ Govt hasn't the guts to send an escort vessel to give weight to their words, & to your mission. Be brave, not foolish and all will be well.
I'll raise my glass in salute to you all on Xmas day. Take care.
Posted by: Judy Yeager | December 20, 2007 6:21 AM
Irene,
Who do I talk to about Tweety? We own a company dealing in Turbine Engine Parts and are interested in trying to help.
Cheri
cheripo5@yahoo.com
Posted by: Cheri | December 20, 2007 10:48 PM
Kia kaha Esperanzans - the humpbacks have been spared (for this year) but they're not the only mammals in the ocean. Best wishes for a successful campaign.
Posted by: Lindsay Wright | December 21, 2007 9:05 PM