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Ocean Defenders TV: Enough is Enough
2007-02-22 11:58:01
Posted by Dave The Esperanza and the whaling fleet © Greenpeace/Beltra Antarctica is the responsibility of all. Whaling in the Antarctic is a threat to all. This video says it all... Watch Ocean Defender s TV »
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Sorry Mr. Inwood, could you say that again?
2007-02-22 11:58:01
Posted by Dave and Sara, on the Esperanza Left the Nisshin Maru, and right, the Oriental Bluebird © Greenpeace/Beltra The beauty of bearing witness - one of Greenpeace's core principles - is that you can provide window onto the reality of what is right in front of you. In the last week, the difference between what we see and hear, here in the Ross Sea, and what we are "told" from land could not have been more stark. Yesterday, Sakyo spoke to the fleet's expedition leader via radio, and asked him if the fleet were starting whaling again, that he'd heard this in the media. The reply was that there was still a lot of work to be done on the ship. They have managed to start the main engine, but the winch is broken down - due to oil pressure trouble, and the factory deck of the ship is taken apart. They have told us that they want to get across the line of 60 degrees south, and head north to Japan as soon as possible.
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Slideshow: Southern Beauty
2007-02-22 11:58:01
Posted by Dave, on the Esperanza Crabeater Seal © Greenpeace/Beltra Here's a slideshow showing some of the nature and seascapes of the South ern Ocean. Some of these images, like the southern rightwhale dolphin, were shot north of the Antarctic Convergence, while others are very obviously in the depths of the Antarctic. The orca was seen within sight of the Nisshin Maru - so this should give you some idea of what may be under environmental threat in these waters.
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Listening to what whales say
2007-02-22 05:57:07
Posted by Dave, on the Esperanza Orca, or Killer Whale © Greenpeace/Beltra Earlier on this expedition, we were getting some nasty comments posted to the blog about our alleged "sightseeing". To be honest, here in the Southern Ocean, it seems that every time you glance outside a porthole, something beautiful floats, flies or swims by. But there's plenty more going on below the surface too. Where were we earlier today, the Ross Sea was 400m deep down below - and you can bet, there's plenty happening down there too. One of the advantages of being stuck here in the Ross Sea alongside the crippled Nisshin Maru is that it's given us some opportunities for research work. Yesterday, during a radio conversation with the whaling fleet, Sakyo mentioned that we had our boats in the water. The reply from the whaling fleet was, "look out for blue whales - there's some around". As blue whales are a protected species, we're assuming the fleet aren't interested in hunting them at this m...
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Icing In
2007-02-21 17:56:04
Posted by Dave, on the Esperanza Pancake ice in the Ross Sea © Greenpeace/Beltra Today, the weather conditions have been more or less the same - but we had sunshine, which warmed things up a bit on deck. The ice, however, is on the move. Where we we were yesterday is now pretty iced up. The whaling fleet drifted 18 miles southovernight, which is kind of the wrong direction, from the point of view of escaping the Ross Sea. At 2000 hours, we were 13 miles west of where were 24 hours ago... and 13 miles closer to the Antarctic continent. To our east, the huge finger of ice is looming, moving ever northward. It really is time to get out the Nisshin Maru out of here! - Dave More on sea ice » Photo and explanations of different sea ice states »

Where is the Nisshin Maru?
2007-02-20 05:54:01
Posted by Dave, on the Esperanza Over the last few days and weeks, we've been talking about mysterious places like the "Ross Sea" and the "Southern Ocean". These places are a long way from anywhere, so it's not surprising that many people don't have a great understanding of Antarctic geography. The lovely Elaine, currently in Sydney, has knocked together this ultra-cool interactive map showing just where the Nisshin Maru , the whaling fleet and the Esperanza are right now. :
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The Japanese government is playing Russian Roulette with the Antarctic
2007-02-20 05:54:01
Posted by Melanie, on the Esperanza Adelie Penguin © Greenpeace/Beltra This morning at 5:40am marked five days since the Nisshin Maru first sent out a mayday distress call. Since then, the ship has been sitting here, disabled, in the Ross Sea. We've has been on-scene with the Nisshin Maru for over three days to offer assistance, including towing the crippled whaling vessel north, out of the Antarctic. All of our offers to tow the vessel to safety have been refused by the Japan ese authorities in Tokyo. We have been told that the whaling fleet will use its own vessels to tow the Nisshin Maru north, however, the Esperanza still remains the best-equipped ship for the job. It's not just Greenpeace that's anxious for the Nisshin Maru to get a move on out of here. The New Zealand government has gone well beyond the bounds of normal diplomatic language to make the point. New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark is clearly losing patience and said to the Japanese government earlier ...
