This is Kieran Mulvaney, expedition leader on board the MV Arctic Sunrise. I thank you for your earlier transmission. It is a pleasure to have contact from you.

We would be very happy to leave the whaling grounds as you recommended. We are all a long way from home, and we miss our relatives and friends. We would all like to be home for the New Year holiday. I'm sure you feel the same way. However, we are planning to be here until you cease your whaling activities in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary. Until then, we will continue to peacefully protest your whaling program.

Your so-called "research" whaling program was never requested by the IWC Scientific Committee and is continued despite repeated requests from the IWC to stop the program. Most recently, in 2001 the IWC passed a resolution which states that the Commission: "Strongly urges the Government of Japan to halt the lethal takes of minke whales conducted under the JARPA program, at least until the Scientific Committee has reported to the Commission on the impacts of the JARPA program on the stocks of minke whales in Areas IV and V." Furthermore the IWC has designated this area within which you are conducting this whaling as a sanctuary.

Despite your characterization of us "pirates" and "robbers", Greenpeace is, and has always been, a non-violent organization committed to the principles of peaceful protest as you well know. We will do nothing to endanger or harm your vessels or your crews, and we request that you publicly make the same commitment to us.

We must point out that it was the Nisshin Maru, not the Arctic Sunrise, which was at fault for the collision two years ago. The Lloyd's database records the incident as a ramming of the Arctic Sunrise by the Nisshin Maru. The Nisshin Maru was the overtaking vessel. You will be aware that Rule 13 of the International Maritime Organization Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea states that "any vessel overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken." We urge that you not take any action to similarly endanger the Arctic Sunrise, a vessel which is far smaller than your own, this year.

Once again, we respectfully request that you cease your whaling. Until and unless you do, we shall continue to exercise our right to peaceful protest.

We wish you safe sailing.

Over