Whalers blocked from refuelling in Antarctica
Posted by Dave onboard the Esperanza
©Greenpeace/Jiri Rezac
It's been an intense morning here on the Esperanza - after eleven days preventing the Japanese whaling fleet from killing whales, this morning we blocked the Nisshin Maru from refuelling in Antarctic waters from the dodgy Panamanian-registered vessel Oriental Bluebird.
As part of a dramatic non-violent protest against the whaling fleet's activities in the Southern Ocean, Jetske and Heath placed their inflatable boat between the factory ship and refueling vessel, as the massive two ships tried to come alongside to refuel. However, despite radio calls explaining our protest and plan, the vessels continued to close in on each other - and after half an hour, the inflable was forced out, with Jetske nearly getting caught by a cable. Only then did the refuelling begin.
Beforehand, Sakyo , Mir and Karli radioed the Oriental Bluebird, in Japanese, Spanish and English, with a statement:
©Greenpeace/Jiri Rezac
©Greenpeace/Jiri Rezac
The Panamian-registered Oriental Bluebird also lacks this documentation, which is designed to ensure protection of the Antarctic environment. Mir (and the rest of us) wonder what the Panamian government thinks about this - after all, it takes a position in defence of whales, at the International Whaling Commission and elsewhere. However, it's now taking part the whale hunt in the Antarctic whale sanctuary by allowing the Oriental Bluebird to illegally join the Japanese whaling fleet under the Panamanian flag. Panama needs to deflag the Oriental Bluebird, or order it stop supporting the walers.
In other good news, no whales have been killed in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary since the Esperanza came across the whaling fleet on January 12th - that's 11 days, come this evening Yesterday, as Irene posted, administrative vice-minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Toru Shirasu said "It is very difficult to resume hunting when there is a ship that may interfere with our activity". That's nice to know, Mr Shirasu.
- Dave
[1]. The Antarctic Treaty entered into force in 1961 and applies to the entire area South of 60 degrees. In 1998, the Treaty was supplemented by the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (called the Madrid Protocol), Article 2 of which reads that, "the Parties commit themselves to the comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems …". The global community's recognition of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean as a global commons and areas of particular value are supplemented by MARPOL 73/78, the International Agreement that was negotiated to prevent pollution from ships at sea. MARPOL73/78 recognises Antarctica as a 'special area'. This is recognition of its particular vulnerability to any kind of pollution from seaborne traffic - both immediate and cumulative.
Comments
They did their best in the inflatable. Forced out but not defeated! Keep it up!!!
Posted by: Likethewaves3 | January 22, 2008 5:55 AM
They did their best in the inflatable. Forced out but not defeated! Keep it up!!!
Posted by: Likethewaves3 | January 22, 2008 5:56 AM
Well done Jetske and Heath in an obviously dangerous situation. You could only do what your leadership would allow you to do. The Cetacean Auschwitz is now refueled, ready to butcher more of our beautiful whales. What a pity the Greenpeace leadership still stubbornly refuse to share information with Sea Shepherd. The Steve Irwin crew would certainly have stopped the refueling from occurring and therefore more whales from being slaughtered.
Posted by: JimD | January 22, 2008 6:25 AM
Your headline is a little misleading, isn't it? Shouldn't it read 'delayed' instead of 'blocked'?
[Not really - we wrote this when it was happening - and by blocking the ships, we delayed them - Dave]
Posted by: bigbamboo | January 22, 2008 6:36 AM
The Japanese Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) has released footage and photos of Greenpeace's stunts.
After watching them, all I can say is that what you (Greenpeace) did is very dangerous and irresponsible. You know the danger of such actions. If ever an accident occurs during one of those stunts, you will be responsible for it because you put your inflatable there purposedly, knowing the danger.
In fact, you know all this too well. The only reason you did it is not really to "block" the OBB from refuelling the NM, but to get media coverage and spread the same misleading stuff again and again.
Posted by: isanatori | January 22, 2008 7:14 AM
So, for all that, the Re-Fueling DID occur, isn't that right, Dave?
So, besides the photo-op, exactly WHAT was actually accomplished?
