It is the bravery and skill of crew members like you that make Greenpeace so effective in face to face situations. I am sure you won the grudging respect of the crews of those giant ships. Well done, and good luck with future actions.
John

So where did a girrrl ever learn to handle a boat like that, ...eh guys? Geez, I'd thought I've seen some rough times. Remind me never to get into a boat race with you.
Humor aside, I'm so glad you are part of the crew with these fantastic skills of yours. You're just awesome Jetske, ...and where were you 40 years ago when I was looking for someone just like you?
Please be careful out there in that icey ocean girl, and lot of responsibility on your shoulders...

Thanks for the lowdown Jetske. Thanks for your guts and determination on behalf of so many others. You guys have done an amazing job.

Too bad it didn't prevent the poachers from actually refuelling and thus making them able to stay longer in the Antartic then Greenpeace or Seashepherd

REPLY:
True /Iréne

You did what you had to do Jetske and you followed your heart and instinct.. well done both of you ,you and Heath showed enormous courage in a situation that would have scared the pants off most people.... we applaud you both

A statement worth repeating!
"I would like to ask the Japanese government to carefully think why those activists need to risk their lives to address their opposition to whaling."

High praise to that discerning young
student.

Keep up the good work, you are the only hope for the whales. It is good to see there are protests against the whale killing happening in Japan now!! Be safe, best wishes,
Sallie.

Again: great job Jetske. A little bit scary to see, indeed, but considering your driving skills not much of a problem :)
Have a safe and successful stay down there in the southern ocean.

guys, you do a fantastic job out there!!! keep on rockin´!!
all the best wishes from germany

Excellent work Jetske although your skills and bravery could be used more effectively on Sea Shepherd's Steve Irwin rather than the bureaucratically bound Greenpeace. Then again, Greenpeace might come to their senses and then we would have two really effective organisations working together to bring an end to whaling. Lets hope.

Japanese Professor Questions the Existence of
Isantori,

This is an article from the Sea Shepherd's page. Can you explain this interview? How do you justify the stockpiles of whale meat when people are starving? How can you or your government condone the killing if there is not a demand for it and how can you use the "culture" as an excuse anymore?

Whaling Culture in Japan

Commentary from Professor Jun Morikawa of Rakuno University

Rakuno University Professor Jun Morikawa says that contrary to the claim by the government of Japan, whale meat is not an important part of Japanese culture and there never was a widespread tradition of eating whale meat prior to the end of World War II.

Morikawa is currently in a research fellowship at the University of Adelaide in New Zealand.

The World Today ran the following interview with Prof Morikawa on Tuesday, July 19, 2005. Morikawa was interviewed by reporter Eleanor Hall. http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JUN MORIKAWA: I think many people, I think basically they don't care about it. I mean, the younger generation particularly, they are more environmentally conscious and they do not want to see the whales being killed and be eaten.

ELEANOR HALL: Do the young Japanese people eat whale?

JUN MORIKAWA: I don't think so. They don't want to eat, they love to do instead, whale watching.

ELEANOR HALL: And yet, the Japanese Government says it's appealing on a national interests basis with its whaling policy saying it's protecting a Japanese culinary tradition.

JUN MORIKAWA: Yeah, that's kind of misleading too, because the majority of the towns, cities and people are nothing to do with doing whaling activities. And well, just like after WWII, it's a very difficult time, that period of reconstruction. At that time the Government thought we need something kind of proteins and to feed the people and so they kind of launched. sent ships to Antarctica.

ELEANOR HALL: So you're saying that it arose out of a crisis in food rather than as a delicacy?

JUN MORIKAWA: Yeah, yeah.

ELEANOR HALL: So you're saying there's no long-standing tradition?

JUN MORIKAWA: I agree that there was a kind of whale-meat eating culture, but pretty much localised. It cannot be said it's a national culture.

ELEANOR HALL: So if it's not public pressure, why is the Japanese Government so keen to promote whaling?

JUN MORIKAWA: There was a kind of power structure that existed. They, you know, it's the kind of whaling industry and those who. the politicians who are involved in these fishing industries, the whaling industry and fishing industry, try to pressurise the Government to protect their existing interest.

So there is a kind of gap between people in general - they're not very much interested in keeping whaling - and on the other hand there are very few group of people. forces that the main thing is whaling. So there is a kind of. what I term is a kind of manufacturing of national consensus.

ELEANOR HALL: So you're essentially saying that the Japanese Government is captive to the whaling industry. Why would it. I mean, this is a democratically elected government?

JUN MORIKAWA: Well, the fishing industry itself is having a very difficult time and so they need a kind of political power to maintain development. I mean sustain their strength so that they very much rely up on the LDP, Liberal Democratic Party. So politicians need a kind of. at the time of election they need a vote and a political donation.

What happened to the wing cam? it moved. I was watching the ship. Help move it back please : )

The ICR and the Japanese Fisheries Agency are always saying they are all for safety, yet hosing your inflatable in this situation made critical visibility difficult, and hand signals invisible. Just more absurd hypocrisy from the japanese.

Bureaucratically bound Greenpeace, or authoritarian, hierarchical, personality-cult Sea Shepherd... tough choice, isn't it?

