Thankyou Irene for what you and the crew have achieved over these last 2 weeks.. its your time to go back to your loved ones at home.. NOW its up to us the rest of the world to chip in and do our part...that being put immense pressure on the Japanese government to stop this annual slaughter of such beautiful creatures.. i will miss watching you guys in action on the webcams that was awesome Irene you did a great job with that and everything else....

Well done Esperanza, virtual beers all around!

yours, as ever
Biggles

Greenpeace is a total failure. 100% failure. Now that you all had fun playing lets "save the whales" for 3 weeks and ARE EXHAUSTED, LOL. Low on fuel, human energy, lack of REAL commitment to REALLY SAVE THE WHALES, but rich in donations "for whale saving front games." THE TRUE LACK OF LOVE FOR THE WHALES IS HORRIBLE, worst than killing whales, eating whale meat, is CLAIMING THAT YOU ON GREENPEACE BOATS ACTUALLY SAVE ANY WHALES!!! EVER!!!

SHAME ON GREENPEACE. SHAME ON GREENPEACE PHOTO/VIDEO FUNDRAISING SCHEMES. NO, NOT ONE WHALE WAS SAVE BY GREENPEACE THIS YEAR! OH, I KNOW 3 WEEKS TYING TO "SAVE THE WHALES" IS HARD WORK AND YOU NEED TO RETURN TO YOUR BUSY LIVES AND PRETEND THAT YOU ALL ACTUALLY SAVED A WHALE. LIES LIES LIARS.

I WILL BOYCOTT GREENPEACE!

REPLY:
You do whatever you think is useful for saving the whales Nicholas, although to me "boycotting Greenpeace" sounds slightly counterproductive.

Not a single whale has been killed since we found the Nisshin Maru - that means quite a few whales saved, and yes, I am proud of that.

I will never question the commitment of my fellow crewmembers. Take your capital letters elsewhere.

/Iréne

Hi Iréne,

I'm glad to hear you're finally going back to port.
The reason why Japan didn't whale while you were there is obvious : They didn't want you to do your dangerous and stupid stunts in front of their ships and they didn't want you to use footage of their activities for your misleading propaganda.

By the way, you've been announcing that you were conducting non-lethal research while in the Antarctic, but you certainly didn't spend much time on that fake research. This again was just propaganda.

The fact is that Greenpeace doesn't even have a good ecological reason to oppose whaling. The main reason of you're coming down there was just to draw attention on you and raise funds as proved by the adds you had on the websites of Australian newspapers. You also had very successfull merchandising stuff thanks to your "name a whale" campaign and "Mr. Splashy Pants".

In fact, this season was marked by the apparition of a new competitor for you in Sea Shepherd. It was all about who will draw more attention from the media.
Maybe it's time for Greenpeace to forget this non-issue of whaling and consider more important issue. Whaling can be sustainable if the moratorium is lifted and the management procedures adopted by the IWC put into force.

As for Canon's CEO, Mr. Mitarai, he already replied you and said he wouldn't take position on whaling.

To finish, here's a documentary on the IWC I found today. It is quite interesting. Too bad Greenpeace refused to be interviewed.

Anyway, I'll have some whale meat to celebrate your leaving the Southern Ocean.

Fare well!

REPLY:

Easy there Isanatori. Your statements look like a cut and paste job from one of the ICR pressreleases, no surprise. I will not apologise for us raising funds: we are a global environmental organisation, with no support from any governments or companies. And we work on many issues, whaling is one of them.

We ask Mr. Mitarai to re-consider his statement, that is all, but I am sure he appreciates your support.

/Iréne

what a privelege to have been there and the world got to know again and again what these bastards on the nisshin maru are up to
what has blown me away is the reaction of the people from within japan
great work and lets keep on fighting
irene your update everyday has kept every one so informed and part of it
yes i am part of the greenpeace international family in amsterdam
but looking on the website everyday has made it so much more involved
so thank you all and your crew
do i cry you bet
but knowing that greenpeace and the sea shepard have done as much as they could and stopped and hurt the whaling
feels good
so for now

kia kaha have a safe trip home

patricia kouwenberg

Hey Greenpeace,
this is the biggest shame you have ever afforded.
This will cost you many, many of your fans: leaving the whales alone with those poachers and keeping the coordinates a secret from the other whale protectors down there. You aren't protecting the whales, you are protecting the poachers!
You are the only environmentalist group in the world regarding other groups as bloody rivals.
You are not worth the donations of the whales' friends.
Shame on you.

sad to see you leave but what grate work you have done to slow them down.

would you not return back after a refuel?

