Captain's Blog: New generation

Posted by lisavickers - 9 September 2010 at 4:40pm - Comments

Waldermar, captain of the Esperanza, writes about his personal motivations for bringing the ship to the Arctic...

I'm from South America, the land of the Incas, the Guaraníes, the Wichis, the Tobas, the Mapuches, the Onas, and other native nations.

The Europeans came about 500 years ago promising progress and wealth. They came for the natural resources. The gold, the silver, the iron, the fish and finally the oil. And they took it all...

The settlers took over the land, they brought their own people to exploit, manage and administrate their adventure. They imposed their religion and culture, and their view of what progress, happiness, development and wealth are.

At the beginning of the 20th Century my ancestors came to Argentina as part of a wave of migration from Germany, Poland and Italy. They came with the promise of "hacer la América" (do the Américas), which meant getting rich fast and returning to the Motherland. But they never left, they were also cheated.

Since the white man’s arrival, there have never been decent jobs available for the natives, and so their population has decreased near to extinction. Nowadays, the remaining Argentine natives are marginalized, they are poor, sick and isolated and have lost their land forever. Does this seem familiar to you?

I have a very strong impression that oil will not bring nirvana to Greenland. The Arctic is one of the last frontiers for the energy giants. I understand Greenlanders desire prosperity, but I doubt that Greenlanders will constitute the workforce for the oil industry and fear that they will loose their traditions and livelihood. And that’s before I have even mentioned the likelihood of a disastrous oil spill like in the Gulf of Mexico.

I refuse to be part of what my ancestors did in South America. I belong to a new generation - to the people of the 21st Century - to a higher level of consciousness. This is why I came to the Arctic with the Esperanza - to push for a different way of looking at unexploited areas of Earth and to stop oil exploration in one of the last frontiers.

I believe we can end our addiction to fossil fuels, grow up and evolve.

I believe we can move beyond oil.

--Waldermar

Image: Waldermar talks to the operations manager of the Stena Don oil rig just before a group of Greenpeace climbers boarded the rig to shut down Cairn Energy's drilling operations in the Arctic. Ben, comms officer on board, stands in the background. © Greenpeace/ Will Rose

Article tagged as: arctic, climate change, esperanza, go beyond oil, oil

Comments Commenting is now closed

I can see that you are a Captain on a ship but not a historian, anthropologist in terms of the Greenlandic history.
You mention a another country who has nothing to do with Greenland and its history, and I have trouble see similarities with Greenland and your story, they are not linked. Why don´t you hire a truly engaged historian, anthropologist to tell the true history of this brave country, Greenland, who have become a true evironmental activist best friend and model for the rest of the world with up to 90 % of its energy comsume( in few years from now), of energy given by green energy.
Greenlands democrazy, education level, and administration is on the same level of Denmark and the rest af the Skandinavien.

By Knud Seblon - 9 September 2010 at 8:20pm

This could be very very interesting to puplish this in the greenlandic newspapers, so the Greenlandis polulation of there own can see for them selves you opinion and why you where in Greenland. I can copypaste this interenet page to an greenlandic newspaper journalist or send it to them with your permission.

By Knud Seblon - 9 September 2010 at 9:01pm

Now that is a beautiful argument.

If the people of Greenland are that keen to be the new frontier of an increasingly reckless oil industry then perhaps have a word with:

1) The people living in the shadow of the Canadian Tar Sands (see http://www.ienearth.org/tarsands.html) or
2) The locals in Siberia, with oil oozing from the pipeline (see http://en.rian.ru/russia/20100219/157938794.html) or
3) Better yet have a word with the people in the Gulf of Mexico, and see how they feel about the welath they've clearly been enjoying from the activities of BP

I suspect that opinion is more divided than Knud suggests, and that they quite like the idea that Greenland remains a green and pleasant land, and not another ravaged piece of wilderness.

By candleflame99 - 10 September 2010 at 11:05am

I'm sure the opinion of Greenlanders on issues regarding oil expoloration would change drasticallyif they were to suffer an oil spill, as would be the same with everyone if their country was affected.

