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Greenpeace ready to tow stricken whaling ship

Greenpeace Japan spokesperson Junichi Sato discusses vote buying outside the "Normalization" meeting for the IWC, organised by the Japanese government. Enlarge Image

IWC "Normalisation" Meeting: Catch More Whales

After three days of meetings in Tokyo, the pro-whaling members of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) have concluded that the best plan to move forward is to keep hunting more whales.

Greenpeace manga-girl Stina met the head secretary of the Japanese embassy in snowy Stockholm, but only if the "potentially dangerous" flowers were left outside the gates. We delivered our message - we love Japan, but whaling is meaningless and breaks our hearts. Enlarge Image

We Love Japan, But Whaling Breaks Our Hearts

Greenpeace activists took to the streets across the globe on Valentine's Day to send a message of love to Japan from 28 different countries, while at the same time demanding the government end high seas whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

Greenpeace ship MY Esperanza witness the killing of whales in the Southern Ocean by the Japanese whaling fleet, and the transfer of the whales to the Nisshin Maru factory ship. Enlarge Image

Condemning violence in the Southern Ocean

On Sunday 12 February, the Esperanza received a distress call. This time it was from the Japanese Government whaling fleet's unarmed sighting vessel, the Kaiko Maru, claiming a collision with the Sea Shepherd vessel Robert Hunter. "We completely condemn any violent action by anyone. Potentially endangering lives in the middle of the Southern Ocean is unacceptable," said Karli Thomas, expedition leader on board the Esperanza.

The Japanese Fisheries Agency whaling fleet leaves Shimonoseki, Japan bound for the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary with plans to harpoon 935 minke whales and 10 endangered fin whales. Enlarge Image

Whaling: the international situation

We are here amongst the icebergs of the Southern Ocean, preparing to take direct action to save whales from deadly harpoons in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. But is the momentum that created the Sanctuary now slipping away? Does the world need a wake-up call? Karli Thomas, on board the Esperanza, ponders the state of the moratorium on commerical whaling.

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