CREW BIOGRAPHIES: MV GREENPEACE VOYAGE TO SHANGHAI JUNE 1996Ulf Birgander, 44, CaptainBorn Linkoping, Sweden. I started sailing soon after finishing school. I studied to get my Mates’ ticket and then went on to become a captain, sailing worldwide on a number of different Swedish ships. I got involved with the Swedish anti-nuclear movement in 1979 and then joined Greenpeace at the end of 1991. Ken Ballard, 39, First Mate I first became involved with GP in 1978 when the fledgling organisation had just obtained its first vessel in Europe, the Rainbow Warrior. Before that I had done a conventional Merchant Navy apprenticeship as Navigating Officer and sailed world wide on bulk and general cargo ships. From that time I have worked for Greenpeace on most of their ships and taken part in many of the campaigns. Most recently I have worked for several years on the Antarctic campaign, as First Mate and then Expedition Co-ordinator. Seeing Antarctica for the first time was a childhood dream come true and many visits since have not diminished the sense of awe and excitement that the Antarctic environment can engender. This unique voyage to Shanghai will be the focal point for world wide public and political pressure to get China to halt all nuclear testing. After 25 years of campaigning on this issue we are moving closer to the goal of a nuclear arms free world and eventually a totally nuclear free world. I am as committed to that vision now as I was 20 years ago when my ideals led me to Greenpeace were I became part of the largest and most effective environmental campaigning organisation in the world.
Jeannette Haagsma, 34, 2nd mate. I studied psychology and became a drama teacher before getting my mates ticket in 1990. I have been involved in anti-nuclear demonstrations since high school and working at sea made me aware of how much pollution there is in the world - even in the middle of the Atlantic you'll find rubbish! In 1991 I decided to use my professional skills to work with Greenpeace. I have sailed on the Moby Dick, the Sirius and mostly on the MV, involved in various campaigns and actions. I would like to see a peaceful, clean and above all nuclear free world and I am honoured to play a part in this campaign. I hope we reach China and that our presence makes a difference.
Helen Perivier, 36, 3rd Mate. I have been a crew member on Greenpeace ships since 1991, atlhough my first involvement in a Greenpeace campaign was in 1983 as one of a team of people who entered the US Nevada nuclear test site and successfully delayed an explosion. I have also worked as a campaigner and a campaign co-ordinator on Greenpeace’s toxics campaign for six years before joining the ships.
Bob James, 45, 2nd engineer/electrician. I have worked for Greenpeace for approx six years, on the Sirius, and the Rainbow Warrior, but most of the time on the M/V Greenpeace, including two Antarctic trips. Although cynical by nature I am committed to saving our environment as much as possible. I was on the M/V Greenpeace last year when it was subjected to an act of piracy in international waters by the French military, seized and illegally detained. I was also on the recovery crew six months later and am still on the crew for this voyage to China, where the object of the exercise is to convince China to stop nuclear tests of any description. This is an objective that I wholeheartedly support.
Mark Hardingham, 37, 3rd engineer. I left school aged 16 and went to work at British Nuclear Fuels Ltd on a four year apprenticeship as a maintenance fitter. I escaped to sea in May 1980 (eight months after completing my apprenticeship) working for Cunard Steamship Co. Ltd. and continued working on cargo ships until August 1985. I then traveled extensively, working here and there on yachts or building sites, in hotels and restaurants for 3 or 4 months each year to finance my travels until Nov 1991, when I came to work with Greenpeace. I had been inspired by Greenpeace for many years before I finally wrote to Marine Services and I feel very privileged to be sailing the worlds oceans aboard Peace Ships. I enjoy nature, the wilderness, hiking, camping, cycling, climbing mountains exploring other countries and cultures - being in direct communication with life. I have been anti-nuclear since working at B.N.F.L. and seeing the inside of such dangerous and evil industry. Being part of the China voyage gives me another chance to express my grave concern about the nuclear nightmare.
Neil Brewster, 32, radio operator I did an Army apprenticeship in electronics, followed by six years service. I became a financial member of Greenpeace while I was still in the Army, and began voluntary work while on leave. Three months after being discharged from the Army I joined Greenpeace as a radio operator and have been working and volunteering for them ever since. I have also volunteered for other environment and peace organization, most notably the South East Asian Information Network, helping to set up communications equipment in Burma. I left the army because I realised there was more to do for our society than waste money on weapons. I think it is time to include China in the struggle to rid the earth of nukes.
