Firstly ,congratulations to Sophie and her dad for doing what they did.
Question Irene if i may?
I read today that the fleet is heading toward NZ waters im curious if the Ocean Viking will follow into KIwi waters or stay outside?? perhaps another of the ICR tactics??

Firstly id like to say how amazed and inspired i am by what the esperanza is doing, i try to do my bit but i dont have the guts to do something like that. Also congrats to Sophie, i wish i could get my parents to help me, u have a great dad!! Keep doing what u r doing,its great what u do, u have my support!

Congratulations Sophie and Martin. You've accomplished what we in the blogs should have been doing all along, ...trying to inspire the Esperanza crew, instead of sending all these poison apples every day from the galley of the Steve Irwin. You that advocate violent solutions, ...forget it, ...we're Snow White, and we're not biting.

p.s. ...as for having to go to court with criminal charges, please let me know through my website if you need assistance, either spiritually or monitarily. Anyone else in here willing to help this girl and her dad, perhaps start a fund to cover legal expenses? Greenpeace UK, ...anything you can do for her? I think we should seize the moment and the attention is is bringing to our cause.

Last night it was reported on our news that the whaling fleet had passed into our (NZ) waters. It appears to be a ploy on the part of the whalers to get rid of the Aussie ship the Ocean Viking, I hope it does not work.
If our government does not send a ship down there I will be joining Sophie and Martin and start protesting. Kiwis hate whaling so I know there will be a great many voices raised if Helen Clark does not do something!

Keep up the good work, my thoughts and best wishes are with you all.
Sallie

Congrats on Canon campaign. I'm sure it will sink in eventually that whaling can only harm Japan's already moribund economy.

Beautiful view of the cloudbanks from the webcam.

here, here, good work!

Speaking of the Ocean Viking, is that her on the horizon of Wing Cam?

Steve,

Some territorial claims overlap.

If that is the case in the relevant waters, it may provide a convient opportunity.

REPLY:

Thank you Biggles! If you spot a ship it is the Oceanic Viking or the Nisshin Maru, so yes, that might be her! Take care /Iréne

Refueling of the Whaling Ship Stopped...for about 30 minutes.

Greenpeace is a despicable lot of spin doctors. If they really wanted the whales protected, they would coordinate with the Sea Shepherd.

Greenpeace claims that whales have not been killed since they started "chasing" the whalers but this is unsubstantiated. And if it is true, I find it hard to believe it is a result of Greenpeace's ridiculous showboating of this important issue.

REPLY:

We've stopped whaling for more than 2 weeks, by chasing the Nisshin Maru. Regarding the collaboration, it's been discussed on numerous occasions, check this blog post from last year. If you want to discuss our tactics further I suggest you do so . /Iréne

Ok, is it just me or is there something wrong with this picture? A 14 year old girl & her father non-violently protest their concern for Whales being inhumanly killed in a nature sanctuary(whether a designated one or not). And get arrested! Japanese cruelly kill whales, refuel within the sanctuary area, claim they are doing research(packaged whale meat), hose activists because they have nothing to hide,and NOTHING IS DONE???? Any arrests, court dates, or even fines for the whalers????
You rock Sophie! Way to go Esperanza crew!

REPLY:
Thank you Naturegal, it is an absurd world we live in, isn't it! Let's not forget that the "scientific whaling" is promoted by only a few in Japan. /Iréne

Tonight I was looking at some pictures (thank you Jiri) of them loading the whale meat on the ship and started crying because all I could think of is the whales that were killed. I feel guilty because all I have done is sign petitions and that is it. Not saying it isn't worth it-I am just a person who wants to do more. I have signed everything I could. All I really want to do is stop this so much. I am actually now looking into volunteering for Greenpeace. My kids are think I am nuts. There just has to be more that can be done that isn't "violent" per se? I want to be in the inflatable and on the ship.

Irene,
Thank you for the clarification, I did not mean all of the Japanese only the whalers and the people to who employ them and benefit.

the very thought of these majestic animals being slaughtered because of what the Japanese believe in is morslly reprehensible.

i also wish to state that the killing of whales is also destroying a multimillion dollar industry.good on you sophie nad your dad. i am very proud of you.

Please refuel and go back -- there's still plenty of time to interfere with the killing.

Wow interesting story about Sofie. Well done Sofie, big congrats from me and the crew here onboard the Rainbow Warrior.

Cheers,
Slade

as a photographer,i've used canon for 20 years professionally.their endless nature marketing on the back of nat geo was always interesting to read.
now they must act on their marketing and fulfill their obligations by demonstration both in japan and abroad.
if not,then i feel compelled enough to change to nikon.i know camera sales is about 2% of canon camera revenues,this will surely make them listen.hey,when i first started shooting canon was the underdog and nikon was like microsoft.success breeds irony.