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Ocean Defenders TV: Nisshin Maru report
2007-02-20 05:54:01
Posted by Dave, on the Esperanza Sara, our on board media officer, reports on the situation around the Nisshin Maru , and speaks to our captain, Frank, to our helicopter pilot, Hughie and to our campaigners Melanie and Karl, about the deteriorating ice situation in the Ross Sea, and the environmental threat caused by the disabled whaling factory ship. Watch Ocean Defender s TV »
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The key to ending whaling
2007-02-19 23:53:01
Posted by Dave, on the Esperanza Jun Hoshikawa, a Japanese writer and translator, has published over 60 books. He took up the post as Executive Director for Greenpeace Japan 14 months ago. I've just been reading his explanation of what he believes to be the key to finally ending whaling: by changing the perceptions of the people of Japan. "When I arrived at Greenpeace Japan a little over one year ago, my take on stopping the Japanese government's whaling program was that it is a lost cause and impossible to argue against - despite the fact I had been opposed to whaling since the issue was raised in the early 1970s."
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Japan, please accept the our offer to tow the Nisshin Maru!
2007-02-19 23:53:01
Posted by Dave, on the Esperanza The N isshin Maru with other whaling vessels © Greenpeace/Beltra As you know, the Esperanza is currently standing by the Japan ese whaling factory ship Nisshin Maru, which was last week crippled by an accidental fire. It's currently without engine power in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Oil and fuel on board the Nisshin Maru presents an immediate and unacceptable risk to the pristine Antarctic environment - and the ice and weather are closing in. We've offered to tow the Nisshin Maru to safety. The Esperanza was constructed as a fire-fighting vessel and has towing capabilities. Captain Frank has ten years experience on a salvage tug.
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Chilly Monday on the Ross Sea
2007-02-19 11:52:02
Posted by Dave, on the Esperanza The Nisshin Maru and Oriental Bluebird near Antarctic ice © Greenpeace/Beltra Well, it's a chilly Monday morning here in the Ross Sea. The Esperanza is still standing by the broken-down Nisshin Maru, which was disabled by fire on Thursday. The Nisshin Maru drifted 31 nautical miles north overnight - away from the ice pack, but no farther away from the pristine west coast of the Ross Sea. The other six ships in the whaling fleet are also here - the factory ship, the re-supply and refueling vessel Oriental Bluebird and three catcher boats. The two survey/sighting vessels, including the Kaiko Maru (the ship which issued a recent distress call) arrived early yesterday. On Saturday, the US Coast Guard vessel Polar Sea stopped by very briefly, but hasn't been seen since.
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Still standing by but the clock is ticking
2007-02-19 11:52:02
Posted by Melanie, on the Esperanza The ice pack 14 miles from the Nisshin Maru © Greenpeace/Beltra It's now Monday afternoon and we've been with the Nisshin Maru for more than two days. Luckily the weather is holding - it's calm by Southern Ocean standards with light winds, relatively calm seas and this morning there was even a patch of blue sky here and there. But we are still at 73 degrees south latitude and it is getting late into February, which means the clock is ticking and at some point soon, this area will start freezing over in earnest. There's pack ice 14 miles to the east of us and 20 miles to the southwest of us, and things can change so quickly here in terms of temperature and wind that ice conditions can change radically in a matter of hours.