Was the re-fueling accomplished? Did the Nisshin Maru get tanked up?
If Jetske and Heath had stayed there and refused to leave even to the point of getting the inflatable crushed and them then thrown in the water and very possibly if not probably killed (all the while bing photographed by the media chase inflatable), would MORE have been accomplished?
Is Greenpeace going to attempt to re-fuel the ESPERANZA, per the suggestion posted to the Blog, the Forum, and letters to GP-HQ?
If they did, and the Japanese tried to block the re-fueling the way GP tried to block the WhaleKill FatherShip's re-fueling, would GP claim foul?
Was any prosecutable maritime law violated in those photographs?
JG Moebus
S/V WayFinder
HMB CA USA
sv_wayfinder@yahoo.com
Posted by: S/V WayFinder | January 22, 2008 7:23 AM
I'm so glad to hear that the Esperanza was following them and then delayed them. I'm so happy. I want whales not to be killed by that kind of people any more!!
Posted by: Eileen | January 22, 2008 7:55 AM
In 1995 I had the very great pleasure of spending time with the crew of the MC Greenpeace following their campaign in Antartica. I urge you to reconsider your stance in not co-operating with the Sea Sheperds...the line between what does and does not constitute non violent direct action is very fine especially in light of your latest (fantastic) efforts. The media are using this to discredit the work you are doing....please join forces and make this the most memorable campaign ever. For the first time in my many years of campaigning people are talking about this issue at work and at the pub! Remember the core greenpeace philosophy of "bearing witness" and ask yourself if opposing the SS is really the right thing to do. Peace x
Posted by: lebo | January 22, 2008 8:14 AM
Wonder what would have happened if you'd have put the Esperanza betwen the 2 ships rather than an inflatable. I doubt they'd tried to crush some serious Soviet Engineered tonage. Keep up the good work though delay as much as you can!
Is the Australian vessel going to help kick the Bluebird out of their waters?
Posted by: Stokey | January 22, 2008 8:47 AM
Guess you could try a bit of humour and stick your ship next to the refueler and ask the japanese to "fill her up". Not sure what teh reaction would be but it might make them run to see your ship pull alongside. (I've seen Sara and I certainly wouldn't mess ;) )
Posted by: Stokey(2!) | January 22, 2008 8:52 AM
Awesome stuff Jetske and Heath... but please take care guys... you mean the world to us and the whales....
Posted by: Steve | January 22, 2008 8:54 AM
Oh mi'gawd! talk about hypocrisy! your little inflatable could have popped between the two big boats and been smooshed! what about violence against your own crew!?! At least sea shepherd would never jeopardized lives like that!
Get off your "non-violent" high horse!
aghast!
[This is funny, we get criticisd for both taking more risks and less risks than other NGOs. No one forced Jetske and Heath into the situation - they volunteered. We're appealing to human nature the same way as we do when we defend the whales from the harpooner - "you'd shoot a whale but would you shoot a human?" - Dave
Posted by: ppphhhhhhh! | January 22, 2008 9:45 AM
isanatori what the ICR in itself is doing is irresponsible ,illegal and unjust what Greenpeace is doing is showing the world such irresponsible unlawful acts...why is it that ICR thinks it has the right to simply ignore Australian laws in regard to whaling in our waters?
there is MUCH more to come of this ..disregard for Australian Laws
Posted by: Steve | January 22, 2008 10:27 AM
As long as the fenders are larger in diameter than your inflatable's width, this is not a stunt but coasting around.
But what about mounting two massive, pointed steel tubes or H-beams of 3 meters in length across the inflatable, at bow and stern? Then manoevre it alongside between the fenders and let the Japanese pierce themselves.
No kidding - you hadn't really wanted to prevent them from refueling. If you had, you would have pushed your 2000 BRT between them, right?
[Matthew, if we did something like piercing a fuel tanker (which we wouldn't), then we'd be potentially pouring fuel all over the Southern Ocean - which is exactly what we don't want!- D]
Posted by: Matthew | January 22, 2008 11:02 AM
Wow - Jetske, Heath - you are legends! Well done on your bravery and courage, and thanks so much for what you (and all the crew) are doing. Keep it up.. but please take care o yourselves. We need ye all in one piece lads!!
