Rainbow Warrior dressed in blue. One blue awning drapes the fore boom, another drapes main. The children love it – turns the Rainbow into a fantasy. In the late afternoon five children take turns with a microphone, and ask me questions. They seem most interested in dolphins and whales. “How many whales are there in the sea?” Another good question but difficult to answer. The microphone is handed back and Dad, who is filming with a handy-cam, turns the focus on me.
“There are so few whales left in the sea that it is hard to count – the big blue whales especially. But there used to be a lot. We know this because humans counted the ones they killed and for a number of years during the last century they harpooned 60 000 blue whales each season off Antarctica. When a whale is shot with an explosive harpoon the sea turns red, it turns red. Greenpeace is going to stop that happening”
Then I tell them about listening to dolphins at sea, the click-clicks and whiz-shrees that rise from the water as they swim beside the Rainbow Warrior. I show them Dave the wooden dolphin on the bow. There is a story about Dave and how he turned into wood, but that is for another time. “Why is the Rainbow Warrior in Singapore?” a little boy speaks into the microphone and then hands it to me.
“Have you seen the haze?” All five children nod their heads.
“It’s from Indonesia burning their forests,” says the little boy. He’s the oldest, he’s ten.
“Exactly,” I reply “and that is why we are here. Something has to be done about it.”
Myrtha said,
November 11, 2007 at 1:36 am
We are all with you!
Do you know when and where you will be docked in Bali? Will you let us know in this blog? Thank you and keep on fighting.
Jana Dawson said,
November 12, 2007 at 6:10 am
Dear Captain Mike,
Thank you for magical time on the Rainbow Warrior. I am very graftefull to have a child that is still willing to allow his mum to tag along. All the kids enjoyed themselves tremendously and will hopefully share your vision with their friends and teachers. They are our hope afterall. Its hard to teach old dogs new tricks, most of the time. Living in Asia haze has been a constant battle for us. My son and many of his friends, born late 90’s early 2000’s, suffer from respiratory problems due to haze. There is nothing more heartbreaking than watching a sick baby struggle for the next breath. All the creatures have a right for a bretah of fresh air. I look forward to it. Good luck.
Cheers
Jana Dawson
sonja maree said,
November 16, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Please come to Richards Bay harbour in South Africa, KZN to teach our children as well. We really need to be educated too!
Take care and thank you for trying to save our world and to make a difference. God Bless
Whale Love and Giant Mouths : Environmental News said,
December 11, 2007 at 1:22 pm
[...] feeding may be the evolutionary key to the large size of the fin whale and its close relatives, the blue and humpback whales. All three of the animals belong to a group called the rorquals, which evolved [...]