Melanie and Sakyo, campaigners onboard the nearby Esperanza,
radioed the whaling ships as they crossed the 60-degree latitude
line, saying:
"We acknowledge your grief at the loss of your crewmember, and
we also acknowledge the work you have done, day and night to repair
your ship, but this must be the last time your government sends you
to the Southern Ocean to hunt whales and threaten the Antarctic
environment. For the sake of the environment, the whales and your
crew - never again!"
The future of whaling?
The reported catch this year was 505 minke whales and three
endangered fin whales. Next season, the whalers say they will
return to hunt up to 935 minke whales, 50 endangered fin whales and
50 endangered humpback whales.
This year's whaling highlighted the risks the Japanese
government's whaling program posses to the Antarctic environment,
and their ships' crew. Internationally, outrage at Japan's
unilateral hunt in an agreed whale sanctuary remains high.
Inside Japan, questions are surfacing about the wisdom of the
government's whaling program. Reports in Japanese media have been
unprecedented in their even-handedness, and even positive,
portrayals of our campaign to end commercial whaling.
That this hunt damages Japan's credibility, wastes millions in
taxpayer's money and puts lives at risk is sinking in. And most
importantly, people are realizing it's possible to be against
whaling, while still loving Japan.
Next stop: International Whaling Commission
The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is the world's
authoritative body on whaling. For years now, the Japanese
government has been using diplomatic pressure and a vote buying
program to stack the IWC with pro-whaling allies, and threatening
to leave the organization if they don't get their way.
Last year the whaling faction showed they could muster a narrow
majority at the IWC. This year, at the end of May, the IWC will
meet in Anchorage, USA. Everyone who cares about the future of
whales in our oceans should help prepare for this meeting.
The website whales.greenpeace.org/us
can help. There, you can find ideas you can make happen, or post
an idea of your own - then work with others to make it a reality.