press releases

Greenpeace expressed outrage today at Japan's decision to vote against a proposal to protect the critically endangered Western North Pacific Gray Whale - of which there are believed to be less than 100 left.

Japan was the only country to vote against a proposal at the International Whaling Conference (IWC) to 'safeguard' the remaining whales which are listed as 'critically endangered' by the World Conservation Union - putting them in the same bracket as the black rhinoceros and mountain gorilla.

At 5.30am this morning, fifty-two Greenpeace volunteers and five 'rogue' tigers shut down Esso's fuel distribution centre at Purfleet, Essex. The volunteers shut down the plant to put pressure on Esso to protect the planet. Esso is the world's number one global warming villain and is behind George Bush's refusal to sign up the US to the Kyoto climate treaty. Purfleet supplies Esso fuels to the South East from Hastings to the Wash.

Measures to further protect the world's whales were today undermined when South Pacific nations were denied their right to a South Pacific Whale Sanctuary (SPWS). Opposition from Japan, Norway and the block of countries that vote with Japan in return for Overseas Development Aid (1), prevented the sanctuary proposal from achieving the three quarters majority it needed to be adopted.

Iceland's attempt to resume commercial whaling immediately were rejected by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting in London today.

Iceland wanted to rejoin the Commission with a reservation to the current international moratorium on commercial whaling. Iceland, which quit the IWC in 1992, announced today that it wanted the moratorium on commercial whaling overturned as quickly as possible so whaling can resume.

Today, after a series of votes, the IWC concluded that Iceland will only have observer status during this week's meeting and will not be allowed to vote on key issues, such as the possible resumption of commercial whaling or the establishment of a new whale sanctuary in the South Pacific.

The international community has finally taken the long overdue second step today in the fight against global warming with the agreement of the rules for implementing the Kyoto Protocol.

As a consequence Greenpeace calls upon all countries, in particular Japan, Russia, the European Union and other European countries, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, to take immediate steps to ratify the Kyoto Protocol as matter of urgency. Greenpeace called on Japan in particular to honour the Kyoto Protocol and commit to its ratification now on the basis of the Bonn agreement, and without the USA.

A Greenpeace pilot flying a power-chute (an engine powered parachute) buzzed Chequers - the British Prime Minister's official residence - at 6.00am this morning while both Tony Blair and President George W Bush slept inside.

The early morning wake-up call was intended to remind the President that until he ratifys the Kyoto Protocol and abandons his Star Wars missile defence programme he will not be welcome in Britain. The power-chute towed a banner declaring 'Outlaw Bush' because of his record for disregarding international treaties.

Greenpeace today expressed no surprise at the admission by a senior official of the Fisheries Agency of Japan, Maseyuku Komatsu, that Japan has been using overseas aid to secure support for its campaign to have the current international ban on whaling lifted.

The admission comes just a week before the start of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) conference in London (1). IWC countries already recruited by Japan through vote buying include six East Caribbean states, (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts and Nevis), and Guinea. Panama and Morocco have joined the IWC this year and are also expected to vote alongside Japan.

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.

The G8 Renewables Task Force has produced a report that contains detailed and significant recommendations which, if agreed and implemented by the G8, will go a long way towards generating the global renewable energy revolution that is needed to combat climate change and improve the lives of billions of people world-wide.

Latest press reports say that Japan has thrown into question it's commitment to the only global agreement on climate change, the Kyoto Protocol, by stating that there will be no progress at the climate meeting which starts in Bonn today. The talks stalled in the Netherlands last November as a result of US intransigence.

Greenpeace climate campaigner Stephanie Tunmore said,