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Arriving on scene with the whaling fleet
2007-02-19 11:52:02
Posted by Melanie, on the Esperanza The Nisshin Maru and Oriental Bluebird near Antarctic ice © Greenpeace/Beltra At Saturday morning at 7am, I was in the bridge with my morning coffee, when third mate Zeger sighted through binoculars the Nisshin Maru and other vessels from the whaling fleet. As we got closer, we saw that the re-supply and re-fueling vessel Oriental bluebird was on one side of the disabled Nisshin Maru, while one of the catcher boats (the vessels with the harpoons the actually kill the whales) was on the other side. Two other catcher boats were hovering near the Nisshin Maru. On our stern was the US Coast Guard icebreaker Polar Sea. The Polar Sea was doing just as we were: getting closer to the Nisshin Maru to assess the situation.
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Condolences from the Esperanza
2007-02-17 17:50:05
Posted by the crew of the Esperanza We received a radio call this afternoon from the Yushin Maru. They told us that the body of the missing crewman, 27-year-old Kazutaka Makita had been recovered. The crew of the Esperanza would like to offer our sympathies to Kazutaka Makita's wife and children, his family and friends, and to the crew of the Nisshin Maru. Our thoughts are with them all. - The crew of the Esperanza
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Anything but Normal
2007-02-17 17:50:05
Photo from the Club de Jóvenes Ambientalistas, which sparked a scandal in NicaraguaBy Shane, in Tokyo, after the "Normal isation" Meeting Not only was the ‘normalisation meeting’ pretty odd, the fallout afterwards has been anything but normal. The two main newspapers in Nicaragua yesterday carried the scandal that the ‘representative’ of Nicaragua at the meeting did not have government authorisation to attend. As http://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni/2007/02/1 6/nacionales/41513" target="_blank">El Nuevo Diario reports, Miguel Marenco was officially on leave from his job at the Fisheries and Agriculture Department, but instead appeared in Tokyo representing his country and arguing in favour of whaling. The group Club de Jóvenes Ambientalistas (rough translation: Club of Environmentalist Young People) obtained the above photograph of Marenco from the meeting in Tokyo and revealed his presence to the government, sparking the scandal.
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Esperanza arrives at the crippled Nisshin Maru
2007-02-16 23:49:02
Posted by Dave, on the EsperanzaThe crippled Nisshin Maru and other whaling vessels © Greenpeace/Beltra We sighted the Japanese government's whaling factory ship Nisshin Maru at about 07.00 (New Zealand daylight time) this morning. Two ships - the re-supply and re-fuelling vessel Oriental Bluebird and one of the harpoon, or catcher boats - are tied either side of the Nisshin Maru. Nearby are two more catcher boats. Standing off, some distance away is the US Coast Guard icebreaker Polar Sea - they've asked us for assistance in translating, and like us, want to assess the situation.
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Esperanza ready to tow the Nisshin Maru out of danger - and prevent environ
2007-02-16 05:48:01
Posted by the crew of the Esperanza The Esperanza in pack ice © Greenpeace/Beltra Right now, the Esperanza is less than 24 hours sailing from the disabled whaling factory ship,Nisshin Maru . We've made a commitment to the fleet that we will assist the crew in any way possible, and make an environmental impact assessment if needed. One crewmember of the Nisshin Maru is still missing and it's reported in the media that the ship may be carrying approximately 1,000 tons of oil. The N isshin Maru is also, apparently less than 100 nautical miles from the largest Adelie penguin colony in the world. The Fisheries Agency of Japan has already refused help from us, labelling us "terrorists" - but the Esperanza is still continuing towards the stricken vessel. The thing is - our first thoughts are for the missing crewman, as well as the rest of the people on board. We don't think that this is any time be to playing politics from behind a desk in Tokyo. We've got a human tragedy an...
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"Normalising" the IWC means Business as Usual
2007-02-15 17:47:01
By Shane, relieved that the Normalisation meeting is over, in TokyoSurreptitious photo by ShaneAfter three days of meetings in Tokyo, the pro-whaling members of the International Whaling Commission have concluded that the best plan to move forward is to keep hunting more whales. The purpose of the meeting was to talk about how to ?normalize? the IWC. Before the meeting, we said that meant ?commercial whaling? in the eyes of this crowd, and it seems we were right.
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What a special Valentine's day!
