Daily
Webcasts

Greenpeace Arctic Project Leader Steve Sawyer is doing daily webcasts from the Arctic Ocean aboard the Greenpeace vessel MV Arctic Sunrise. You need a sound card and at least 16 bit colour to view these webcasts.

You can use RealPlayer G2 to stream these webcasts, or if you are having trouble streaming, you can download each 2-3 minute webcast to your own computer (typical size about 300K) and run it from your hard drive. In either case, you need the free RealPlayer G2 which you can download here.

July 12, 1999: Nome

The Greenpeace helicopter "Tweety" flies an eight person scientific team aboard the Arctic Sunrise. As the vessel leaves Nome, Alaska, Melanie Duchin and Steve Sawyer discuss the implications of climate change for Arctic native peoples.

July 13, 1999: At the Ice Edge

Captain Arne Sorensen talks to Steve Sawyer about recent Arctic sea ice retreat and his concerns about climate change.

July 14, 1999: Dr. Brendan Kelly

Marine mammologist Dr. Brendan Kelly explains to Steve Sawyer how the retreat of sea ice beyond the continental shelf of the Arctic Ocean could cause mass starvation of walrus.

July 15, 1999: Polar Bears

The crew of the Arctic Sunrise continue their ice edge expedition northwest along the Russian coast and discover polar bears and walrus calves.

July 16, 1999: Helicopter Search

Sleet and fog delay the walrus survey as Dr. Brendan Kelly searches for female walrus and their calves in the icy Chukchi Sea.

July 17, 1999: Sea Ice Retreat

As the Arctic Sunrise pushes through pack ice in the central Chukchi Sea, Steve Sawyer and Dr. Brendan Kelly discuss the retreat of Arctic sea ice and the potential future implications.

July 18, 1999: Bears in the Fog

Steve Sawyer visits the Captain in the Crow's Nest, points out one of the global threats posed by the disintegration of the Arctic pack ice, and discusses polar bears with Melanie Duchin.

July 19, 1999: Counting Walrus Calves

Scientists led by Brendan Kelly and Lori Quackenbush from the University of Alaska - Fairbanks count walrus calves and mothers as the Arctic Sunrise heads northeast along the Alaskan coast.

July 20, 1999: Off Alaska

Clarence Waghiyi, a Yu'pik walrus hunter, helps the scientists search for walrus and Dr. Brendan Kelly explains why sea ice is so important for female walrus.

July 21, 1999: Walrus City

As the scientists onboard the Arctic Sunrise work around the clock on the "monkey island" above the ship's bridge to survey large walrus herds, Steve Sawyer talks to Yu'pik walrus hunter Clarence Waghiyi about female walrus who have lost their calves.

July 22, 1999: National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska

The Arctic Sunrise anchors off Barrow, the northernmost community in the United States, to take on mail and supplies. Melanie Duchin flies to the National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska. First Mate Frank Kamp and Second Mate Paul Ruzycki demonstrate a new technical innovation.

July 23, 1999: A Mermaid Amidst the Walrus

Now back at the ice pack, the crew of the Arctic Sunrise launch the Mermaid, one of Greenpeace's inflatables, to take a closer look at a large walrus colony. Meanwhile, scientists observing on the "monkey island" above the ship's bridge try a new weather modification technique.

July 24, 1999: Blood on the Ice

The crew and scientists aboard the Arctic Sunrise observe the aftermath of a polar bear attack on a male walrus. Dr. Gordon Jarrell discusses the attack and the implications for walrus security with Steve Sawyer.

July 25, 1999: The Galley

It's a quiet Sunday with the Arctic Sunrise in transit back to the Russian side of the Chukchi Sea. Steve Sawyer drops into the galley (ship's kitchen) and sees what cooks Toni Hessell and Martin Freimueller are up to. They've passed on to Steve (and our viewers) a favourite recipe for espresso hazelnut cake.

July 26, 1999: Arctic Wind

The Arctic Sunrise approaches Herald Island, a major polar bear denning area in the Chukchi Sea. The crew and scientists are plagued by a howling northern wind while on the lookout for the little-known ribbon seals.

July 27, 1999: A Mermaid at Herald Island

Second mate Paul Ruzycki steers the Greenpeace Mermaid inflatable through a maze of ice around Herald Island. After everyone is back onboard the Arctic Sunrise, Captain Arne Sorensen pushes through ice around the island into polar bear habitat.

July 28, 1999: Polar Bears at Herald Island

After ice, fog, and danger from polar bears forces the abandonment of an attempt to land on Herald Island to count sea birds banded by Alaskan biologist George Divoky, the Arctic Sunrise heads south of Wrangel Island in the Russian Arctic. Rare clear skies lead to an impromptu party on the helideck until sunrise at 3 am.

July 29, 1999: Heading Home

Veteran Greenpeace helicopter pilot Paula Huckleberry takes scientist Brendan Kelly up for one last walrus search. After bad weather strikes when Captain Arne Sorensen heads south, bo'sun Eddie McPartlin leads a team to lower the helicopter into the hold of the Arctic Sunrise.

July 30, 1999: Some Conclusions

Steve Sawyer sums up the trip. Dr. Brendan Kelly takes a tentative look at the data collected and concludes that there may be more evidence for a declining walrus population. Steve Sawyer warns that the Arctic is only one of the first regions affected by climate change and that this threat confronts us all.

July 31, 1999: Goodbye for Now ...

Steve Sawyer describes his favourite parts of the Ice Edge expedition and thanks many of the crew members who made it possible. Greenpeace will continue its campaign to oppose new oil development and protect magical places threatened by climate change such as Herald Island. "Goodbye for now. Let's do this again soon."