Greenpeace today condemned President George W Bush as an international outlaw who refuses to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and is planning to break the Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty. The president is coming to London to bully Tony Blair into supporting the American Government over its 'Star Wars' programme and justify his refusal to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. Commenting on the President's visit, Stephanie Tunmore, Greenpeace Climate Campaigner, said:
"Bush is making the world a more dangerous place by refusing to take action to stop climate change and by building the Star Wars missile defence system which will trigger a new arms race. Tony Blair should tell George W Bush to stay home until he agrees to cancel the Star Wars programme and ratify the Kyoto protocol.
Even though the US is saying it won't ratify the Kyoto Protocol they are still meddling and trying to sabotage attempts by the rest of the world to control global warming. This is totally unacceptable and shows that George Bush is not only indifferent to the rest of the world but is actively working to make our lives worse."
Andy Tait, Greenpeace Star Wars campaigner, added:
"Bush's Star Wars plans are a huge threat to global security. Star Wars will destroy existing arms control agreements and start a new arms race as other nations respond by building new nuclear weapons to evade the "shield".
Bush cannot develop Star Wars without help from Tony Blair as he needs to use US bases here. As George Bush arrives in the UK, Blair has a real opportunity to stand up for the international community and say no Bush's dangerous Star Wars plans."
Notes to editors:
Two British Greenpeace volunteers and a photographer remain in jail in California following a Greenpeace action against a Star Wars missile test last weekend. They are part of a group of 17 people facing up to 11 years in jail if convicted on charges relating to entering the security zone at the Vandenburg military base.
Further information:
Contact:
Greenpeace UK Press Office on 020 7865 8255/8115.