Thinking of you out there...
Stay safe
x
Jenni
Posted by: Jenni | January 22, 2008 2:33 PM
Good work again Jetske!!!
Dutch boaters are proud of you (at least I am)
Posted by: Koert | January 22, 2008 8:18 PM
Keep up the good job you are doing down there. It did look dangerous on the video, take care.
Posted by: Magnus | January 22, 2008 9:07 PM
Are many of the bloggers here actually on board the Steve Irwin?? or is it Capt P Watson himself?? Can't believe the amount of negative comments posted when most are regarding the sharing of information with SS. I think the position of GP has been made crystal clear, now lets get on with the job in hand.
SS are clearly miffed by the fact that they are in empty waters with nothing to do but admire the horizon and the webpage has gone all quiet!
The Crew of GP Esperanza, we support and admire your work out there keep it up.
Posted by: Martin UK | January 22, 2008 10:34 PM
Lot's of respect!
Take care
of yourseld like you do for our oceans.
Posted by: kunvp | January 22, 2008 11:30 PM
in response to a post above, about "you have a problem shooting a whale, but not a human,".....well YES....there are a lot of humans i'd rather see shot than a whale!!! whales are beautiful, innocent beings, with intelligence that we cannot comprehend.....there are many hateful, greedy, foul humans out there that much more deserve to be in the firing line than the beautiful wales!
Posted by: thinbluelinebrat | January 23, 2008 1:03 AM
lol thinbluelinebrat sometimes i would agree with you on what you said about humans ....but alas some "wally" goes and makes silly laws saying we cant :(
Oh and was that a typo..."that much more deserve to be in the firing line than the beautiful wales!" wales??? lol oh no its Tom Jones in disguise :|
Posted by: Steve | January 23, 2008 11:01 AM
I am constantly amazed at the work being done by Greenpeace activists.
Well done, stay safe and keep up the good fight.
Thank you for all that you do.
Posted by: Danielle | January 24, 2008 4:19 AM
Dishonest headline, spectacular footage for anybody who has not ridden a motorcycle in traffic. I am not aboard the SI, I am in Victoria, Australia. I am certainly not impressed with Greenpeaces' dishonesty of not co-operating with the Sea Shepherd mob but instead using the threat of the SS's presence for your own benefit, at the SS's expense. Great use of the earths resources I think not. I have switched my financial support from Gp to the SS mob.
REPLY:
We've closed down whaling for quite some time now, which is what we came here to do. You are free to support whoever you like. Both Jetske and I ride our bikes in traffic, but I am sure you do it much better, whatever that has to do with anything. /Iréne
Posted by: alan | January 24, 2008 4:02 PM
I admire the hard work Greenpeace has done so far and I give my respect. But I do not understand why Greenpeace refuses to supply the coordinates to Sea Shepherd. I know it is the official stand of Greenpeace not to cooperate with 'violence user' but again, the line between using voilence and not using voilence is very fine. At the end of the day, it is all politics about who is more right and who is more heroic. Why can't all anti-whalers unite and act together to prevent Japanese from killing whalers? I am saddened to see that the refueling has been done and wonder what would have happened (or not happened) if Sea Shepherd was there.
REPLY:
here is a post from last year: Look in the mirror first. Cheers
Iréne
Posted by: Judi | January 25, 2008 2:31 AM
>We've closed down whaling for quite some time now, which is what we came here to do.
Now why would they suddenly take you on a trip to Africa but then turn around? Is this the usual Whalerkillers tactic against non-violent protesters?
>Both Jetske and I ride our bikes in traffic, but I am sure you do it much better, whatever that has to do with anything. /Iréne
ROFL, ahh the english is my 2nd language cheap shot, you are displaying your 'dishonesty' again with your satire/irony/parody.
REPLY:
I am confused as to what you are trying to express here, apart from the insult. English is my second language as well. /Iréne
Posted by: alan | January 25, 2008 10:51 AM