NETWORK

Newsletter for Greenpeace activists August/September 2009

© Rezac / Greenpeace

www.greenpeace.org.uk/active
 INTERNATIONAL
© Okhuizen / Greenpeace
Kumi brings with him a passion for activism, for nonviolence and
clear ideas to help shape the future of Greenpeace.
New Executive Director for
Greenpeace International
Prominent activist Kumi Naidoo from South
Africa has been appointed Executive Director
of Greenpeace International. Kumi will take
over from Gerd Leipold in November 2009.
Kumi says…
‘I have long been an admirer of the work of
Greenpeace, from my days as a young
anti-apartheid activist in South Africa and
currently as a member of the Greenpeace Africa
Board... The way Greenpeace works on all
levels – from confrontation to cooperation with
governments and corporations – is an inspiration.
The mix of pragmatism and passion really gets
things done and effects real change in the world.
I believe that Greenpeace is one of the most
precious assets the global community possesses,
and plays a critical part in reversing the current
fatal trajectory of our planet.’
Kumi was one of the founders of Global Call to
Action Against Poverty (GCAP) in 2005. The
organisation that has since grown into a powerful
coalition of anti-poverty campaigners from over
100 countries. GCAP calls for action from world
leaders to end poverty and equality by fulfilling
promises on aid, trade, debt, climate change and
gender equality.
He now sits on the Greenpeace Africa board,
working to end environmental destruction and
fighting for the right of Africans to a healthy
environment and is also Chair of the Global
Campaign for Climate Action.
Kumi will continue to use his influence to
generate civil society pressure and cooperation
to demand a strong deal at the UN Climate
Summit in Copenhagen in December – one that
reduces CO2 emissions, protects forests and
promotes renewables and energy efficiency.
© Giannotti / Greenpeace
Cover: Greenpeace activists block a 20,000 tonne coal shipment to Kingsnorth power station in Kent. Above: Ending a week of
actions calling on the G8 to take the lead on climate change, Greenpeace activists intercept a coal shipment in Italy.
Politicians talk, but leaders act
Jim Footner, climate campaign
June and July proved busy months for activists in the UK and abroad taking direct action
to demand that leaders deliver policy changes that will seriously combat climate change.
Kingsnorth: In June, Greenpeace volunteers swam in front of an E.ON ship and others
climbed aboard to stop it from unloading coal at Kingsnorth power station. The activists
took direct action where Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband has failed to take political
action to stop new coal. Despite the government assuring us that newly built power
stations will capture some of the carbon they release, the Government’s proposals
would effectively allow three tonnes of CO2 to be emitted from coal plants like
Kingsnorth for every tonne that is captured and stored in the ground.
Just 12 days later and actions at Kingsnorth were in the news again. A thousand people
from groups ranging from the Women’s Instutute to Oxfam joined together to form a
giant human chain around the power station demonstrating the growing coalition
opposed to prospect of emissions from new coal.
Drax: Also in June, the 29 volunteers who blocked a train transporting coal to Drax
power station last year were found guilty. The judge refused to allow the defendants,
who were representing themselves, to officially run a defence based on climate change,
despite that being their motivation to act. However, he described their defence as
‘eloquent, sincere, moving and engaging’ as the defendants still managed to bring the
threat of climate change and the urgency to act to the forefront of their defence.
Italy, G8 summit: Greenpeace volunteers from around the world occupied five coal
power stations in Italy to demand that world leaders, gathered in Rome for the G8
conference, take leadership on climate change. Once again however, the G8 failed
to act sufficiently to put the world on a path to avoiding dangerous climate change.
We now have less than five months, before the international meeting in Copenhagen,
for our politicians to become leaders. In the UK, that means Ed Miliband must stop
proposals for new coal fired power stations like Kingsnorth from going ahead.
GET ACTIVE!
Sign the Big If pledge
Tell Ed Miliband what you’ll do if he gives the go-ahead to new dirty coal at Kingsnorth.
Go to www.greenpeace.org.uk/bigif
 SPOTLIGHT

© Christellis / Greenpeace
© Rezac / Greenpeace
Greenpeace activists tell diners at the celebrity-favourite restaurant Nobu in London not to order bluefin tuna, an endangered The Greenpeace field had an Airplot theme, including an out-of-
species. Nobu, partly owned by actor Robert de Niro, has been in the media spotlight as it continues to offer bluefin on its menus. control tower for climbers and a replica of the Sipson village pub.