By Connelly90 - 10 September 2010 at 12:07pm

Great links already provided about other indigenous populations suffering from Tar Sands or oil spills. However, I think it's important to throw Shell's operation in the Niger delta in the mix.

http://www.protectthehuman.com/shell

By willb - 10 September 2010 at 4:33pm

The exploration drilling Rig Stena D is just the tip of the iceberg. They only do the exploring and sell the results I presume to the big oil giants who are already chomping at the bit to profit off Greenlands Wealth.
I am concerned for the future of this incredible land and it's unique place in having a large concentration of some of the worlds most valuable resources. All the mining operations are being carried out at present by British, Australian, and Canadian companies. The only government entity overlooking this is the autonmous government of Greenland. which being relatively new to the political sphere remains deeply influenced by it's former Colonial oppressor Danmark. Greenlands economy remains dependant on contributions by the Danish government. Greenland has a strong desire to be totally independant. Big Oil presents an oppurtunity for Greenland to finally become self sufficient not completely unlike what happened to the Desert Arab states in the mid east.
I feel this rush for resources will do more to prevent Greenlands independence. The socio-economic realities of the stronger countries like the United States, or Britian with less resources will at some point prevail.
In addition, opening up the Arctic depths to Big Oil sets a dangerous global precedence. Not only will it contribute to climate change but it will set the stage for the Antarctic resources to be exploited. the Antarctic penninsula is on the same continental plate as Argentina. Countries which have very little scientific interest in the Antarctic lay claim to every square inch of this penninsula and some even overlap each other.
Just a reminder of our collective heritage. Some years ago a very
terrible and costly war was fought in the Falklands also known as the Malvinas islands who's coastal shelves like in Greenland are rich in oil.
I feel it would be worthwhile for Greenland to look at it's geothermal potential and other renewables as well as fresh water supplys before opening up a pandoras box of resource profiteering not just for it's own cause of independance but for efforts in maintaining global peace.

By Marc Defourneaux - 10 September 2010 at 11:23pm

It doesn't matter what benefits massive corporations say they will be giving the local populace, it invariably ends as Waldemar says, with them getting nothing.

I just hope, for Greenland, for all our sakes, and most especially for the Arctic, that Greenland will stop giving out licences to drill - and that Oil companies will have strict regulations and laws put on them to stop them deep-sea drilling.

Because we can't afford to have an oil spill in the Arctic.

Thank-you Greenpeace, yet another time you have opened all our eyes.

By FreeSpirit - 9 September 2010 at 5:56pm

Why dont´t Greenpeace ask victims of ships who have collided with icebergs? Whey will mention the danger of sailing along the coasts of Greenland. And Greenpeace , it is dangerous, you should not sail by Greenlands icebergs. Don´t challenge your fate.
Greenpeace have no further contact and is not welcome in the official goverment of Greenland, so how can Greenpeace tell you about what is really going on in politics and in the admistration of Greenland? As far as I can see, is there a distance between whats really going on in Greenland and whats Greenpeace mean there are.
Greenland have close relations to the skandinavic countries and all conditions is on the same level as in scandinavia.
so it´s a up to date community in all levels. See it your self: Google Greenland.
Greenland have a visionary residents who are in the forefront in the use of environmentally greenenergy supply.
And, how will Denmark Getting out of financial crisis without its oil and gas from the North Sea?
Before the oil and gas was found denmark have a bad economi, but after it was much better.

By Knud Seblon - 11 September 2010 at 3:02am

I can see that you are a Captain on a ship but not a historian, anthropologist in terms of the Greenlandic history. You mention a another country who has nothing to do with Greenland and its history, and I have trouble see similarities with Greenland and your story, they are not linked. Why don´t you hire a truly engaged historian, anthropologist to tell the true history of this brave country, Greenland, who have become a true evironmental activist best friend and model for the rest of the world with up to 90 % of its energy comsume( in few years from now), of energy given by green energy. Greenlands democrazy, education level, and administration is on the same level of Denmark and the rest af the Skandinavien.

By Knud Seblon - 9 September 2010 at 8:20pm

By Knud Seblon - 9 September 2010 at 9:01pm

Now that is a beautiful argument. If the people of Greenland are that keen to be the new frontier of an increasingly reckless oil industry then perhaps have a word with: 1) The people living in the shadow of the Canadian Tar Sands (see http://www.ienearth.org/tarsands.html) or 2) The locals in Siberia, with oil oozing from the pipeline (see http://en.rian.ru/russia/20100219/157938794.html) or 3) Better yet have a word with the people in the Gulf of Mexico, and see how they feel about the welath they've clearly been enjoying from the activities of BP I suspect that opinion is more divided than Knud suggests, and that they quite like the idea that Greenland remains a green and pleasant land, and not another ravaged piece of wilderness.