Now Greenpeace is no longer preventing the whaling it's time to give Sea Shepherd the last co-ordinates so they can take over. Anything less than this is abandoning the whales to their fate.

Hello

Are you going to refuel and continue your efforts or is that it for the Esperanza for this whaling season

well yes it is sad,that you have to leave the Nisshin Maru, it breaks my heart actually, with the Esperanza there the whales were safe!. But you guys have done a great work down there, and im proud of gp, the ship and the crew on board. Who deserves to go home someday.
Well done!! and now let's keep fighting from land.
i send a bunch of kisses and hugs to everyone on board.
xxx from Barcelona
Valeria

Irene and everyone, you did what most have not. You cannot return after you refuel? Or will it be over by then? Well hopefully the SS will get there and stop it because you know once you are out of sight they will start the killing again. Take care and thank you for everything. Oh one last question-Do you ever thing the Esperanza would dock in the US? I would love to see it.

Here's an interesting piece from the Japan Times online http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20080126b2.html

Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008

N.Z. bristles as whalers near waters
WELLINGTON (AP) Japan's whaling fleet was heading toward New Zealand-controlled waters in Antarctica in breach of an agreement that it would remain in Australian waters during this year's whale hunt, a minister said Friday.

Steve Chadwick, New Zealand's conservation minister, said the Japanese fleet was photographed by a Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion airplane during a routine surveillance flight to spot poachers.

What agreement is this, will Japan admit it was whaling in Australian Territorial waters,and will Australia take appropriate action to evict them? What will NZ do?

So you'll radio the location of the whaling fleet to the Steve Irwin, right?

Will you give Sea Shepherd the coordinates now?????

Why not radio that if the fleet does not suspend operations and return to Japan that you're going to let the Steve Irwin in on their exact coordinates. I know it sounds like the SSCS already knows the position, but who can tell, right?

Congratulations to you all for your successful efforts to disrupt the Japanese whaling fleet. I have followed your progress with great interest over the last couple of months and have great respect considering what must have been a draining period, but with a rather predictable outcome.

Oceanic Viking or not, the whaling fleet are now free to carry on slaughtering whales and have (as you feared) simply led you on a wild goose chase across the bottom of the world.

I completely understand your stance against the Sea Shepherd lot, however, perhaps you will now realise this is not a battle you can win alone.

The simple fact of not having enough fuel to go the distance is what's known in England as a 'school boy error'. Whether you choose to work together or play the Japanese at their own game and arrange a vessel to help you refuel, Greenpeace cannot ignore the fact that you are heading for home with the job NOT DONE.

You are a massive organisation with highly influential support and so I politely suggest that, for next years hunt at the very least, you ensure that your peaceful protest can make bigger waves.

Regardless of my humble opinion, I wish you all a safe journey back to port. Tactics aside, you have without doubt drawn much needed attetion to this most unnecessary and illegal killing.

Safe trip home to everybody and if you get bored... check out harpooned to get a sense of what it is to be a real japanese scientist...

;)

Cheerz

Tom

Hi Irene, and crew...,
...and I think we all who care so deeply as you, very much share your thoughts and feelings. It gets kind of personal in here after a while. It's always the same for the Esperanza crew's, ...when they realize that at some point they will have to leave, and the whaling will continue. I wish this world were a place that injustice and change could happen in an instant, ...and it should, ...but it doesn't.