An ocean of news Lisa Weatherley

You can usually find her on the end of a phone
Willie Mackenzie, oceans campaign in Supporter Services, but for the past five
months, Lisa has been on secondment to the
Active supporters all over the UK, from Islington to Inverness, helped make the Active Supporters’ Unit.
special screenings of The End of the Line a great success on 8 June – World Oceans’
Day. The new documentary about overfishing, has had an amazing reception, and as I’ve really enjoyed the past few months. Among
a result, ran for four whole weeks in London’s West End and across the UK. other things, I was organising active supporter
involvement at this year’s Glastonbury. It was
The press coverage generated by the film has ensured that the problem of over fishing lovely to meet real people and leave behind the
has remained a high priority for journalists. Greenpeace has worked closely with the film months of application forms and spreadsheets. I
team to make sure that the issues have been documented in newspapers, magazines, TV knew some of the crew from previous events and
actions but there were plenty of new faces too.
and radio – and everyone has been talking tuna, from naked celebrities to Prince Albert of
Monaco. In an amazing development, the UK, Dutch, German and French governments
After seeing the plans for the Greenpeace field
have announced they are backing a ban on the international trade in bluefin tuna.
weeks earlier, it was stunning to see it in real life
for the first time. Together, we all made sure the
In the meantime, tuna fishermen reacted violently to activists documenting the bluefin field and campsite ran without a hitch and gained
tuna fishery in the Mediterranean. One crew member of the Rainbow Warrior was over 8,000 new Airplotters. Everyone there
repeatedly punched and beaten. The good news is that she’s going to be fine, but this worked incredibly hard – no mean feat given all
is further proof of just how far this unpleasant end of the industry will go to facilitate the other Glastonbury distractions!
high dining at sushi restaurants like Nobu.
If you’d like to volunteer for us at next year’s
The International Whaling Commission (IWC) met in June in Portugal. Member Glastonbury, applications forms will go out to
governments decided that they want to break the deadlock within the IWC between previous helpers and Network Coordinators next
March so keep an eye out.
pro- and anti-whaling countries, but also want to avoid controversy. So, instead of
addressing urgent issues of conservation, they have set up a group that will discuss
You’ll be back in Rachael’s capable hands next
possible ways forward for the IWC for yet another year. The concern is that this can
year, but would I do it again? You bet! Active
only mean a compromise to allow commercial whaling and so far Japan and its allies supporters are so dedicated. I’m always amazed
show no sign of being prepared to stop whaling. at the time people give and their enthusiasm,
even though I started my own Greenpeace life
Greenpeace’s political work to protect the ban on whaling and see an end to commercial doing whale walks and street collections (I’m
whaling continues in Europe, Japan, the US, Latin America and the Pacific. We need showing my age there!). The best part, by far, was
governments like the UK to take this issue as seriously as Japan does. meeting you all in person, an opportunity I rarely
get in Supporter Services.

GET ACTIVE!
GET ACTIVE!
Go and see The End of the Line
Visit www.endoftheline.com/screenings to find where the film is showing near you. Want to work at Glastonbury next year?
Get involved with your local network and help
Pledge to boycott bluefin tuna and those who sell it campaign in your area. For contact details, go
Go to www.greenpeace.org.uk/tunapledge to help save bluefin tuna. to www.greenpeace.org.uk/active
 TALK TALK

© Rezac / Greenpeace
© Rose / Greenpeace
True nonviolence: Greenpeace activists snatch some sleep on
a buoy in the River Medway having worked through the
A host of British sports stars are sponsored by Nike and wear their products, including Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, and the
night to stop E.ON’s frieghter unloading coal at Kingsnorth.
entire English Rugby Union team.

