Running in a scientific way?
Posted by Irene onboard the Esperanza
The Nisshin Maru
©Greenpeace/Jiri Rezac
I've been watching the webcam today. Arent you too far behind from to put your bodies between the whales and the whalers? / Senninha
That is absolutely true - we have no boats in the water. And what is even better: there has been no whaling since we met the fleet. Which leads to the next comment:
What about the hunter ships?? They are the ones killing whales, not the Nisshin. What if the hunters were back where you left them, hunting and hanging out with the Oriental Bluebird...? Whales are dying still. /Aaron
The catcher boats are not around, and we haven't seen them for a couple of days. Which means they've probably stayed somewhere in the vicinity of the whaling grounds. But once you've killed a whale the meat starts to rot quickly.
It has to be hauled onto the factory ship as soon as possible, to the Nisshin Maru, to be butchered and frozen. Therefore, unless the fleet has another factory ship hidden away somewhere, no whales are dying at the moment.
But anything is possible. Should the Oriental Bluebird be with the catcher boats, they could possibly rig something to heave dead whales onboard. It is very unlikely; they have no flensing deck and no slipway, and there are no scientists onboard the Oriental Bluebird, which after all is the excuse the Japanese government uses for its hunt.
Commenter Eric writes:
Is Greenpeace chasing the Nisshin Maru out of the whaling grounds...or is the Nisshin Maru simply enabling Esperanza to use up her fuel at a faster rate so that whaling can resume sooner rather than later while whales are still concentrated in their summer feeding waters?
Yes, this speed means we use up our fuel much faster, and it is probably one of the reasons why they did a runner. Had we not raced after her however, whaling would most likely have been ongoing for the last days - there is no "sooner rather than later "- only later. And don't forget that every day she runs away is a day she has to sail back.
We are starting to think that the orders from the Japanese government this year includes something along the lines of "do not allow anybody to witness harpoons being fired this year."
Whaling is not a pretty sight, and it has been clearly stated that the Japanese government works for a return to full scale commercial whaling. In the next couple of months a special meeting of International Whaling Commissioners will take place to decide the future of the Commission and therefore the future of whales.
This race costs us a lot of fuel, but it also costs the whaling fleet a lot of time, money and dead whales, but we've already seen the kind of resources that the Japanese government is willing to put into avoiding scrutiny. They must have known that they would run into either us and/or Sea Shepherd, and made a plan for it. There are a lot of things we can't know, only guess and assume.
We will have to go at some point, we know it and they know it. But whales are currently saved by the hour.
- Iréne
Comments
Is this what we have been waiting for?
'The Federal Court today granted an injunction against whale hunting in the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary.'
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/15/2139132.htm?section=justin
It has been amazing watching the Nisshia Maru on the web cam. Is she still on your radar?
It is also incredible that you actually spend the time replying to blog entries. It is really dynamic and gives us backseat drivers an opportunity to be part of the campaign.
I think the reason you get some of those wingers blogging on your site, is the fact that you are the only ones allowing an interactive, intelligent forum.
Cheers and have a great day.
Posted by: Dwarven![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://weblog.greenpeace.org/whales/nav-commenters.gif)
|
January 15, 2008 8:29 AM
Thankyou Dwarven!
Yes, the Nisshin Maru is still on our radar and in sight, now heading back as it looks.
The injunction is good news. However these waters are not only the responsibility of Australia - the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary is recognised internationally, therefore it is the responsibility of every government to stop the annual violation of the sanctuary and end Southern Ocean whaling for good.
I hope you have a nice day as well!
- Iréne
Posted by: Irene | January 15, 2008 8:53 AM
Hi Irene,
Just thought I'd post this from the SSCS:
http://www.seashepherd.org/news/media_080115_1.html
Apparently they've located the rest of the fleet and the Oriental Bluebird is indeed with them- do you think they're indeed acting out your "possibility" that you discussed above?
Posted by: J | January 15, 2008 8:59 AM
irene, you guys are doing such a great job i am proud
yes you will have to return when fuel runs out etc
but let's not forget what you are doing now
at least the world is knowing what is happening
let this one be for the whales
patricia kouwenberg
Posted by: patricia kouwenberg | January 15, 2008 9:54 AM
Hi Irene,
An excellent job you are doing out there. You and all the crew.