There were many things accomplished this time out, ...adding to, and reinforcing what years of effort have achieved. More voices in Japan are speaking out, more countries appealing to Japan to stop this, Australia getting actively involved, ...bringing your Love to the hearts of children that chain themselves up in Loving protest. Indeed, you all have brought much to this world. As you stand there on the deck of the Esperanza on your way home to your Loved ones, your good captain steers you to the course of a new and brighter horizon. On January 26th, in the year 2008, you have at this point, more united a world against the killing of whales, as has ever before occurred in our entire human history. No matter if you are cook or captain, ...on the Esperanza, or in Amsterdam, it never would have happened without you personally 'being there', ...and I congratulate you all in equality.

Most of all, I thank you for believing in, and standing strong with this Love you feel inside you, not expressing yourselves in anger or violence, and with the humility of knowing we are all only mere mortals in learning, and trying to understand. Thank you for Loving both the whales and the whalers, ...showing kindness and compassion for the crew of the Steve Irwin, and the Japanese people, ...and especially for having the patience to care for even those that would try to hurt you, and those that would break your heart. I think as the whales, we have all gained very much here.

Hey, ive been watching with both interest and anticipation for the last couple of weeks. I’m a supporter of both Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd. I’d like to thank and congratulate all the crew of the Esperanza for their immense effort ant commitment towards saving the lives of innocent whales.
Good look to Greenpeace on your political efforts against whaling
And good look to Sea Shepherd for the remainder of their ‘Operation Migaloo’

According to Jonah Fisher your heading back to port in Australia. The Esperenza, will surely refuel and head off on another mission... probably somewhere warmer, but why not refuel and head back south, the japanese will surely start whaling again, out of sight of the Oceanaic Viking and the Steve Erwin, surely no other campaign is more important than this? Was the Esperenza not purchased only because it was fast enough to chase the whalers? If the crew is tired there are hundreds who would step up in there place. I along with many other GP supporters belive that right now this is the most important thing Greenpeace can do with our money. Please do not give up now.

You did a good job in the fine tradition of nonviolent direct action.
well done

Hey Irene, I was just wondering if that many emails to Canon might bounce... perhaps there are some other email addresses to also send the letter to? such as some other exec.'s in Canon?
Nice one on the action, such an awesome response!

And have a safe journey home Espie!

If you have to leave, doesn't it seem like a good time to tell the Sea Shepherd where the whalers are, so that they can harass them in your absence?

Too strong to blame.
Please be so gentle to send the last
coordinates of the anti-whalesfleet
towards the Sea Shepherd Steve Irwin.
Thanx in advance. Love from Holland.

Have a good trip back guys ! lts been an unprecedented year of focus on the issue , you've done a fantastic job .

Is that it? Or are you coming back?

Hi Irene

why is there no possibility to refuel? You have done it before. The killing is about to begin now with screams echoing underwater....can you please let us know why refuelling cannot take place. Is it financial?

Why have Greenpeace stopped posting comments? Os iot because most people are asking you to share the last co-ordinates you have with Sea Shepherd? You can no longer claim you are stopping the whalers so let someone else stop them. Don't abandon the whales because of pathetic politics dictated by accountants at head office. The creqw of Esperanza know it's wrong not to share information. Now it's time to stand up and be counted and ignore your corporate bosses at headquarters and tell the wold where you last saw the fleet so that Sea Shepherd can start on the trail of the Nisshin Maru.

Whales may be dying this second!

REPLY:

Here is your comment posted - "Greenpeace stopped posting comments" when I took a day off yesterday. As for the collaboration, it was well explained by Sara last year./ Iréne

Capt. Frank, Irene and all,
Well, you seem to have made a good go at it. Yeah, it would have been nice to see you put the Espy in between the two during refueling, or maybe teaming up with the S. Irwin to do some crazy ramming maneuver - I won't lie. But what people seem to miss is the fact that of all the registered tonnage and all the people out there in the world capable of getting on a ship it the Esperanza the Steve Irwin and the 70 plus of you who got out there to do what you felt was right for the whales. Who cares whose tactics are better or work, the fact that you guys are there while the other 5 billion of us sit at home is a testament to you all.
How come you guys won't refuel and return to the whalign fleet - after all, you know where they are?