2007-02-15 11:46:02
Posted by Sakyo, on the Esperanza © Greenpeace / Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert I'm happy to see that people all around the world expressed their love for Japan - my country, on Valenti ne s day. However, the important thing is that Japanese people who received this message also should consider the message that 'whaling breaks our heart' From my experience, growing up in Tokyo for 27 years, I've often heard "whaling is part of our culture, foreigners are trying to ruin our culture". Whenever anti-whaling voices are heard coming from outside of Japan, many Japanese people condemn them as being against our culture. But when I look at the reality of whaling in the Southern Ocean, it's very far from the version I've heard. If you actually study Japanese history, whaling in the Southern Ocean is not a traditional part of our culture.
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Distress call from the Nisshin Maru
2007-02-15 11:46:02
The first thoughts of all of us on the Esperanza is for the crew of the Japanese whaling factory ship Nisshin Maru . We hope that news reports that one crew member is missing are incorrect and he or she is found safe and well. At approximately 05.45 New Zealand time (NZDT) the Esperanza responded to a distress call from the Nisshin Maru. We contacted the New Zealand Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), who gave the nature of the distress as a fire/explosion, and requested our assistance. We confirmed that the Esperanza would assist. At 07.40 NZDT, New Zealand MRCC informed the Esperanza that we were no longer required. We have no details of the incident or what caused it. We remain ready to assist with the emergency.
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Mannes - Chief Engineer
2007-02-14 17:45:02
© Greenpeace/Baumann Mann es - Chief Engine er Netherlands Hi, I'm Mannes. I am from Oudeschip, the Netherlands... yes, another gloggy on the ship. I have worked for Greenpeace for over six years now... a period that is engraved in my memory. Before Greenpeace I was sailing commercially . Six years ago I applied for a job on a factory fishing ship, but in the weekend before the job-interview I visited my local pub and ran into my cousin, who had worked for Greenpeacefor nine years. Of course he disagreed with my future plans, and I knew he would spend the rest of the evening buying me drinks, trying to change my mind ("good luck", I thought). After the cleaning lights in the pub switched on, we continued our "conversation" at his place looking at old Greenpeace videos and photos. After sunrise I walked out of his house, in one hand a Greenpeace flag and in the other a Greenpeace sticker... three weeks later I joined the MV Greenpeace. Five months after joining I was i...
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Valentines Day: We love Japan - but whaling breaks our hearts
2007-02-14 17:45:02
Posted by Dave, on the Esperanza © Greenpeace/ Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert Happy Valentine s day from the crew of the Esperanza! Here here in the Southern Ocean it's been Valentine's Day for nearly 22 hours. In othe parts of the world, people are just waking up to the one day of the year dedicated to love. And today, in 28 different countries around the world, activists are taking to the streets to send a Valentine's Day message of love to Japan - but demanding the Japanese government puts an end to whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. It's already Valentine's Day in Tokyo too - where the "International Whaling Comission Normalization Meeting", is being held by the Japan government, supported by pro-whaling nations. A big valentine card card appeared outside, saying "Normalization Means Protection, Not Whaling" and activists presented St. Valentines Day whale-shaped chocolates to the pro-whaling delegates attending the meeting. Nice! © Greenpeace/ Jeremy Su...
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The odd, yet strangely boring, Normalisation Meeting
2007-02-13 23:43:02
© Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert By Shane, on Day 1 of the IWC "Normalisation Meeting" in Tokyo So today was the first day of the Japanese Government hosted ?Normalisation? meeting, intended to find a pathway to resume commercial whaling. As I said yesterday, it was definitely a gathering of the countries who support whaling. Of course, I should have known that when you have a meeting of people that all agree with each other it is going to get boring, but this was worse than I could have imagined!