By candleflame99 - 10 September 2010 at 11:05am

By Connelly90 - 10 September 2010 at 12:07pm

Great links already provided about other indigenous populations suffering from Tar Sands or oil spills. However, I think it's important to throw Shell's operation in the Niger delta in the mix. http://www.protectthehuman.com/shell

By willb - 10 September 2010 at 4:33pm

The exploration drilling Rig Stena D is just the tip of the iceberg. They only do the exploring and sell the results I presume to the big oil giants who are already chomping at the bit to profit off Greenlands Wealth. I am concerned for the future of this incredible land and it's unique place in having a large concentration of some of the worlds most valuable resources. All the mining operations are being carried out at present by British, Australian, and Canadian companies. The only government entity overlooking this is the autonmous government of Greenland. which being relatively new to the political sphere remains deeply influenced by it's former Colonial oppressor Danmark. Greenlands economy remains dependant on contributions by the Danish government. Greenland has a strong desire to be totally independant. Big Oil presents an oppurtunity for Greenland to finally become self sufficient not completely unlike what happened to the Desert Arab states in the mid east. I feel this rush for resources will do more to prevent Greenlands independence. The socio-economic realities of the stronger countries like the United States, or Britian with less resources will at some point prevail. In addition, opening up the Arctic depths to Big Oil sets a dangerous global precedence. Not only will it contribute to climate change but it will set the stage for the Antarctic resources to be exploited. the Antarctic penninsula is on the same continental plate as Argentina. Countries which have very little scientific interest in the Antarctic lay claim to every square inch of this penninsula and some even overlap each other. Just a reminder of our collective heritage. Some years ago a very terrible and costly war was fought in the Falklands also known as the Malvinas islands who's coastal shelves like in Greenland are rich in oil. I feel it would be worthwhile for Greenland to look at it's geothermal potential and other renewables as well as fresh water supplys before opening up a pandoras box of resource profiteering not just for it's own cause of independance but for efforts in maintaining global peace.

By Marc Defourneaux - 10 September 2010 at 11:23pm

It doesn't matter what benefits massive corporations say they will be giving the local populace, it invariably ends as Waldemar says, with them getting nothing. I just hope, for Greenland, for all our sakes, and most especially for the Arctic, that Greenland will stop giving out licences to drill - and that Oil companies will have strict regulations and laws put on them to stop them deep-sea drilling. Because we can't afford to have an oil spill in the Arctic. Thank-you Greenpeace, yet another time you have opened all our eyes.

By FreeSpirit - 9 September 2010 at 5:56pm

Why dont´t Greenpeace ask victims of ships who have collided with icebergs? Whey will mention the danger of sailing along the coasts of Greenland. And Greenpeace , it is dangerous, you should not sail by Greenlands icebergs. Don´t challenge your fate. Greenpeace have no further contact and is not welcome in the official goverment of Greenland, so how can Greenpeace tell you about what is really going on in politics and in the admistration of Greenland? As far as I can see, is there a distance between whats really going on in Greenland and whats Greenpeace mean there are. Greenland have close relations to the skandinavic countries and all conditions is on the same level as in scandinavia. so it´s a up to date community in all levels. See it your self: Google Greenland. Greenland have a visionary residents who are in the forefront in the use of environmentally greenenergy supply. And, how will Denmark Getting out of financial crisis without its oil and gas from the North Sea? Before the oil and gas was found denmark have a bad economi, but after it was much better.

By Knud Seblon - 11 September 2010 at 3:02am

Knud, you relentlessly come up with the same argument that Greenland is a green, progressive, visionary country, and then use that argument to justify drilling for oil in Arctic waters. Do you not see the contradiction? i.e. that if the big oil countries are allowed to turn the Greenland coast into the next Niger delta / Canadian Tar sands / Gulf of Mexico then your argument and justification fall to pieces. Continuing to invest in squeezing the last drop of oil out of the most extreme limits of human enterprise, will destroy the local enviornment (i.e. yours) and everyone elses as it leads to runaway climate change.

By emptyhand - 15 September 2010 at 9:45am

Then I will ask, why you dont mentioned The north Sea? And, how will the North sea drillingcountries manage the global financialcrisis if it not haves it oil and gas from the North Sea?

By Knud Seblon - 16 September 2010 at 2:44pm

I think it is sad when anybody tried to destroy the natural resources for their own gain. I don't believe there should be any drilling near icebergs. That is craziness and I don't understand.