Nike steps up for the Amazon STREET CAMPAIGNING TRAINING

York, Saturday 26 September. Contact Jo.
James Turner, forest campaign
THE 20TH WAVENEY GREENPEACE FAIR
Greenpeace report, Slaughtering the Amazon, sent shockwaves through Brazil’s cattle Sunday 6 September, 11am – Midnight, Hulver
industry when it was released in June. It described how the cattle industry has become the farm, St Michael, South Elmham, Suffolk.
single biggest cause of deforestation in the world and exposed the global companies, including
Nike, Clarks, Adidas and Reebok, which are buying products implicated in the destruction. In 1987 a group of Greenpeace supporters ran
a village fete to raise money. Now in its 20th
As a direct result, Nike has announced that it will stop buying leather from the Amazon year, the fair has over 5000 visitors, raises
as well as demanding assurances from all its suppliers that their leather does not come over £15,000 and gets everyone thinking
about Greenpeace’s work whilst capturing the
from areas that have suffered from illegal deforestation.
spirit of the free festivals of the 60’s and 70’s.

This is a fantastic result and shows that careful research, followed by targeted action
This year’s fair is free for people but cars are
and political pressure can force industries to face the consequences of their £20. With an improved bus service from
environmental impact and change their policies. Greenpeace is now demanding that Bungay and Halesworth there’s no need to pay.
other companies follow Nike’s lead and support a moratorium. We have also written to the Email Richard (below) to volunteer to make
UK’s leading supermarkets telling them to stop buying beef from farms that are involved this 20th anniversary a very special success.
in forest destruction. Ultimately, we want an end to deforestation for cattle ranching in See www.waveneygreenpeace.org.uk,
the Amazon – similar to the soya moratorium Greenpeace helped achieve in 2006. or call 01766 830444 or 07515 9145146

In South East Asia, pressure is also building on companies that are clearing and burning ACTIVE SUPPORTER NETWORK OVERVIEW
peatlands and rainforests to produce palm oil. Following our work last year to expose Greenpeace’s active supporter network is made up
Unilever’s role in forest destruction, Greenpeace has helped drive forward a new of network coordinators, local networks and
individual active supporters. Today we have 101
coalition of consumer companies which aims to stop deforestation completely and network coordinators, 90 networks and 23,336
punish suppliers who continue to destroy natural habitats. We are continuing our active supporters.
research to isolate the worst offenders and are demanding that UK companies scrap
contracts with the worst suppliers. CONTACT DETAILS
getactive@uk.greenpeace.org
Rachael King
Shipping news 020 7865 8174
rachael.king@uk.greenpeace.org
Jo Melzack (Scotland, North England
The Esperanza is in the Cook Islands working with local communities to tell world & Northern Ireland) 0161 448 1929
leaders to take action on climate change. People in the Pacific are at the frontline of jo.melzack@uk.greenpeace.org
climate impacts as sea level rise threatens their homes, contaminates soil and ruins
Malcolm Carroll (West)
crops, while warming oceans threaten food supplies from coral reefs and the sea. 020 7865 8172
The Arctic Sunrise is on a three month expedition in Greenland with leading climate malcolm.carroll@uk.greenpeace.org
scientists on board gathering climate change data for the UN Summit in December. Richard Martin (South England)
The Rainbow Warrior is in the Mediterranean calling for marine reserves. Meanwhile, 020 7865 8178
construction of Rainbow Warrior III has started at the Fassmer shipyard in Germany. richard.martin@uk.greenpeace.org

Canonbury Villas London N1 2PN t 020 7865 8100 f 020 7865 8200 www.greenpeace.org.uk