Feature story - January 26, 2007
This year the Japanese government aims to hunt almost 1,000 whales in the Southern Ocean whales sanctuary. Once again Greenpeace will be there to defend the whales.
Our largest and fastest ship, Esperanza, is currently in the
Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary searching for the Japanese whaling
fleet.
The ship's crew will stay as long as they can amongst the
icebergs in the freezing waters of Antarctica. They will help the
whales escape the hunt by putting themselves between the whales and
the harpoon.
This year's expedition leader is New Zealander Karli Thomas.
Karli has a special affinity with whales as she often was out
helping save beached whales on Farewell Spit as a child.
Last year over 800 whales died for profit. Greenpeace confronted
the whale hunters in the Southern Ocean, saving 82 whales from
being killed. We showed the world the brutality of whaling and
through public pressure forced corporations out of the whaling
business.
This year, the crew will be carrying out new tactics - many
designed by our supporters via the IGO community
website. You don't have to be on the ship to help save
whales!
While our crew braves the Southern Ocean we will also be
focusing on engaging the
large number of people in Japan who do not support whaling in
the sanctuary starting with 'Whale Love Wagon' - our new internet
television show!
Spanish boy meets Japanese girl - Ivan and Yuki hit the road and
tour Japan in the "Whale Love Wagon", in search of true love - for
the planet, and for whales! They're going to have a whale of a
time.
"I've loved
Japanese culture since my childhood," says Ivan, "I want to learn
more about whales and Japanese culture."
Yuki adds, "I want to deepen my knowledge about whales and express my feelings in my art-work".
You can tune in at www.whalelove.org
Read the crew's ship blog