I find it extremely puzzling that Greenpeace (the Esperanza) have no intention of travelling back to the Southern Ocean after refuelling in Hobart. There is still two whole months for the Japanese whaling fleet to slaughter whales. Greenpeace have the resources, and it would really throw a spanner in the works of the whaling fleet to go back and harass the whalers just as Sea Shepherd need to refuel. You could drop tired crew members off in Hobart and pick up new people when you refuelled.

Sea Shepherd have criticised you for using whaling as a huge fund raising exercise. I know that Greenpeace cross-subsidize many worthwhile campaigns, but I would still like Greenpeace to maximise their nonviolent direct action opposition to whaling. It is effective, not only in reducing the number of whales killed but in raising the pressure back in Japan through publicity.

Just at the point where the overall anti-whaling campaign has momentum you decide its not worth while to send the Esperanza back into the midst of the action after refuelling.

If you sail away now without returning this season, you justify the Sea Shepherd criticism on the cycnical use of the whaling issue for fund raising. What you do in raising publicity on environmental, whaling, climate and anti-war issues, you often do well. It just seems that calling an end to your whaling disruption season with this refuelling is sailing away right in the middle of an important campaign.

Sorry for being so cynical Greenpeace. I know you are probably all tired and looking forward to reaching Port again. I have enjoyed reading the blog and passed news of your campaign on to others. My sincere thanks for all the contributions of the crew of the Esperanza, and Greenpeace, in the campaign to stop whaling and keeping all of us land-bound activists informed.

- Takver

Well done, Esperanza crew, and while I'm sad for the whales that you have to leave the whaling grounds, it is time for others to take up the cause. If the Oceanic Viking can shadow the Nisshin Maru for another week or two, then that would be wonderful. Think it is time for other governments that verbally oppose whaling to show some backbone. Time to pressure Japanese government by whatever methods possible. Wonder where Sea Shepherd is right now - will crew take over in your place?
Thank you and safe voyage home.

So you'll be refueling and coming back, right? Because the slaughter will continue for several more weeks.

Thank you Irene and all of the crew for your hard work on behalf of those of us who cannot make it to the Southern Ocean ourselves. It must be really tough for you all to leave, but remember that you have inspired me and no doubt many many others to take our own action to stop whaling.

thanks again,
Katie

Thanks for the great work.

However I am puzzled by the comment about "no possibility (of refueling)".

The hunt will go on until early March.

I don't understand. Please help me with my dilemna.

All the best.

OPEN LETTER TO THE CAPTAIN AND CREW OF THE ESPERANZA, Subject: ReFueling

Irene on ESPERANZA wrote: "I have gotten many questions about refuelling, and the kindest offers to help raise funds for this purpose. We have no possibility to refuel unfortunately."

Do you have any intention of answering any of those "many Questions about re-fueling," and specifically about why there is "no possibility to refuel"?

Was there ever any intention to even consider re-fueling, or does the ESPERANZA have a prior engagement someplace else away from the Southern Ocean and Japan's WhaleKill 2007-08?

Was re-fueling ever considered a possibility BEFORE the ESPERANZA headed to WhaleKill 2007-08?

Will re-fueling be considered as a possible option when Greenpeace shows up for WhaleKill 2008-09 next December?

There is much, much more to this story than the ESPERANZA Blog or GP Headquarters is sharing with those people who gave you money to Stop The Whaling and to Stop The Killing.

My guess is that the Web Blog will now shut down as you people consider your job to be finished. That's a Serious Pity, because WhaleKill 2007-08 is just now going to begin. And Greenpeace is nowhere to to be found.

I wonder how many people will remember that the next time they get a HELP GREENPEACE STOP JAPANESE WHALING Plea in the mail.

JG Moebus
S/V WayFinder
Half Moon Bay, CA USA
sv_wayfinder@yahoo.com

You have lost a volunteer and benefactor by your inaction GreenPeaxe. Good Bye.

I'm very disappointed.

Are you hearing all of these comments? People who support you want to know what you will do to finish the job of protecting the whales this season. How can you just leave and not come back to finish the job? If you cannot come back, and I do not understand why not, please give Sea Shepherd the coordinates. The whales are more important than any person's ego.
Thank you.

