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The world is watching: the Virtual March

A paragliding pilot flies over Greenpeace and KFEM activists protesting against the proposed construction of a whale meat processing factory in Ulsan May 31, 2005. Enlarge Image

South Korean Government scraps whale meat factory

In an amazing turn of events, the city of Ulsan has apparently courageously decided not to build the proposed whalemeat factory – the target of our Whale Embassy occupation. The news of this decision was reported in a South Korean newspaper on the eve of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting.

Whale embassy: showdown and turnaround

Yesterday our Whale Embassy Activists, on the ground in Korea, received a visit from angry representatives of the Jangsaengpo Development Association in the city of Ulsan. Our campaigner Jim Wickens tells the story of what happened next - and how we must help the people of Ulsan rebuild their lives without whaling.

Bulldozers move in to flatten the land of a proposed Whale meat processing plant and scientific research centre. The Greenpeace "Whale Embassy" has been occupying the area and the activists are refusing to leave until the plans for the site are cancelled. The activists were ordered to vacate the land by 16th May 2005, but have refused to do so. Enlarge Image

Renewed threat to whale activists

Our Whale Embassy activists yesterday received a threatening letter demanding that we dismantle the Whale Embassy within 24 hours or face "consequences."

The Whale Embassy in Ulsan, South Korea ... with campaigner Jim Wickens on the phone as usual! Enlarge Image

Whale activists threatened with eviction

The city of Ulsan, Korea has ordered us to vacate our "Whale Embassy" -- built near the site of a planned whale meat factory.

We've told them we'll be happy to leave, once they assure us they will not build the factory.

Japanese workers flense a whale on the deck of a factory ship Nisshin Maru in the Southern Ocean. Enlarge Image

Japan doubles whale hunt

If you wanted a census of wild birds, would you get a slingshot and kill them to count them? This is practically what the Government of Japan is proposing, yet again. Wire reports reveal that a secret proposal from Japan's Fisheries Agency sets a "scientific" quota of double the current take of minke whales. They also want to add endangered humpback and fin whales. It's time for killing in the name of science to stop.

Activists in Ulsan protest Korean plans to return to whaling. Enlarge Image

Exposed - Korea's plans for new whale meat factory

Ulsan, host city of this year's International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting, is enthusiastically building a whale museum and a brand new marine park in anticipation. But we have uncovered plans, noticeably absent from the Ulsan council's bright and cheery website, that include a whale meat factory and whale burial ground. Is this the "city for whales", as they like to say, or the "city for whaling"?

Greenpeace and Korean environmental group KFEM have joined forces to save whales in Korea. Enlarge Image

Saving whales in Korea

Our flagship Rainbow Warrior has just arrived in Incheon Harbour for the start of a month-long tour to protect whales in Korea. We've joined forces with Korea's largest environmental group, Korean Federation for the Environment Movement (KFEM) to highlight the urgent need to protect our whales and the oceans that they inhabit.

A message from the Virtual March

A message from oceans campaigner Jim Wickens for all of the 51,000 virtual marchers!

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