direct actions

A South Wales magistrates court today ruled that 13 Greenpeace volunteers who stopped a shipment of GM crops from entering in the UK do not have to face charges under the Merchant Shipping Act.

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.

This morning Greenpeace activists are taking action to defend the proposed Dogger Bank Marine Reserve in the North Sea from destructive fishing methods.

At 9am Greenpeace activists in 3 rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) dropped buoys to prevent a Dutch beam trawler 'the Gorge Johannes Klazina' from setting its nets. Before taking action the activists had called on the trawler's captain to leave the Dogger Bank Marine Reserve.

Six other Dutch beam trawlers then joined the scene, surrounded one of the Greenpeace RIBs and threw missiles at the activists. One of the trawlers then approached the Greenpeace ship Esperanza and fishermen wearing ski masks shot three flares at the ship. One flare hit Esperanza's mast, but no one was injured.

Greenpeace ship Esperanza has completed the demarcation of the proposed Dogger Bank marine reserve in the North Sea. The demarcation, which started on 4th August, involved setting ocean buoys around the perimeter of the proposed reserve. As the demarcation was completed Greenpeace divers unfurled an underwater banner saying 'Dogger Bank - protect it for future generations'.

Underwater cameramen operating off Greenpeace Ship Esperanza in the Viking Bank and Dogger Bank areas of the North Sea have captured beautiful images of life beneath the waves.

Contrary to the image of the North Sea as dead and lifeless, the underwater shots reveal a world of colour and variety. Soft coral known as 'dead men's fingers', octopus, lion mane jellyfish and strawberry rose anemone are just a few of the species already captured on film.

A dead dolphin encased in ice was today delivered to the Government's doorstep by Greenpeace, in protest at the numbers of dolphins killed by UK fishing boats and the Government's lack of action to stop the problem.

The dolphin was killed by a trawler, and was recovered recently in the Channel by a Greenpeace ship investigating dolphin deaths caused by fishing fleets. The dolphin bears the tell-tale signs of having been caught in a net, including cut and torn fins and flipper and a broken beak and teeth.