Campaigners Sakyo Noda and Melanie Duchin radio the Japanese government whaling fleet. The message relayed from the Esperanza was: "For the sake of the environment, the whales and your crew - never again!"
Melanie and Sakyo, on board the nearby Esperanza, radioed the
whaling ships as they crossed the 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 threatened humpback whales.
This year's whaling highlighted the risks the Japanese
government's whaling program posses to the Antarctic environment,
and their ships' crew. International 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 programme.
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 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.
Take action
Make whaling history at whales.greenpeace.org
Crew weblog
Esperanza crew weblog - updates from the scene.