drizzt
Spain

How long have you been a cyberactivist?

I can´t remember exactly but I think I began in 2001, while I was studying in Finland.

Why did you become a cyberactivist?

I thought it would be a cheap, fast way to help the world while I check my emails. It is one more on the list of good things that can be done trough Internet. I also found it helps me to be informed on the last subjects that concern our planet. Also, when I began, I was studying abroad and I could not get deeply involved in any association because I was there just for nine months.

What's your secret? How did you gather so many recruits?

I really still find it hard to believe I got so far! Let me think my secret... I used some resources that were on my hand... A message panel in my University, emails to all my friends, and a nick on MSN Messenger saying "I HELP TO SAVE WHALES... ASK ME HOW YOU CAN DO THE SAME". Of course, most of the times it had to be rewritten, all in Spanish. You cannot imagine how lazy Spanish people is to read something in English. I did it tens of times. It´d have been easier if you had a Spanish version of the pledge page!

If you could create a banner about whaling and hang it anywhere in the world, what would it say and where would you hang it?

The text would be a simple "RESPECT THE WHALES", and it will include two pictures. One of a whale as seen when you are diving, I mean, with a lot of blue. A second picture with a lot of red, blood from the dead animal in the boat deck. I believe that real images of the cruelty of whaling can help people to move against its restart. It will be hanging in San Francisco Bay Bridge, or at London Bridge, or in Madrid in the KIO towers... Somewhere that people could not avoid to see it, and somewhere that TV wanted to diffuse it.

Why do you want to stop Iceland from whaling?

First, because it´s easier to stop Iceland, now they are beginning to come back to whaling, than stop other countries that have showed no concern for these animals in all their history. The fact that we have the support of the tourism industry of Iceland helps me to believe we can reach our objectives.

Second. Maybe some species of whales are recovering quite well and populations are growing, but this is not valid for all species, and I´m sure that whale hunters will shoot first and ask the species later (too late). And some species of cetaceans cannot afford another (avoidable) cause of death.

Third, because whale meat can be considered a delicacy in some countries, but it´s unsafe for human consumption. These animals are accumulating toxic substances in their tissues because as consumers of great amounts of biomass and having a long lifespan, they concentrate heavy metals, pesticides,... that we human beings produce and let reach the oceans.

And finally, I love that animals because they are travelling all the world around, so why is any country killing migrants? I think of them as a world heritage. I know this is more a personal reason and I cannot convince anyone with this idea, but it´s one important stimulus for me.

I simply love travelling, and I think a Greenpeace ship is one of the best ways to do it! I had also a friend sailing on the Greenpeace Mediterranean boat (Zorba) and he told me very nice stories. I imagine a multi-cultural crew, with people rich in stories to share (I hope to find some adventure to pay them back). And Iceland... a country I have always liked (and one I may not visit if Iceland keeps firm its plans to go back whaling). This is maybe my last chance to visit Iceland without eating my own words, if Icelandic government finally does not want to accept the data we are showing to them...

Yes, I have been on big boats and also on a small boat all around the Balearic Islands in Spain (Mallorca mainly) helping in a Sperm whale and bottlenose dolphin census in 1999. It was exciting to help with the ropes and even with the rudder. I live by the sea and I love it!

Feel free to add any other reason why you think you're the right person to represent our cyberactivist community on board the Esperanza:

I got the Veterinary title in 2001 and I´m just about to get the Marine Biology degree! I love to work with cetaceans and sea turtles. This is my objective for a job. I know it´s hard but I fight hard too.

I speak Spanish and English. I speak Catalan also. And I can write French too (I´m learning now, but it´s easy).

I like writing and feel comfortable with weblogs. And I also take nice photos (I have won some contests in the past!).

The name "Esperanza" is in Spanish... Maybe it´s a signal.

The picture was taken last summer. It's Matilde, a turtle we cared in the healing centre in Almeria and she was released to free nature on August. I do not have many pictures of me working because when I work, i cannot take pictures. I was also cleaning Spanish beaches after the Prestige disaster, but i cannot find the Pictures now...