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Thu, 07 Feb 2008 10:35:41 GMT

Japan, whaling and the Esperanza

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

It is cherry blossom season here in Japan, and Tokyo is beautiful, with lovely spring weather and trees in full bloom. Unfortunately while people here enjoy the season, our ship the Esperanza is at sea in force 8 conditions as organisations within Japan attempt to deny her entry into port.

Whalers' factory ship arrives in Tokyo

Fri, 23 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The Nisshin Maru arrived in Tokyo Bay today. Its time in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary was cut short by a tragic fire, which claimed the life of one crewmember and threatened the Antarctic environment. Over the course of this past season 505 minke and three endangered fin whales were killed.

Recently the an International Whaling Commission (IWC) review of Japan's so called whaling programme showed that their "research" has learned virtually nothing about whale populations in the Southern Oceans despite 18 years of hunting.

Defending Our Oceans: The Year that Was

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The Esperanza has departed Sydney. This marks the end of the Defending Our Oceans expedition - 477 days, 12 legs, thousands of miles and tens of thousands of Ocean Defenders later. In possibly the longest web article ever, we look back at the highlights of the year (well, 15 months to be exact), and thank all our Ocean Defenders for their unending dedication and support (and sense of humour) over what has been an amazing voyage.

Welcome to Sydney, Esperanza!

Fri, 09 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

After sailing around the planet, and 42 days in the Southern Ocean, the Esperanza and her crew of 38 tied up alongside in Sydney, Australia. It may be the end of the Defending Our Oceans expedition but her work is not yet done: the Esperanza will head to Tokyo to continue our anti-whaling campaign.

Witnessing the Plunder 2006

Thu, 08 Mar 2007 13:41:51 GMT

Pirate fishing fleets operate in contravention of conservation and management rules, labour and tax laws. Crew employed on board of these pirate vessels often live in near-slavery conditions. This report focuses on exposing the high levels of illegal fishing in waters of Guinea and explaining how fish finds its way to the port of Las Palmas.

Victory! Sweden (mostly) free from Baltic cod

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

7 March 2007 - Last year, Greenpeace activists and Ocean Defenders took to the supermarkets across Scandinavia to convince them to get out of Baltic cod, a stock that is severely overfished and at least a third of which is illegally caught. Finally the last domino has fallen: Swedish supermarkets are now free from frozen Baltic cod.

Pirate fishing blacklist

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Today we launched the world's first global online database of blacklisted, Illegal Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing vessels. This database will help regulators, port officials, fish buyers, coastal communities and others keep track of pirate fishing vessels. It also exposes how shamefully little official bodies have done to curb pirate fishing on a global scale.

Keep the pressure on Denmark!

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 16:09:11 GMT

Esperanza heads to Sydney

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The Esperanza has shadowed the Japanese whaling fleet, including the crippled mothership Nisshin Maru, out of the Southern Ocean. Most of the crew are quite relieved to be approaching Sydney considering the terrible weather the last few days. But even as the voyage comes to an end, our work is far from over...

Whaling season over

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Today the whaling fleet crossed the 60 degree latitude, leaving the whaling grounds behind - at least for this season. Officials in Tokyo have finally acknowledged publicly that the deadly fire crippling the fleet's factory ship means an early end to their hunt.

Whaling myths

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 18:44:27 GMT

The whaling industry uses half-truths and outright lies to defend itself. Here we debunk some of their myths, and set the record straight.

Big in Japan: how the whaling debate is changing

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 11:29:45 GMT

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.

Whaling Fleet leaving Southern Ocean

Sat, 24 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

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.

The Antarctic Whaling Fleet

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 11:52:38 GMT

Our interactive guide to the Japanese Government whaling fleet in the Antarctic.

Behind the spin: bearing witness in the Southern Ocean

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Nisshin Maru ready to go?

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Help the Nisshin Maru!

Tue, 20 Feb 2007 10:18:42 GMT

Update: After nine days, the Nisshin Maru was able to start engines and get under way. Thank you to everyone who took action.

The key to ending whaling

Mon, 19 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Japan's vote buying

Sun, 18 Feb 2007 16:39:59 GMT

The government of Japan has long used overseas development aid money, particularly fisheries aid, as part of its drive to gain control of the International Whaling Commission. When, in 2006, the IWC passed the pro-whaling "St Kitts Declaration", two-thirds of the countries voting for it had received fisheries aid from Japan. These 22 countries have together received 56.4 billion yen (about US $470 million) since fiscal year 2004.