Press release - May 3, 2007
NEW DELHI, India — A family of penguins, climate refugees from Antarctica was spotted at India Gate this morning! Braving the heat in the capital, the penguins protested against global warming and the melting of polar ice caps and called on governments and people to Stop Melting their Ice! These displaced Antarctic inhabitants sent a warning message about the impacts of climate change to a country which will be amongst the worst hit by it.
Greenpeace activists dressed as Antartic penguins demonstrate against global warming at the India Gate in New Delhi. This marks the beginning of Greenpeace's public engagement activities in Delhi for the "Ban the bulb" campaign.
"Our homes are endangered and we have learnt it's because of
climate change; we made this arduous journey across the globe to
call for help. Everyone who can do anything to help us must! Just
as we are threatened now, your country is going to be too." warned
the father penguin. He added that they were in the city even as the
30 th Antarctica Treaty Consultative meeting is underway in the
capital and to support the Greenpeace Climate Patrol team in their
efforts to ban the bulb to fight climate change.
Using the Penguin story to inform people in an entertaining
manner about the otherwise grim facts of climate change, Greenpeace
today flagged off a public engagement program in the city for the
"Ban the Bulb" Campaign.
According to Greenpeace Climate and Energy Expert Soumyabrata
Rahut the cycle of global warming, polar ice caps melting and sea
level rise has far reaching disastrous implications worldwide.
"While the Antarctic penguins represent the problem at the far
flung poles, closer home, the habitat of the already endangered
Sunderban Tigers is equally threatened by this phenomenon. Our
inaction now will devastate innocent wildlife worldwide and disrupt
the food chain".
Greenpeace' public engagement program aims at generating
awareness about the cost of climate change to humans and the
environment and to point to immediate solutions like banning the
bulb. Brikesh Singh, Public Engagement Campaigner, Greenpeace said
"Temperatures in the capital are soaring, and the scarcity of water
and power is increasing every day. By undertaking the engagement
during the peak of the summer crisis in New Delhi, we will make
people aware of impacts of global warming that we are already
facing. We will inform people about simple, immediate solutions
like banning the energy wasting hazardous light bulb. We are
expecting to collect petitions signatures from Delhiites from all
walks of life asking for a ban on the yellow light bulb".
The Greenpeace public engagement in New Delhi marks the first of
a multi-city engagement program around the country for the Ban the
Bulb Campaign, which aims at collecting a million petitions from
Indians supporting a ban on the light bulb. While the city sizzles
under the summer heat, the Greenpeace Climate Patrol Team will take
stock of climate crime in the capital- scanning nooks and corners
for climate offending light bulbs and conducting bulb raids on
unsuspecting climate offenders asking them to switch to climate
friendly and energy efficient Compact Fluroscent Lamps.
For further information, contact
Brikesh Singh, Public Engagement Campaigner – +91- 9880092210
Ruchira Talukdar, Greenpeace Communications - +91-9900264127