Frank Marston, age 63, Bosun I served my national service with the Royal Air Force and on my demob joined the murchant navy, sailing with the Union Castle Line out of London. Two years later I moved on to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanks and supply ships. On leaving the merchant navy in 1960 I worked ashore as a carpenter, and during that time I enlisted in the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service as a seaman. I offered to work for Greenpeace as a volunteer in 1992 and was offered the job as Bosun on the MV Solo. I have now been working on Greenpeace ships for the past four years
Dominic Maher, 35, 2nd engineer. I am a qualified engineer and I joined Greenpeace in 1995 to utilise my skills in a more positive and constructive way. This voyage to China is important to me because as soon as a unilateral CTBT is signed more effort can be made to concentrate on total nuclear disarmament, ensuring a more secure and stable world for future generations. I have no children of my own but I have 12 neices and nephews and I believe it is up to all of us to make an effort on behalf of all children everywhere and to give them a safe and nuclear free future.
Bora Cvetkovic, 35, Deckhand/ship's doctor From an early age I visited pure nature sites, so my admiration for a clean enviroment was developed during these years. While in secondary school I became a member of an enviromental group "Young Researchers".The main activities were recording and pointing to pollution that was caused by industrial complexes. After the outbreak of the war in my country in 1991 I moved to Amsterdam and a week later I applied to work for Greenpeace. It seemed attractive to continue working towards protecting our enviroment while at the same time practicing my profession - taking care of the health of my friends. While working with Greenpeace I can also enhance my knowledge of different cultures and enviroments. I find this trip particularly important because a final step toward a ban on all nuclear tests seems to be closer than ever before. I am glad to participate in these efforts to realise the wishes of all peaceful people around the world and to at last stop the mistake that our civilization made fifty years ago.
Shaun Naylor, 36, Deckhand/Outboard Mechanic. I joined Greenpeace in 1981 when I was traveling in Holland with a mate looking for any kind of work. We decided to volunteer for Greenpeace until we got work - and I'm still here.
Tanya Popp, 29, deckhand. I as brought up in mainly rural New Zealand, attended 14 schools and in my working life have worked in shearing gangs, on a long-line fishing boat, in horticulture and as barmaid. In 1989 I got my Commercial Launchmasters' licence and in 1990 began working with Greenpeace as a deckhand on the Rainbow Warrior, Vega, Red Bill and the MV Greenpeace. I live in a very beautiful place and when I am not on the ships spend most of my time on the land gardening, tree planting and at the moment building an adobe in situ earth house. I work for Greenpeace because I appreciate the enviroment and see so much destruction going on around me. We are the guardians and as such are responsible for what is handed on to the future generations. This campaign is important to me because I feel the nuclear weapons industry poses a very serious threat to the future of this planet. To have all countries make the first step towards a peaceful and safer world, can only be a positive move. Kazue Suzuki, 32, campaigner, Greenpeace Japan I studied political science at Komazawa University and have been active in protests against the Gulf War (1991), US military presence in Japan (1991 present) and the deployment of Japanese military overseas. I joined Greenpeace in 1992, and was campaigner on the French testing issue during 1995. I am licensed as inflatable driver in Japan.
Edouard Gismatullin, 24, Campaigner Greenpeace Russia I began working for Greenpeace as a campaigns assistant in 1992 and in the same year was deck-hand on board the Rainbow Warrior for a Russian tour of the Far East, Vladivostok and the Sea of Japan. In 1993 I worked as a campaign assistant on the MV Moby Dick, and in 1994 worked as one of the tour coordinators onboard the MV Greenpeace voyage to the Sea of Japan, Vladivostok, Russia. Up until the end of 1995, I also worked as an actions coordinator for Greenpeace Russia and at that time I began work as an anti nuclear campaigner.
Leonard Simandjuntak, 28, I am a member of the Indonesian Anti-Nuclear Society since 1994 and have been involved in a variety of activities on anti nuclear movement such as public debates, panel discussions, policy advocacies, demonstrations, parliamentary lobbying and study. I am coordinator for the No Nukes Asia Forum 1996, to be held at the end of July 1996 in Indonnesia.
Jae Hoon Choi, 29, campaigner, I work in the Anti Nuclear & Peace division of KFEM. A graduate of the Seoul National University with a degree in industrial engineering, I began working for KFEM in 1994. I worked on the French nuclear testing campaign, on which KFEM did a number of well publicised demonstrations, and have also worked on a campaign to oppose Korean government plans to site a nuclear waste dump on Kurop do Island, off the coast of North West South Korea. The campaign was successful and the government abandoned the plans in September of last year. In May 1995 I campaigned in the municipal elections in South Korea on environmental issues.
Xavier Pastor, 45, Campaigner
Myrla. B. Baldonado, 43,r Vera Dua, **, Member of Belgium Parliament, since 1991
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