Bill - by the time we get back to land, refuel, sail back and try and find the fleet again, a whole month would have gone by - it means a massive roundtrip of thousands of miles.

Instead, we're going to concentrate on taking down the ICR and FAJ from inside Japan. This is taking time, but it's the one sure way we can stop the fleet actually leaving Japan at all.

Thanks and congratulations to the workers for any on land victories scored and any success at sea.Overshadowing this and probably for some time is how simple and right is it to tell the world that corporate social crawling comes second to responsibilities to our environment and other concerned groups helping to save the world.If your country's activities are out of bounds with obvious environmental concerns you must be informed that we are obliged in the responibility of effort and world participation to co-ordinate activities and forward and share information.
To tell anyone that they have no right being down there would have to be the most cruelest ,overbearing, self righteous crap i've heard in any such situation.It is ringing in peoples ears.
Fly with the crows and you get shot with the crows.
Bless your mostly well hearts for everything else.

Dave, a month of roundtrip time seems reasonable -- isn't the slaughter supposed to continue until April?

Sea Shepherd has already declared their intention to refuel and head back out.

REPLY:
Thas is assuming that we find the fleet back instantly, which we have no guarantee of doing. It is a big sea, and they don't wait for us.
/Iréne

Poor Isanatori will have nowhere to whinge soon unless David pulls his finger out. Obviously pro-whalers have NO IDEA about cetacean research. Unlike the JARPA II program, which requires the word "RESEARCH" to be emblazoned on her sides (and in English), other researchers can accomplish non-lethal research quietly and effectively, such as what Leandra and crew have been doing on this trip. Check out this year's IWC SC papers and judge which research is fake Insanetori, but before then why not celebrate with some Dall's porpoise or Baird's beaked whale? The mercury dose would do us all a favour.

I guess Leandra was left behind on an inflatable continuing her "research" while the Esperanza was running after the NM, then...

It's also surprising to see that Greenpeace waited until this year to conduct so called "research" in the Southern Ocean. Even more is the fact that they just consider humpback whales. How about minkes and fins?

More seriously, there is this article about the US Army's sonar training. Here's a passage :

"While Greenpeace chases the Japanese whaling fleet in the Antarctic waters to stop whaling, Bush gives the green light to our own Navy to deafen, disorient, and kill endangered cetaceans along our own coast. What damage does this cause our delegation to the International Whaling Commission when we deliberately harm the very species we tell others they cannot?"

There are more important things to do than harassing the Nisshinmaru fleet for publicity.

REPLY:

I thought you had said "farewell" Isanatori? You are of course free to change your mind.

Leandra sits right in front of me, sorting observations made during the expedition. We do not just consider humpback whales.

Thankyou for your advice, but we will continue to run the campaign to end whaling in the Southern Ocean. We will keep an eye on the developments in the US as well.

/Iréne

Dave, Japan says it considers whales to be a marine resource for harvesting. They are apparently concerned that if they were to compromise on whales, they would set a precedent which could see all marine resources put off limits entirely. They seem scared about their culture of eating marine foods.

What will Greenpeace say to alleviate the Japanese of this fear? Does Greenpeace want all marine resources put off limits?
Or does Greenpeace want the Japanese to compromise on whales and only whales? Or only whales in the southern ocean?

Perhaps if it was clear what Greenpeace would accept, then the Japanese will be more likely to compromise?

Barrett, no, the hunt would continue till around the start of March or so. We won't be back in port until sometime in the first week in February. It's a long way back to the Southern Ocean.

To give you some idea - on the way down, we left Bluff, New Zealand on December 22nd, but it was January 12th before found the whalers - 21 days later. We still have to get back to land, and that's around a 10-day journey, so you see the difficulties - that's around 30 days to get back and down and then find the whalers again.

It is a pity you have to leave. How much longer does the whaling season last? I hope it isn't much longer so they can't kill too many whales while you're away. Still, you stopped the whaling for 2 weeks - many whales were saved. Good luck on the return journey and let's all hope there will be no need to go back next year.

isanatori,

you seem like a funny sort of chap, been reading your posts from time to time.

it seems that you probably dont live in japan as you have the idea that eating whale meat is a popular choice here, i can assure you it isnt,i have lived here for 5 years and never seen it on the menu, tell a lie, i did see it in a manky little restauant in taiji with no customers once. in fact most young japanese have never eaten whale and if a silly survey by the ICR says otherwise i wouldnt trust it.

whaling is dead in the water

all a bit of a waste of our tax money dont you think?

