01
September 2002
Hello
Durban!
Today we sailed into Durban. The sky was
blue, the sun shining and the water sparkling and calm. Beautiful.
On the way in we passed a group of humpback
whales. The navy and police gave us a wonderful escort into
port, and the Esperanza's new crew were waiting on the dock
to greet us.
We hung a banner on the side of the Esperanza
with a message to the Earth Summit... 10 years lost - Don't
make it ten more. We're still hoping for a positive outcome.
Later in the evening about 50 wonderful people
from local NGO's came aboard the Esperanza and welcomed us
to Durban. We will join them in a protest march on Tuesday
3rd September.
Highlights of the Esperanza's South African
WSSD tour so far...
 19
August - The Esperanza intercepts the British Nuclear
Fuels plutonium shipment aboard the Pacific Pintail and stages
a high seas protest.
 23
August - Archbishop Desmond Tutu visited us in Cape Town
and blesses the Esperanza wishing us well on our quest for
peace and a nuclear free world.
 24
August - Greenpeace activists protest against nuclear
power at the Koeberg nuclear power plant near Cape Town. Everything
goes smoothly until the police arrive. Twelve Greenpeacers
are arrested and two boats from the Esperanza are confiscated.
 26
August - We find out that the 6 crew members arrested
at Koeberg are not allowed to return to the ship.
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