Press release - 20 June, 2006
As the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting in St Kitts concluded its proceedings today, a peaceful protest carried out by Greenpeace was abruptly broken up by the authorities, who arrested ten activists and ship crew from the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise. The protestors were attempting to highlight the number of whales killed during the last whaling season in the so-called Southern Oceans Whale Sanctuary.
During the IWC meeting Greenpeace activists attempted a demonstration where they would install a symbolic whale tail graveyard on the beach before St. Kitts security stopped them.
As the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting in St
Kittsconcluded its proceedings today, a peaceful protest carried
out byGreenpeace was abruptly broken up by the authorities, who
arrested tenactivists and ship crew from the Greenpeace ship Arctic
Sunrise. Theprotestors were attempting to highlight the number of
whales killedduring the last whaling season in the so-called
Southern Oceans WhaleSanctuary.
The protest involved activists and crew from the Greenpeace ship
ArcticSunrise, which had been barred from St Kitts waters when it
arrivedlast weekend prior to the start of the IWC meeting. They
arrived viainflatable boats to the beach in North Frigate Bay, St
Kitts and wereattempting to create a symbolic "whale graveyard"
display using 863cardboard whale tails - one to represent each of
the estimated whalescaught by Japanese whalers in the Southern
Ocean 'Whale Sanctuary'during the last year. However, the
protestors were stopped and arrestedby the police shortly after
coming ashore, and currently are being heldat the Basseterre Police
Station in St Kitts awaiting furtherinformation on charges. (1)
"To have arrests happen over a peaceful protest is ludicrous -
the realsafety issues are on the high-seas where whales are under
threat andare being killed on an on-going basis," said Mike
Townsley, GreenpeaceInternational spokesperson. "It's about time
the IWC and nations of theworld take heed and realise that this
slaughter cannot continue.Greenpeace is on the side of good by
protecting whales and theenvironment they live in.
"Greenpeace is a peaceful protest organisation and we will
return tothe Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary later this year, where
we willcontinue to defend the 935 minke whales and ten fin whales
which arethe target of the Fisheries Agency of Japan's grenade
tipped harpoons,"concluded Townsley.
Greenpeace's campaign for an end to whaling is part of the
mostambitious ship expedition ever undertaken by the environmental
advocacyorganisation. The 14-month long "Defending our Oceans"
expedition isexposing the key threats to our oceans and offering
real solutions, aglobal network of properly enforced marine
reserves covering 40 percentof the worlds oceans: places that will
be protected from industrialexploitation and destruction, from
industrial fishing and hunting, andplaces from which our oceans can
begin the process of repair andrecovery.
VVPR info: Greenpeace International communications officer Suzette Jackson +31 6 4619 7324Spokespeople attending the IWCJohn Frizell, Greenpeace International and Head of Delegation, +44 780 1212999John Bowler Greenpeace International oceans campaigner +35 387 239 4692Video and stills available fromGreenpeace International Video Desk +31 6 4619 7322Greenpeace International Photo Desk +31 6 5381 9255
Notes: (1) NAMES OF ARRESTIESARCTIC SUNRISE SHIP CREWDaniel Bravo MEXICOAna Paula Maciel BRAZILBarbara Vitoria BRAZILJoslei Leffa BRAZILVeronica Lameck BRAZILON SHORE, NORTH FRIGATE BAY, ST KITTSMike Townsley SCOTLANDBuffy Baumann USFrancisco Gil PORTUGALMilko Schvartzman ARGENTINASteffi Werner GERMANY