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Whaling season over

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

Big in Japan: how the whaling debate is changing

If the news in Japan is any indication, recent events in the Southern Ocean seem to be having some effect on a debate that has so far been stifled by the one-sided opinion of the whaling fleet operators, the Japanese government-funded Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) and its dubious public relations spin.

The disabled Japanese whaling ship Nisshin Maru with a re-fuelling vessel and hunter vessel tied alongside. Fire broke out on the Nisshin Maru on Thursday and one man is still missing. The Greenpeace ship Esperanza is close by, and has repeated the offer to assist the whaling fleet including possibly towing her out of the Southern Ocean. Enlarge Image

Whaling Fleet leaving Southern Ocean

24 February - The Japanese Government whaling fleet is finally leaving the Southern Ocean, according to their expedition leader. The Nisshin Maru, disabled for nine days by fire, is moving under her own power. We hope this is the last time the fleet threatens both the whales and the pristine Antarctic environment.

Sakyo Noda (Japanese Campaigner) and Melanie Duchin (US Campaigner) on the bridge of the MY Esperanza. Enlarge Image

Behind the spin: bearing witness in the Southern Ocean

22 February - In the last week, the difference between what we see and hear, here in the Ross Sea, and what we read in the news could not have been more stark. We are getting conflicting reports from the whaling fleet and from the Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR), Mr Glenn Inwood, who is thousands of miles away on land. Dave and Sara on the Esperanza take a look at the truth and lies of Southern Ocean whaling.

A Greenpeace inflatable inspecting ice conditions at the request of the disabled Japanes whaling vessel, the Nisshin Maru. Enlarge Image

Nisshin Maru ready to go?

The stricken whaling ship Nisshin Maru has ropes and cables attached indicating that the crew is making preparations to depart the Antarctic Treaty Area by towing. It is not yet clear what vessel will tow the ship or when. The Nisshin Maru is currently lashed to the fleet's tanker the Oriental Bluebird, which sails under the Panama flag. Panama is not a signatory to the Antarctic Treaty.

Greenpeace protest outside the second day of the "International Whaling Comission Normalization Meeting", called by Japan and supported by pro-whaling nations in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007. Outside the venue Greenpeace Japan marched carrying a big valentine card, saying "Normalization Means Protection, Not Whaling" and tried to present St. valentines Day whale shaped chocolates to the pro-whaling delegates attending the meeting. Enlarge Image

The key to ending whaling

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. Here he explains what he believes is the key to ending whaling: changing the perceptions of the people of Japan.

The disabled Japanese whaling ship Nisshin Maru with a re-fuelling vessel and hunter vessel tied alongside. Fire broke out on the Nisshin Maru on Thursday and one man is still missing. The Greenpeace ship Esperanza is close by, and has repeated the offer to assist the whaling fleet including possibly towing her out of the Southern Ocean. Enlarge Image

Esperanza still standing by stricken whaling vessel

Our ship the Esperanza is still standing by the stricken whaling ship, Nisshin Maru, disabled by fire in the Southern Ocean. We have already provided information on ice conditions and are in radio contact with the Nisshin Maru crew. We are all hoping the weather holds to avoid increased risk of an oil spill.

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.

Greenpeace ship Esperanza departs for the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. Enlarge Image

Esperanza and Denmark

The expedition to defend the whales is now under way. On Friday, the crew of our largest and fastest ship, the Esperanza, waved goodbye to supporters on the quayside in Auckland, New Zealand. It's now en route to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, as part of a global campaign to finally bring an end to whaling. It's also the last leg in the "Defending our Oceans" expedition which began in November 2005 and saw two of our ships - including the Esperanza, in Antarctic waters. On that trip, our activists managed to directly stop the killing of 82 whales, and this year they will again be putting themselves between the whalers' harpoons and the whales.

Archive photo: Hvalfjörður whaling station in Iceland. Seagulls feeding on the carcass of a fin whale. Enlarge Image

Revealed: Icelandic whale in storage, landfill

In Iceland we have discovered an unprecedented amount of the whale meat from the recent hunt has not been used. Even whaling captain Sigurður Njálsson has said the meat is unfit for domestic consumption. 200 tonnes of the meat is in storage with a further 179 tonnes of entrails buried at a landfill site. But despite demand for whale meat plummeting, Japan and Iceland continue to hunt whales.

An endangered Fin Whale, harpooned yesterday is brought to the harbor of Hvalfjörour, Iceland. The Fin whale is the first kill by Iceland and marks the resumption to commercial whaling for the country. Enlarge Image

Demarche against Iceland whaling

Today, 26 nations delivered a formal diplomatic protest (called a "demarche") to the Icelandic government. The protest was led by the UK and signed by nations from around the world including the US, Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Finland and Sweden.

Greenpeace activists call on Gorton's to use their influence to stop whaling. Enlarge Image

Ocean Defenders force whalers to divest

You did it! After months of pressure from Ocean Defenders everywhere, our friends at seafood suppliers Gorton's, Sealord and parent company Nissui have withdrawn their active support for Japanese whaling.

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