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

Esperanza at location of disabled whaling ship

The Esperanza is currently staying close by the Japanese government's whaling factory ship Nisshin Maru, which was disabled by fire on Thursday. This afternoon, we received a radio call from the whaling crew to tell us that the body of their missing colleague, 27-year-old Kazutaka Makita, had been found. We offered our condolences to the crew and would like to extend them to Kazutaka Makita's wife and family.

The MY Esperanza in the Southern Ocean. The Greenpeace vessel is on its way to offer assistance to the Japanese Whaling fleet's factory ship Nisshin Mauru after it caught fire. Greenpeace has offered to tow the factory ship out of the Whale Sanctuary and the pristine Antarctic Environment. Enlarge Image

Esperanza ready to tow Nisshin Maru

The Esperanza is ready to tow the stricken Japanese whaling vessel the Nisshin Maru out of danger and prevent potential Antarctic environmental disaster.

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

IWC "Normalisation" meeting to begin

This week the Japanese government will host a meeting of predominately pro-whaling International Whaling Commission (IWC) members in Tokyo. The stated purpose of the meeting, which is not part of the official Commission agenda, is to "normalize" the IWC. Almost without exception pro-conservation members of the Commission have agreed not to attend. It is expected that the Japanese government will use the occasion to claim there is support for a resumption of commercial whaling.

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