press releases

The Government was defeated in court today (5th November 1999) in a landmark legal ruling which protects coral reefs and whales and dolphins in Britain's North East Atlantic. Mr Justice Kay ruled that all future offshore oil licensing is illegal until the Government properly applies the EU Habitats Directive.
Justice Kay told the court that the Government had "clearly" not applied the Habitats Directive in initiating the next round of oil licensing in the North East Atlantic.

Greenpeace today warned that the Government's announcement of a voluntary moratorium on commercial GM crop plantings until 2002 is in fact a way of continuing GM commercialization plans that have been derailed by public concern. Furthermore, it completely fails to protect the environment and food chain from the risk of GM contamination.

Amsterdam, November 3, 1999 - Greenpeace today applauded the International Society of Doctors for the Environment (ISDE) for calling for health care facilities and medical suppliers to develop PVC-free alternatives for medical devices.

"The additives are potential carcinogens and are known to be released during routine use," said Gaudenz Silberschmidt, MD and executive director of ISDE. "PVC gives rise to dioxins and furans during incineration, a common method of disposal of medical waste. Besides safe alternatives are already available for most products."

Hong Kong, November, 1999 - Greenpeace China today revealed that it has found three popular local food products, which contain genetically modified (GM) ingredients. The items, among a batch of 10 products screened for GM components, are Vitasoy Fresh Soya Milk, Pak Fook Fresh Soya Milk and Pak Fook Beancurd Dessert. All three were found to contain genetically modified components called Roundup Ready-Soya.

Powerful industrial lobby groups are attempting to undermine ratification and implementation of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which committed industrialized nations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Several of these industry groups will be represented during top level talks under the Framework Convention on Climate Change in Bonn from Oct 26 to Nov 4. At this meeting more details of the Kyoto Protocol will be negotiated. (The Kyoto Protocol was agreed by more than 160 nations in Japan in 1997, it established legally binding greenhouse gas reduction targets for each industrialized nation, with an overall reduction of -5.2% by 2008-2012).

Toronto 1999 - The international environmental organization Greenpeace congratulated the Canadian Wheat Board today on their call for a moratorium on genetically modified crops. Greg Arason, president of the Board, made the call during a meeting with senior grain industry executives last week.

A Nottinghamshire farmer announced last night that he has decided to back out of plans to grow a farm-scale experiment of herbicide resistant oil seed rape, on behalf of agrochemical company AgrEvo, following concern from local residents.

David Rose, of Home Farm in Screveton, backed out of plans to grow winter GM oil seed rape after local people, including farmers and beekeepers, expressed their concern at a public meeting held at Syerston Village Hall last month, that the GM crops would contaminate the environment.

Greenpeace today warned that the Government's forthcoming announcement of a voluntary moratorium on commercial GM crop plantings is in fact a way of continuing GM commercialization plans that have been derailed by public concern. The real test of Blair's government's view on GM crops will come on Friday at a vote in Europe.

Greenpeace warned today (25 th October 1999) that the Government's response to the House of Lords' Select Committee Report on Nuclear Waste Management leaves the door open to huge volumes of foreign nuclear waste remaining in the UK.

"Britain is going to be lumbered with huge volumes of radioactive waste if substitution is allowed to go ahead," said Greenpeace nuclear campaigner, Pete Roche.

Brussels, 26 Oct. 1999 - Greenpeace today revealed that Health Commissioner David Byrne and Enterprise Commissioner Erkki Liikanen are jointly proposing an EU-wide emergency ban and a permanent ban of soft PVC teething toys for children under three years old (1). Greenpeace welcomed that the European Commission is finally moving ahead on banning soft PVC teething toys. However, Greenpeace stressed that the proposed measures are insufficient and inconsistent with the Commission's acknowledgement of a serious and immediate health risks for babies.