Greenpeace Blog

Commemoration ceremony led by Greenpeace Executive Director John Sauven at Kingsnorth coal-fired power station in Kent. © Kristian Buus/ Greenpeace.

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I'm on the Rainbow Warrior just outside Kingsnorth coal plant. Security guards are trying to stop the 30 campaigners on the jetty from breaching security and walking through the power plant to the site of the proposed new Kingsnorth plant so, at the moment, they're holding the commemoration on the jetty, with security guards listening.

Each volunteer is carrying the flag of one of the 30 least polluting countries in the world; the proposed new coal plant at Kingsnorth will emit as much as these 30 countries combined. They're also reading out the evidence given by NASA director James Hansen and Inuit leader Aqqaluk Lynge at the trial of the Kingsnorth Six.

The Rainbow Warrior on route to Kingsnorth coal fired power station in Kent. © Kristian Buus / Greenpeace.

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It’s quite a sight: under a wintry sun, a flotilla of Greenpeace boats is heading down the Medway, straight towards Kingsnorth power station. The Rainbow Warrior is leading the peaceful armada and, from up here on the bridge, I can see our rigid inflatable boats abreast of us and streaming out behind in a V formation.

A couple of minutes ago, John, our executive director, phoned E.on and told them that our peaceful flotilla will be arriving at midday. Here's the mp3 or click to play:

Our amphibious incursion has a serious and peaceful purpose. The boats are carrying dozens of campaigners who plan to board Kingsnorth’s 700-metre coal jetty and then walk through the existing coal plant site to the site where E.on wants to build the UK’s first new coal plant in 30 years.

Energy and climate change secretary Ed Miliband has agreed to include emissions from aviation and shipping in the new Climate Change Bill, which is due to become law next month. Having already taken the important step of upping Britain's commitment to curb its carbon footprint from 60 per cent to 80 per cent by 2050 during his first week in office, he's now accepted an ammendment to the bill proposed by rebel Labour MPs to include the carbon footprint of the aviation and shipping industries.

The Rainbow Warrior in front of Kent Flats wind farm © Will Rose / Greenpeace.

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Just a quick one to let you know that we've just left Southend pier and are heading towards Chatham, to pick up the leaders of the UK's most important development, faith and environment groups - including the Women's Institute, Oxfam, Tearfund and RSPB - representing four million people.

From Chatham, we'll be sailing towards Kingsnorth, where the directors will sign a declaration saying: "Four million strong, we say no to dirty coal power stations, and yes to a clean green renewable energy future". The declaration will then be taken to Kingsnorth by one of our inflatable boats and delivered by hand to E.on staff.