Greenpeace vessel ends pursuit of Japanese whalers

[flvegan]

Source: AFP

SYDNEY (AFP) — The Greenpeace vessel trailing Japanese whalers in Antarctic waters to prevent them from killing the giant sea creatures has ended its pursuit, the environmental group said Saturday.

The Greenpeace ship Esperanza was running low on fuel and needed to turn back, expedition leader Karli Thomas said in a statement.

"While the Esperanza must return to port, the campaign to stop whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary is far from over," Thomas said.

"The pressure we have created on the high seas must now be translated into action by governments around the world, the Japanese people themselves and Japanese companies".

The Greenpeace vessel, along with a ship owned by the more militant environmental group the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, has been following the Japanese fleet for two

Read more: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hS_2QvuSGH3tFLjxjeo30iEwpNNA

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I admit, I have issues here. For one, Greenpeace could refuel and head back out. For two, they could have done more to interrupt the refueling of the Nisshun Maru, but they backed off.

"Campaign" is a funny word.

Kudos and much thanks to Greenpeace and the Esperanza for keeping those whale killing fucks from doing damage for a good stretch of time. However, keeping coordinates of the whaling fleet from Sea Shepherd...well, it makes you suspicious.

Very suspicious. This ain't about donations. Remember the Rainbow Warrior? I don't think you do.

[LeftyMom]

1. Greenpeace are a bunch of sellouts, and fuck them.

Why don't they head back to Japan and eat more whale while they're at it. :grr:

[flvegan]

4. The Esperanza did a great job keeping Death Star I on the run.

I'll give them credit. Whales didn't die while she had them on the run. Big props to Greenpeace for that.

However, I question their commitment. When you work AGAINST the results that an org like Sea Shepherd can garner, well...you're little more than on their side. Hate to say it.

Thanks, Greenpeace. You done good when you tried. Otherwise, for your complicity, here's two big middle fucking fingers for you.

Hope your fundraising on the backs of the whales works for you.

Your lack of desire to head back out onto the field speaks loudly. $100 million a year budget, and you give up.

Fuck you.

[LeftyMom]

5. Exactly.

With them the fundraising and acceptability comes before the whales.

[RoyGBiv]

2. I remember ...

The Rainbow Warrior is the original origin of my nick, over 20 years ago.

[Kutjara]

3. The Sea Shepherd guys are not pleased.

http://www.seashepherd.org/news/media_080127_1.html

<snip>

Greenpeace Protects Japanese Whalers from Sea Shepherd

The Greenpeace ship Esperanza has stopped chasing the Japanese whaling factory ship the Nisshin Maru and is heading back to New Zealand.

Sea Shepherd 2nd Officer Peter Hammarstedt called Greenpeace Campaign Leader Karli Thomas on the Esperanza to request the position of the Nisshin Maru. She responded by saying that it was not necessary for Sea Shepherd to have the coordinates for the Nisshin Maru because the Oceanic Viking would continue documenting the activities of the factory ship to carry on the work that Greenpeace has been doing.

In other words, asked Mr. Hammarstedt, “You aren't interested in Sea Shepherd preventing the killing of whales now that you've left?” Ms. Thomas responded by saying that Greenpeace had no intention of cooperating with Sea Shepherd and then hung up.

From the beginning of this campaign, Sea Shepherd has tried to cooperate with Greenpeace. Sea Shepherd provided coordinates to Greenpeace last year for the whalers and provided the coordinates to the catcher boats this year. Sea Shepherd also offered to share the Sea Shepherd helicopter with Greenpeace. All attempts to cooperate on a united front to protect whales have been rebuffed by Greenpeace.

“I really have to question just what is Greenpeace's motivation in coming down here year after year,” said Captain Paul Watson. “Their campaigns are always more of the same, buzzing about in rubber boats, hanging banners and filming whales being killed. Things have changed dramatically since Sea Shepherd has been intervening. Whales don't die when we show up. Instead the whalers run and they keep running. The whalers have never run from Greenpeace before and they were not running from them this year either. Even the whalers have admitted they have been running from the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin .”

<snip>

More at the URL above.

Greenpeace seem to be all about the photo ops these days.

[wtmusic]

6. Just cut my GP subscription.

WTF? I contribute to both of these orgs. If GP is going to get pissy about it to hell with 'em.

[Number9Dream]

7. Thanks to Flvegan...

For keeping those of us who care posted on these matters.

[GliderGuider]

8. Greenpeace needs a name change

I think the name "Greenwash" would be more appropriate.

Fucking corporatist sellouts. Greenpeace is not part of the solution, they're part of the problem. I urge anyone who is still a member of GP to cancel their membetrship immediately.