Hi Andy...,
...and thanks, I'm grateful for your help on this issue. But you have to think, ...at last she reveals her true self to us, "I'll have some whale meat to celebrate...", ...as she runs off on all fours with a piece of flesh hanging from her mouth to some dark corner after a kill. There she sits with shifting eyes, hoping no-one will expose her in the Light.
In reality Isanitori, I'm sorry I failed you, and I mean that. Love is for everyone, and I hope you find it someday, ...GC

Hi Irene and Crew, I posted a comment on here yesterday but it is not showing, nor is it showing anywhere else. It was not offensive as i admire Greenpeace and you guys on the Espy, however it may have been a tad controversial - would that be why it hasnt been posted on the blog?

REPLY:

Hello Cath
I posted it here yesterday:
http://forum.greenpeace.org/int/showthread.php?t=4135&page=21
Cheers
Iréne

Wrong as usual Isanatori. GP has conducted research in the Southern Ocean on previous trips. If you check publications you may be enlightened. You may also learn about cetacean research. You are also assuming the research is on one species, and are again typically mistaken. A whole raft of studies can be carried out using non-lethal techniques, and on a range of species. Just because GP has only mentioned the acoustic research on humpbacks in no way means that is all that is being done, and it is naive (and in your case uneducated) to think otherwise.

Regarding LFA sonar, the US government has kindly told NGOs, leading researchers and whoever else wishes to question that when it comes to issues of national security a few whales wont stand in their way. A lot of progress has been made on this issue, and a lot more needs to be done. Many are working to make it happen.

But there seems to be a parallel here between naval vessels producing loud sounds and causing whales to strand and fishermen in Japan banging metal pipes and causing hundreds of cetaceans to seek shallow water, only to be hacked to death in front of their pod members or left to suffer on a slab of concrete until their throats are slit.

Hi Irene, Dave and all the crew,
Thanks so much for keeping us up to date on the blog and webcams over the last couple of months - it's been a really amazing way to stay up to date with the Esperanza's campaign and to feel close to the whales.
And seriously well done on the fantastic achievement of stopping the whaling for two weeks - it's great to know that you had a direct impact on whaling activity there, the effects of which I just know will contine to ripple on for a long time after the Esperanza has left the scene. Best of luck now with the on-shore campaign going forward. This is another of GP's great strengths and just as important as being out there on the seas. I for one support you all the way, I hope everyone who has supported thus far will also ensure to stay close to the campaign and continue to support you and the whales all the way. Together we WILL end this tragic waste of beautiful life, I just know it!
To be honest I am very relieved no-one was hurt (not physically anyway - some of the comments here were pretty harsh at times!) throughout the voyage and that the whales directly benefited from two weeks free of hunting. No doubt ye're all wrecked by now though and looking forward to seeing your friends and families again.
Thanks again guys for going out there in our name. It takes passion, guts and real heart to do what you have done. I really appreciate it more than you know and more than I can put in words. Safe trip home and keep up the good fight - you're great. Don't listen to anyone who says otherwise!

x

Jenni

Perhaps, just perhaps, Isanatori has his own blog

http://isanatori.blogspot.com/

Dear Esperanza Crew
First of all Kudos for your efforts and accomplishments which are laudable by every measure. However I agree with some other posts that a satisfactory explanation on the refueling issue has not been given. I would gladly contribute more money if that is the limitation. Your 2 week effort although commendable falls short of harassing the japanese fleet for the entire season as many would have expected. I am sure the whaling fleet will be eager to make up for lost time or even have taken these 2 weeks into account in their calculations.
If this is the case, the real benefit will exist in the global awareness arena but not be measured in saved whale lives, which would mean that we would be acquiescing our consciences but not really saving living organisms.

sincerely
-Gerald Pao
La Jolla, CA, USA