Our new blogger Liz is a volunteer deck-hand onboard the Rainbow Warrior. Over the next few weeks she'll be our eyes and ears aboard as the crew document and expose the flagrant overfishing of bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean. Their first port of call is Malta, a focal point of the exploitative tuna ranching industry.
In 2005 I applied for a summer job as a street fundraiser for Greenpeace and my life changed a little. I'd been studying for a degree in environmental science and as interesting as it was, I found it quite depressing at times to be learning about the terrible state of the world and how little was being done to change it.
Suddenly I saw a bunch of people who were doing something active about these problems, standing up against the big guys. They gave me renewed hope and enthusiasm that things really could change, and I decided that I wanted to be one of those people taking action. I joined my local group, took part in actions and started training to be a Greenpeace climber.
The Rainbow Warrior came to the UK in October last year and I was lucky enough to volunteer for a week on board, this week turned into three months. In April, I came back for my second trip as a volunteer deckhand. Having had no experience at sea other than the ferry crossing to France as a kid, I had a lot to learn about life on a ship!
My job includes maintenance such as blasting off rust and repainting, cleaning inside and out, and handling ropes when we come in and out of port. We also set the sails when the wind is right, climb the masts for repairs, crew the inflatables, help with open days for the public, and of course take part in actions.
In fact nearly every day is different, plans change constantly and life can be unpredictable, but that is a big part of why I like to be here. I love that for now I don't have to work in an office. I have worked in offices and no doubt will have to again at some point, so I'm making the most of working outside while I can!
I like that I have learnt to be more 'hands on', and I'm quite proud of my new power tool skills. When I first arrived I couldn't be sure which was port and which was starboard, and I sure as hell didn't know how to 'flake the lines'. So I've come quite a way since last October. I've more or less found my sea legs, but I think I still have some way to go before I could call myself a proper sailor.
Working days for a deckhand can be long, and sometimes sharing your life with 15 people in a place where you can't escape to the park when you need a breather can be a little intense, but it's a unique experience and most days after watching the sunset or dolphins leaping at the bow, I remember how privileged I am to be here.
