Greenpeace goodwill visit receives enthusiastic response

The Greenpeace goodwill tour on their ship the Esperanza has received an enthusiastic response with hundreds of visitors responding to their Open Boat invitation. Seni Nabou from Greenpeace said they received more than 500 people on Saturday, 450 on Sunday (even though it was not officially open on Sunday) and over 200 on Monday despite the wet weather.
Joining the Greenpeace crew on their goodwill tour in the Pacific is Greenpeace ambassador, New Zealand film actress Keisha Castle-Hughes of “Whale Rider” fame and the TV3 crew from NZ who are on board to film all the proceedings on the voyage.
The slogan emblazoned on the side of their ship Esparanza (the Spanish word for Peace) says it all: Protecting our Oceans. Their media advisor, Josephine said Esperanza is the fastest in the Greenpeace fleet and is capable of hunting down illegal fishing ships including whaling ships.
Prime Minister, Jim Marurai accepted their invitation to come on board for a reception on Monday night as did Te Tika Mataiapo who is a keen environmentalist. Other guests included a posse of NES officers including director Vaitoti Tupa and Pasha Carruthers who will accompany the Greenpeace crew on their goodwill trip to Aitutaki and Pukapuka before heading off to Samoa.
The tour is all about raising awareness of the catastrophic effects of climate change and global warming on the Pacific Islands. It is also to lobby for the need to curb carbon emissions which are the major contributor to greenhouse gases which are causing our polar caps to melt (amongst other things) and leading to rising oceans and the dangers of islands gradually sinking beneath the waves.
Kia manuia to Greenpeace and keep up the brilliant work.

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