Can Greenpeace justify their use of fossil fuels?

[DoctorP]

Greenpiece Vessel runs low on fuel, ends chase (http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/426248)

Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 06:46 EST
SYDNEY — Environmental group Greenpeace said Saturday its anti-whaling ship Esperanza, which has been disrupting Japanese whalers' activities in waters around Antarctica, is returning to port in Australia after running low on fuel. "After spending two weeks successfully preventing the Japanese whaling fleet from hunting in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary...Esperanza is running low on fuel and must return to port," Greenpeace said in a statement.


Greenpeace deemed its disruption activities a success, predicting Japanese whalers will be unable to meet their quota of 935 minke and 50 fin whales. It said its campaign also received considerable media exposure around the world. In Japan, for example, "both the public and media are beginning to question why vast amounts of taxpayers' money is being squandered on fake research to generate tons of whale meat that no one wants to eat," it said.


I have nothing against Greenpeace's goal, but the way in which they are going about it worries me. I have to wonder if environmental groups are out there wanting to confront Greenpeace for their wasteful use of fuel and natural resources but are afraid of negative publicity for doing so?

[DoctorP]

After much research I am surprised to find out that there is no fuel consumption information availble for either Greenpeace or Sea Shepherd. I could make the calculations myself, but they would likely be off by as much as 15% and would not be accurate enough for me to argue.

I will say that I am not against the mission of these organizations, and it is almost assuridly true that the whaling fleets use far more fuel. I am merely trying to see how these groups that preach saving the environment can justify high fuel useage to simply chase another ship around the ocean with no real plans to catch them and no real authority to punish them.

The only information on GP's website is that they have retrofitted the ship to use less fuel and to minimize exhausts. Wonder why they are not more forthcoming?

[Go-Shay]

Doctor P- good questions

[DougP]

Hmm they should be pioneering the way for alternative fuel powered vessels. Ones that can catch Japanese whaling ships. Seems a bit counter productive protecting a marine species and making comments about ramming ships with harmful fuels on board. Could you imagine what would happen if they did have an incident like that out there? And the oil, fuel and other hazmat from the ships spilled out into the ocean. Wow...

[Go-Shay]

Hmm they should be pioneering the way for alternative fuel powered vessels. Ones that can catch Japanese whaling ships. Seems a bit counter productive protecting a marine species and making comments about ramming ships with harmful fuels on board. Could you imagine what would happen if they did have an incident like that out there? And the oil, fuel and other hazmat from the ships spilled out into the ocean. Wow...

hey bro please do not confuse GP with Sea Shepard. I am working on getting you an answer straight from the horses mouth so to speak:thumbup:

[DougP]

Oh I know what you mean. Sorry for the confusion but I thought the Shepherd was or should be just as concerned about the environment.

[OCanadaOurHomeAndNativeLand]

The Esperanza

It has taken many months to refit the ship in as environmentally friendly way as possible and these improvements include: the removal or safe containment of all asbestos; fitting a special fuel system to avoid spillage; newly fitted, more efficient, diesel electric propulsion; on board recycling of waste water, leaving only clean water pumped overboard; a waste based heating system; bilge water purifiers, 15 times more effective than current legislation demands; TBT-free hull paint; ammonia based refrigeration and air-conditioning rather than climate changing and ozone depleting Freon gas - the first Dutch registered vessel to be so fitted; and an environmentally and economically efficient propulsion system to reduce CO2 emissions.


http://www.greenpeace.org/international/about/ships/the-esperanza

[DougP]

Now that's more like it.

[DoctorP]

Thanks for posting that eel...I read the same thing earlier on their site, but they are still covering. That tells you nothing about how much fuel they actually use. I have emailed Greenpeace in hopes for a reply, but I doubt that will work...looks like I will have to use snail mail to get to them.

[Crazysix]

That's like saying a representive from PETA wearing Leather shoes

[Tony Stacks]

That's like saying a representive from PETA wearing Leather shoes


I think it's funny that PETA's president takes inculin which was tested on animals, talk about hypocracy.

[DoctorP]

the removal or safe containment of all asbestos; fitting a special fuel system to avoid spillage; newly fitted, more efficient, diesel electric propulsion; on board recycling of waste water, leaving only clean water pumped overboard; a waste based heating system; bilge water purifiers, 15 times more effective than current legislation demands; TBT-free hull paint; ammonia based refrigeration and air-conditioning rather than climate changing and ozone depleting Freon gas - the first Dutch registered vessel to be so fitted; and an environmentally and economically efficient propulsion system to reduce CO2 emissions.


I have some time now, so I will break this down for you a bit and make it easier for you to understand what is lying there between the lines:

the removal or safe containment of all asbestos- this is required by law in most countries, so for them to put this here is really funny.

newly fitted, more efficient, diesel electric propulsion- But they do not list what type of system it is. I know what type of engine they use and I would not call it efficient. Esp. since it was built in what '83 or '84.


on board recycling of waste water, leaving only clean water pumped overboard- Good info, but not pertinent to the topic at hand. I am glad that they do this. The alternative would be to store it until reaching port.


fitting a special fuel system to avoid spillage- I commend them for this action, all companies who operate in the open water should do the same. Many long haul trucking companies do this with their rigs, so I am glad to see that Greenpeace does the same.


a waste based heating system- Basically the burning of trash to help heat the boat...what happens in the summertime? But it is a good system, I would have to dig deeper to see what happens to the emissions from this.

bilge water purifiers, 15 times more effective than current legislation demands- I expect this from a company (organization) like Greenpeace, but not exactly on the topic at hand.

TBT-free hull paint- again good, but not on topic

ammonia based refrigeration and air-conditioning rather than climate changing and ozone depleting Freon gas - the first Dutch registered vessel to be so fitted- again required by law and the Kyoto Protocol by many countries.

an environmentally and economically efficient propulsion system to reduce CO2 emissions- Yes, nice talk, but no information. I suspect that they know they are wrong, that is why not enough information is provided by them on this subject. I have yet to receive a reply from my email, but being such a large organization, I suspect that it will take some time for them to reply. I will be sure to post it here when it comes.

Sometimes I feel as though Greenpeace acts as a HERMIT CRAB and hides in their shell when questioned seriously about a subject.