You need more ships to follow the murderous harpoon ships, and stop the needless butchery of our fellow ocean dwelling species, please give the coordinates to the world so we can help you in preventing the total extinction of our loved whales.

Your claim of preventing the whaling ship from being refueled is a LIE.

Greenpeace has excellent PR and marketing power, but with 30-40 million dollars coming in annually, Greenpeace gets less done on the high seas than the single ship of the Sea Shepherd. But, hey, you take some great pictures and keep the money rolling in don't you. Hypocrites. Wizards of the Eco-Fortune.

REPLY:
We have done exactly what we came here to do - we have shut down the whaling operation. And yes - we have footage of it too! /Iréne

Someone's gotta do it. Have to keep the media interest up too.
Jetske by name, Jetske by nature. Keep up the good work 'gal'.
Although a long way away from you in the middle of Australia where the current temp outside is 42 in the shade, I couldn't feel closer. Our thoughts are with you always. "Save The Gay Whales"

Amazing and a good example of nonviolent direct action. It slowed them down and forced a reaction. Keep up the pressure

I do not support harpooning of whales... but who determines what is right and what is wrong for our planet and WHEN IS GREENPEACE GOING TO CONTROL THE BEEF INDUSTRY? an industry responsible for food and oil price increases, huge deforestation projects and other industries that indirectly support wild life destruction. Whales rate very low on the list of problems that affect our lives.

Nice Try Michael Warner.. your after the 25 grand seashepherd are offering for the coordinates lol

Nicely done.. if a little ineffective. 30 minutes delay is nothing really... but at least you got some good PR out of it.

Steve Irwin was overflown by a NZ P3 Orion - coordinates can be seen on Google Earth here: http://teamyankee.110mb.com/2008/01/24/spy-ships-and-spy-planes-what-next/

REPLY:
Yes, but the whaling factory ship is here, rigth in front of us. And there has been no whaling since we found her two weeks ago. /Iréne

Hi there, down south,
you courageous people. Would you please explain the location of the Wing webcam? It has changed yesterday from Port to Board with the directon ahead, I guess. Is the changing because one should not make conclusions ref. the coordinats (landscape...)? Thank you for your answer in advance and best wishes and good luck for all of you!
Martin

REPLY:
Hello Martin, and thanks! No, I just changed the position so that you could see the Nisshin Maru. Cheers Iréne

Keep up the good work guys - good on you from Perth, Australia! Stop those murdering b.......'s!

It's important to fight, then fight again, and again, and again. Then, you just have to keep fighting. Good job, we congratulate you!

Hi Jetske! Extremely impressive and more than a little scary just watching... My best wishes to you and all the crew, Simon C (remember?).

Keep up the good work. The danger involved really shows up in Video. The Japanese take a lot of video. http://www.icrwhale.org/gpandsea.htm

great work Jetske and Heath keeping the world community informed on the Japanese inhumane assault on our beautiful whales, we are with you, take care, sending love to those wonderful whales.

Stuff.co.nz is reporting the whaling fleet is heading for the Ross Sea, which is NZ territory. So, the ICR is thinking strategically and taking the Australian factor out of it. NZ, compared to Australia, is impotent to contest whaling. What will Oceanic Viking do at the demarcation line? Let's hope the Ross Sea has too much ice for whaling, otherwise it will be like 'shooting fish in a barrel.' Esperanza, go refuel while you can, as others are following the fleet!!
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4373296a19715.html

The Steve Irwin would have put their boat in the middle so there would not have been any refueling. Which means the whaling will continue. Give them the location.

Well, I agree with that other poster. You didn't stop them from doing anything, just like you do year in and year out. The Japanese have reached their quota how many times in your presense? Lets see, just about every time you go down to the southern ocean. Interesting...

REPLY:
Interesting comment, seen that we've shut down the whaling operation for two weeks. /Iréne

Hello.
From Japanese in Melbourne.
I have started my part of stop Japanese whaling.
It has been so long since all world tried to stop Japanese whaling, so what I am saying sounds a too late.
But I am trying.
I hope people stop using the word "Japanese" when they are talking about anti-Japanese whaling. Hope they say Japaense whaler, Japanese whaling company, something like that. Is it too much to ask? probably yes.
I do not disagree that people call Japnese people who now choose to eat Whale meat as a barbarian. But please do not call my 68 years old mother who had no choice but ate them afte ww2 time.
For her sake, I will do my part to stop Japanese whaling.
I hope you will have a safe trip all the way.
Thank you for your great effort.

That was a Dangerous job well done. Keep up the good work and have a successful trip and return home safely.

Out of the Ocean as God"s magnificent creature.........
and then transferred as contents of a box .......just like a coffin
seeing that on your film had an enormous profound affect upon me,,,and I cannot get it out of my mind
The Japanese were complete mercenaries to our soldiers in World War 11, so really
no changes.... they continue to be so.......but now to our Whales........I pray for
Divine Justice

Iaorana to all of the ocean lovers.
Hi, Terri , you are right.
I got hard time myself, when French restarted nuclear.
Welcome to japanese whales defenders.
Sign into greenpeace and help !!
oo ki o tsukette kudasai !