Greenpeace challenges fuel blockaders and argues the case for maintaining current levels of fuel tax
Greenpeace campaigners at the fuel tax protest in Hyde Park today will try to persuade protestors that they are wrong to argue for lower taxes on dirty petrol and diesel but right to support new green alternative fuels.Speaking at the event, Rob Gueterbock, a Greenpeace Climate Campaigner, said: "I have been travelling with the fuel protest convoy for the past five days and spent a lot of time discussing the issues with truckers and farmers. At the end of the day, and despite some very positive discussions, Greenpeace fundamentally disagrees with the protestors' demands to lower tax on dirty petrol and diesel. If the tax goes down there will be an increased impact on the climate and that means more floods and freak storms."
He continued: "However, even though we disagree about the tax on dirty fuels, we do have common ground when it comes to promoting alternative green fuels. Greenpeace calls on all the fuel protestors here today to stop campaigning for cheaper dirty petrol and diesel and start campaigning for alternative green fuels which cost less money. Greenpeace and the RAC Foundation are already campaigning for a Green Fuel Fund which will create half a billion pounds of funding for the research, development and promotion of green fuels - we want you to back that campaign."
A team of Greenpeace volunteers travelling in an articulated lorry powered by bio-diesel has been travelling with the fuel convoy for the past five days to argue the case for the environment and to show examples of green fuel in action. Yesterday Greenpeace gave away five thousand litres of bio-diesel to motorists in central London as part of the campaign to get Government support for cheap green fuels.
Further information:
Contact:
Greenpeace Press Office on 020 7865 8255/6/7/8
On the road with the convoy:
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