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Whaling Timeline
2007-02-13 11:43:01
Posted by Dave, on the Esperanza This is a chronology of whaling, adapted from "The Whaling Season: An Inside Account of the Struggle to Stop Commercial Whaling" by Kieran Mulvaney (Island Press, 2003). I read this excellent book recently, before I came on board. There's currently three copies doing the rounds of the Esperanza. Kieran was on board several Greenpeace anti-whaling expeditions, and manages to pack his personal experiences, detailed expedition logs and a detailed explanation of the complex mess that is whaling, as well as untangling the intricacies of the International Whaling Commission. This table is from the appendices of the The Whaling Season:
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Peace versus violence
2007-02-13 11:43:01
Posted by Isha, on the Esperanza © Greenpeace/Beltra Isha sent me this blog yesterday. As I was editing reading it, the distress call came from the Kaiko Maru. When a distress call comes in a location as harsh as the Southern Ocean, you can't help but expect the worst. Fortunately, after the second distress call in a week, we didn't find ourselves having to search for people in the icy Antarctic waters. Isha's blog was certainly a calming influence while we waited for news. - Dave In this world that we live in, violence is increasingly becoming the widest spoken language. The heart is silenced with voices of anger, frustration and hate. The heart functions on subtle vibrations... the vibrations of nature are the subtlest. Do we ever hear a flower bloom or leaves fall? Viol ence begets nothing... it spreads only more pain and hate - only peace and love bring strength and tolerance, and this is what the heart of this planet is asking of us, and so few speak this language ...
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Look in the mirror first
2007-02-13 05:42:01
Posted by Sara, on the Esperanza Apply pressure at the right time... © Greenpeace/Beltra Okay, I have held back for long enough now. Greenpeace has made it very clear for years that we will not cooperate with Sea Shepherd because we don't not agree with the tactics they employ. That is a position based on long held principles. We do not publicly criticize Sea Shepherd nor do we intend to, because that is also a principle we hold - we simply say that our focus is on the whaling issue and how to stop it, in the Southern Ocean, in the political arena and most importantly in Japan. Of course, not engaging in a slanging match always leaves one party open to more and more criticism. So be it. I have broad shoulders and if you want to criticise then go ahead. But look in the mirror first.
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"Normalisation" isn't good for whales
2007-02-12 17:41:01
Posted by Dave, on the Esperanza This week the Japanese government will host a meeting of predominately pro-whaling International Whaling Commission (IWC) members in Tokyo. The stated purpose of this meeting - which isn't part of the official Commission agenda, is to "normalize" the IWC. Almost without exception, pro-conservation members of the IWC have agreed not to attend this meeting, because it is expected that the Japanese government will use the occasion to claim support for a resumption of commercial whaling. Not a welcome thought.
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At the whaler's club
2007-02-12 17:41:01
Shinjuku, Tokyo, near the Greenpeace officeBy Shane, in Tokyo to attend the IWC's "Normalisation" meeting Here I am in Japan to attend a meeting organised by the Japanese Government. Over recent years, they have increasingly talked about the need for 'normalisation' of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). This is basically code for a return to commercial whaling. So this meeting is really about commercialisation, not normalisation.
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We condemn violence in the Southern Ocean
2007-02-12 11:40:01
Posted by Dave, on the Esperanza This afternoon the Esperanza received a distress call from the Japanese whaling fleet's unarmed sighting vessel, the Kaiko Maru. The Esperanza offered immediate assistance, heading at full speed to their position. According to the Rescue Coordination Centre of New Zealand, first reports stated the Kaiko Maru was "under attack." Later reports claimed a collision between the Sea Shepherd vessel Robert Hunter and the Kaiko Maru, with the Robert Hunter receiving a hole in the hull above the water line and the Kaiko Maru suffering unspecified damage to its propeller.
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Helena - Deckhand
2007-02-12 11:40:01
© Greenpeace/Beltra Helen a - Deck hand Australia Hi, my name is Helena. I usually have a hard time with profiles, especially when having to fill out forms that ask me things like my address - when I've been travelling for four years - my occupation, which varies - for now I am a deckhand/sailor/activist) and nationality - born in Brazil, Kiwi mother, Spanish father and grew up in Rio de Janeiro and Sydney, three passports. So I feel right at home on a Greenpeace ship. I have been involved with Greenpeace on and off over the last six years - both in offices as a "webby" and on the ships as a "deckie". The first time I set foot on a Greenpeace ship was the Arctic Sunrise when it returned to Melbourne after the whaling campaign in 2000/2001. Someone had donated a huge pink whale to the Sydney office - we used it as our mascot to display the message "end Japanese whaling" - and took it on its first ten-hour road trip from Sydney, receiving many curious looks and hoots in the ...
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