Greenpeace

One of the tools on the Esperanza that helps us patrol the ocean is a helicopter.  It sits bound to the small heli-deck on the back of the ship when not in use, and takes off from there when we need it.  It greatly expands our reach in searching a vast ocean for pirate fishermen, and captures photo and video images from the air that help us tell the story about the beauty and threats currently facing our seas.

The helicopter is a Hughes 500d. It's small, fast and maneuverable.  The Hughes is flown by Hughie, who lives in Scotland and has been with Greenpeace for over 16 years.  Hughie has flown in campaigns all over the world, including last January when the Esperanza engaged the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Oceans.  Not only do his skills give Greenpeace the ability to work more effectively at sea.  They also provide access to remote areas on land we couldn't get to otherwise.

Yesterday I went up in the helicopter with Hughie to try and find illegal fishing vessels in the vicinity.  Taking off from the ship, which is routine for him yet anything but for me, got the blood flowing right off the bat.  We rose into the air and began scanning the horizon for ships.  The view from above was amazing.  There were some beautiful low-lying cloud formations, a bit of mist in the air and isolated showers at three places on the panoramic horizon.  And it was sunset, with some stunning colors.

In the midst of blue waters that seemed to stretch to infinity was the Esperanza, a lone beacon in a vast sea.  It was almost symbolic - a small ship on a huge ocean it naively thinks it can save, with a sign from the heavens that encourages us and tells us to never give up.  Although it was a stark reminder of the scale of our efforts and aspirations, it also seemed a testament to the fact that we take on issues much bigger than ourselves.  A world of Goliaths needs more Davids.  It was a comforting reminder of what it means to be Greenpeace.