Has the Nisshin Maru turned back to the whaling grounds ?
Sea Shepherd are reportedly closing on the Nishin Maru as well.. is she on your radar yet ?
What is your course and speed..?
So many questions!!
I fear it won't be long before your captain sounds "General Quarters" and you launch the boats... :-(
Posted by: Dorian | January 15, 2008 10:20 AM
As Dorian says
"I fear it won't be long before your captain sounds "General Quarters" and you launch the boats... :-("
And then it will be 'on' for young and old.
Keep the bulk of your plans under ya hat, 'cos the world is listening and watching.
Lance
Posted by: lance | January 15, 2008 11:24 AM
"On Tuesday, the mother ship was not with the other five vessels because it was fleeing from a vessel of another environment conservation group.
When the Sea Shepherd vessel came across the five-vessel fleet, the Yushin Maru No. 2 served as a decoy so that the remaining four could leave the area."
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200801160280.html
Posted by: Bryan Kilgallin | January 16, 2008 11:06 AM
Hi Irene.
Can i ask what is probably a dumb question........
A real problem seems to be the Esperanza not being able to re-fuel at sea but the factory ship can or you'd continue to be out there for as long as possible?
Could you explain to thickos like me why this is...I mean is just an horrendous cost issue to have a re-fuelling ship visit you or is the type of ship an issue too? can any of the other ships be re-fuelled at sea like Rainbow warrior?
If i win the lottery:
1) Buy Greenpeace new ship
2) dance, drink and sing
3) Go whale watching
4) Die happy (hopefully some time later!)
Posted by: george | January 16, 2008 2:41 PM
keep up the good work to all on bord we r proved of yo all i wish i was thery will you GOD BLESS
Posted by: paulpitts | January 16, 2008 3:53 PM
We know that your resources canot match those of the Japanese fishing ministry, so of course your time there is limited.
However your excellent communications with the rest of the world, showing and talking about your work, hour to hour, have brought Japan's two-faced position to the attention of many more people internationally than were aware before. Equally important is that you allowed numerous whales to live a few more days.
Keep up the good work, all of you from so many countries, on the Espy. May the whales AND YOU stay safe. Martyrs are much less effective than live activists.
Posted by: Annette | January 16, 2008 9:03 PM
If I were the Japanese WhaleKiller Fleet “decider” (to quote the Village Idiot of Crawford, Texas), I would do the following:
I’d put the two Sea Shepherd visitors back in their inflatable attack boat (after disabling or removing the engine), give them sufficient food and water for one week and an EPIRB that broadcasts their position, and put them back in the ocean from whence they came, immediately notifying Sea Shepherd (and Greenpeace) of the exact coordinates of the lifeboat at the time of release.
And then, I’d leave the area at high speed with the openly declared stated intention to resume my whaling operations. That will give Sea Shepherd a chance to decide which is more important: humans or whales. In fact, that will force Sea Shepherd to make a decision as to which is more important: Humans or Whales.
That’s what I’d do if I were the Decider.
Sincerely,
JG Moebus
S/V WayFinder
Half Moon Bay, CA USA
sv_WayFinder@yahoo.com
Posted by: S/V WayFinder | January 16, 2008 10:15 PM
thanx for doing good job for the future generation and i wonder why you people can't have the use of torpedoes to destroy this curse fleets out of that beautiful and peacefull ocean..i'm not kidding i really feel it because i love the nature as well as all of creatures in this world....
Posted by: Ar | January 17, 2008 8:01 AM
Is the new Australian government actually doing anything to prevent the whaling, or was is just big talk before the election?
Posted by: Pirjo | January 17, 2008 2:56 PM
Hi all,
Sea Shepherd reports that 2 of their members are being held hostage onboard the Japanese whaling vessel Yushin Maru No. 2. Are they anywhere near you? Is their anything we (the cyber activists) can do to maybe assist in at least getting these 2 members free again. I would hate it if something were to happen to these 2 guys. Maybe some e-mails to the Japanese Government to persuade them?
Thanks for the great job you all are doing, I am with you in heart and mind all the time.
Stay Strong,
Brightest Blessings,
Joey B (EarthSpirit)
Johannesburg - South Africa
Posted by: Joey Botes | January 17, 2008 3:36 PM