Press release - October 12, 2007
KOLKATA, India — Rainbow Warrior the Greenpeace flagship and environment icon sailed into the Khidderpore dock in Kolkata today. The message on the banner drew attention to the fact that six Greenpeace activists committed to taking action to stop climate change were arrested yesterday after they scaled a 250 ft high smokestack at the Kolaghat thermal power station. They were highlighting the threat that coal fired power plants pose to the climate*.
Rainbow warrior Arrives in India today.
"Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have
just been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, which is a significant
milestone for the global fight against climate change. One of Al
Gore's most memorable call to action quotes is "I cant understand
why there aren't rings of young people blocking bull dozers and
preventing them from constructing coal fired power stations*". At
the same time that a climate leader's views are being lauded in one
corner of the world, in another climate activists are being
arrested! said Soumyabrata Rahut, Greenpeace Climate and Energy
campaigner.*
The Rainbow Warrior arrived in Kolkata (its first port of call
in India ) en route to Bali, Indonesia where governments will
gather in December to strengthen the Kyoto Protocol to combat
climate change. Speaking while welcoming the Rainbow Warrior on the
Hooghly, Vinuta Gopal, Greenpeace Climate an Energy Campaigner
said, "The impacts of climate change on the Sunderbans is an early
warning of the chaos that lies ahead if our government does not
swing into action now. Sunderbans has already produced the first
climate refugees in India and millions more will be affected in the
coming decade if we continue in the business as usual manner.
Action is necessary now*, and the government should be responding
to the biggest security threat to the planet - climate change and
not arresting activists who highlight this problem."
About the Rainbow Warrior Ship Tour:
The Rainbow Warrior ship tour is part of the Greenpeace global
campaign to raise public concern and catalyze governments including
the Indian government into action so that the global temperature
rise does not exceed 2 degrees centigrade. The Rainbow Warrior
will remain in Kolkata at the Khidderpore dock for 3 days after
which it will drop anchor close to the Sagar Island where
Greenpeace will join the local community and youth in demanding
climate action to save the islands.
For further information, contact
Vinuta Gopal – Climate and Energy Campaigner – Greenpeace India – 0-9845535418
Ruchira Talukdar – Greenpeace Communications; 0-9900264127; 
Notes to Editor
*Coal is the dirtiest form of fossil fuel, emitting three times more carbon dioxide than oil.
*The New York Times Op – Ed Aug 16th 2007 – "The Big Melt" by Nicholas D Kristof- quoting Al Gore
* "Action is necessary now, before climate change moves beyond man's control"– The Nobel Committee
* The six activists were charged with criminal trespass, and their bail applications were rejected, and a formal hearing is due only on Monday, Oct 15 th.