Greenpeace Blog

Greenpeace say "good morning" to President Bush

Posted by bex — 20 July 2001 at 8:00am - Comments
ticket for waking bushIn the early hours, George Bush got a dawn wake up at Chequers when a micro-lite, trailing a "George W Bush - International Outlaw" banner, buzzed the house around 10 times.


George Bush and Tony Blair have flown out to Genoa for the start of the G8 summit today. G8 will bring together world leaders to debate globalisation.World Meteorological Organisation

Article tagged as: climate change, g8, george bush, kyoto protocol, peace, star wars

The politics of COP 6

Posted by bex — 19 July 2001 at 8:00am - Comments
dont let us drown

dont let us drown

COP 6, officially known as the 6th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was held in Bonn, Germany, from 16th - 27th July 2001.

The UNFCCC was born at the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992 as a result of growing concerns about climate change. The objective of the UNFCCC is the 'stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system'.

Article tagged as: climate change, COP, international policy, UNFCCC

Daily update COP6

Posted by bex — 19 July 2001 at 8:00am - Comments
wind turbines at sunset

wind turbines at sunset

Update: 19th July

The pace of activities continues to pick up rapidly here in Bonn.

Yesterday, the US Greenpeace students had a formal debate at 8 AM with the "Corporate" students brought over by a combination of climate skeptics, the oil industry and Republicans. Needless to say, our students carried the day, which started early because the "Corporate" students had to rush off for a sightseeing tour of nearby Cologne.

NGOs here have created a button (badge) with a picture of the Japanese flag and the words "Honour Kyoto" on them. German Environment Minister Jurgen Trittin was spotted wearing one, as well as delegates from many other countries.

Article tagged as: bonn, climate change, COP, japan, kyoto protocol, USA

Greenpeace stops international outlaw President Bush in his tracks

Posted by bex — 19 July 2001 at 8:00am - Comments

buckingham palace protestPresident George Bush's motorcade was brought to an abrupt halt by two Greenpeace volunteers. As Bush swept down The Mall on his way to Buckingham Palace for lunch with the Queen, they stepped calmly out in front of him carrying signs saying "George W Bush - International Outlaw" and sat down in the road. The delayed motorcade continued on its way after the two were removed by police officers.

Meanwhile, Greenpeace supporters stood outside the Palace to (un)welcome GW Bush to the country. A giant puppet of Bush, a forest of 'International Outlaw' flags, 4 of the now famous Star Wars missiles (protesting US plans to break the ABM treaty) and an ear-splitting barrage of air horns greeted the Toxic Texan as he arrived.

Article tagged as: buckingham palace, climate change, direct actions, george bush, kyoto protocol, protests

Weird weather

Posted by bex — 19 July 2001 at 8:00am - Comments
wave energy: a green and sustainable energy resource

wave energy: a green and sustainable energy resource

The latest reports from the world's climate scientists show that climate change is happening faster than was first predicted. They paint a grim picture of life in a warming world. All around the globe countries are experiencing the kind of 'weird weather' that we have been warned to expect. At this stage no-one can categorically state that the devastation the world is experiencing is a result of climate change but at the very least it gives a frightening picture of what we can expect if the climate is not protected.

Here is a taste of what is really at stake...

Weird weather:
Wet weather and mites devastate bee populations.
Heaviest rain in South Korea for 37 years.
Thousands stranded in flooded Orissa.
Melting ice threatens blue whales' food supply.
Pacific nation fears devastation from the ocean.
Flash floods in Pakistan.

Article tagged as: climate change, impacts

Wet weather and mites devastate bee populations

Posted by bex — 19 July 2001 at 8:00am - Comments
Flowers and bee

Flowers and bee

A combination of pesticide-resistant mites and wet weather has devastated bee populations in parts of the US, wiping out more than half of Maryland's bees this winter and devastating hives in many regions of the country. Beekeepers are now struggling to rebuild their colonies, while farmers who rely on the insects to pollinate their crops have had difficulty finding available hives to place in their fields.

Article tagged as: bees, climate change, conservation, impacts, insects, maryland, USA, vermont

Thousands stranded in flooded Orissa

Posted by bex — 19 July 2001 at 8:00am - Comments
Globe showing climate change

Globe showing climate change

The eastern Indian state of Orissa has received 84% more rain than usual resulting in floods that have left 30 people dead and up to 500,000 marooned. The floods - have affected more than four million people and 7,000 villages.

It is still raining heavily in parts of Orissa and the death toll is rising according to local officials. The federal government in Delhi has pledged some $22m in aid to the region.

Article tagged as: climate change, flooding, impacts, india, orissa

Heaviest rain in South Korea for 37 years

Posted by bex — 19 July 2001 at 8:00am - Comments
Climate change: English country floods

Climate change: English country floods

The death toll in South Korea from the heaviest rain in 37 years rose to 40 on Monday as rescue workers sifted through the wreckage left by the downpour. The rain, which was most severe in the area of the capital, Seoul, followed months of unprecedented drought and triggered floods and landslides.

Article tagged as: climate change, disasters, flooding, impacts, landslides, precipitation, south korea

Daily update COP6

Posted by bex — 18 July 2001 at 8:00am - Comments
Volunteers occupy tanker- Italy

Volunteers occupy tanker- Italy

Update: 18th July , 2001

Much buoyed by the ongoing occupation of the Exxon tanker near Genoa, our delegation spread out early this morning across the conference center, gathering information and position papers, and focussing on the details of the negotiations for their assigned groups.

Today is the last day that substantive progress can be made before the ministers start the political negotiations in earnest tomorrow.

Article tagged as: australia, canada, climate change, COP, exxon, japan, kyoto protocol, stop esso

Greenpeace volunteers take over ExxonMobil tanker in Italy

Posted by bex — 17 July 2001 at 8:00am - Comments

Volunteers occupy tanker- Italy17th July- Four Greenpeace volunteers boarded a tanker chartered by US oil company ExxonMobil (known as Esso in parts of Europe) in the port of Vado Ligure to stop the discharge of oil from the 80,000 tonne tanker Clare Spirit. The ship was carrying oil from the North Sea Forties field. The activists are aiming to prevent the discharge pipe from being connected to stop operations.

The action comes at the beginning of the renewed climate talks in Bonn and 3 days before the G-8 government leaders are due to meet in Genoa which will discuss both the climate treaty and the recently released G-8 renewable energy task force report.

Article tagged as: climate change, direct actions, george bush, kyoto protocol, oil, stop esso

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