press releases

Leading Chilean author Isabel Allende and Greenpeace are urging Harper Collins, Allende's UK publisher, to print the UK edition of her latest book, 'Forest of the Pygmies', on ancient forest friendly paper (1).

Allende's Spanish publisher Random House Mondadori have printed one edition of the book on 100% recycled paper and another on 30% FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) (2) certified paper. Today, Greenpeace are delivering copies of the ancient forest friendly book to Victoria Barnsley, CEO of Harper Collins, in an effort to encourage her do the same.

Greenpeace today slammed the government for failing to take sufficient action to prevent the deaths of thousands of dolphins around the UK every year.

Greenpeace has accused the Welsh Tory party of hypocrisy and being a serious impediment in the battle against global warming after Tory Welsh assembly members moved to block an offshore wind farm. Michael Howard, in his keynote speech on the environment and the threat of global warming last week (13th September), accused the Labour government of neglecting offshore wind energy, pointing to its environmental and economic benefits. Despite this, Tories on the Welsh Assembly are trying to stop an offshore windfarm, at Scarweather Sands in Swansea Bay, from getting the go-ahead.

Greenpeace today condemned the European Competition Commission for allowing billions of pounds of taxpayers money in state aid for the restructuring of the private nuclear company, British Energy (BE). The company applied for state aid in 2002, when it almost went bankrupt following a fall in electricity prices.

Greenpeace has welcomed reports that the government is proposing to designate marine reserves to allow damaged oceans to recover.(1)

A Greenpeace ship, the MY Esperanza, is currently in the North Sea campaigning for a network of marine reserves.

Campaigners this morning projected a huge message onto the Assembly building in Cardiff. The environmental group Greenpeace emblazoned the words "80% Want Offshore Wind" across the front of the Cardiff Bay building in 30ft high letters. The move came as Assembly Members returned today for the new session, ready to decide the fate of a proposed wind farm at Scarweather Sands off Porthcawl.

Commenting on Michael Howard's speech on global warming this morning, Greenpeace campaigner Jim Footner said:

More people than ever support building wind farms, despite a concerted campaign against them over recent months. A new poll by ICM, released today, shows that 80 percent support government plans to significantly increase the number of wind turbines in Britain, with just eight percent opposed.

The poll is released as the leaders of the two major political parties make speeches on global warming. Michael Howard will speak tomorrow morning at the Institute of Directors while Tony Blair will address a business and environment conference hosted by Prince Charles on Tuesday.

Glasgow Council officials today (6th September) ordered contractors to stop work replacing hardwood floors during the Lottery funded refurbishment of Kelvingrove art gallery and museum, after nearly 100 Greenpeace activists invaded the site to expose the use of endangered rainforest timber.

Our campaign supporting the planning proposal for a new on-shore wind farm at Hinkley Point in Somerset has received a timely boost - poll results from Somerset County Council's recent Environment and Quality of Life Survey, show a high level of public awareness and concern about environmental issues. The survey was undertaken between February and April this year, and sought the views of over 4,000 local people on local environmental policy and quality of life.