Press release - December 8, 2005
Three Greenpeace crew members from the organisation's flagship the Rainbow Warrior today were dropped into the Map Ta Phut port waters after BLCP coal plant staff cut the ship's mooring lines while police refused to intervene. Plant personnel had arrived with cutting equipment. The crew peacefully resisted by hanging from the mooring lines.
The Rainbow Warrior has spent the past two days alongside the
pier aspart of a campaign to bear witness to the climate killing
impact ofBLCP and the Thai Government's plans to open at least 18
further coalplants in the next decade.
"Greenpeace and the Rainbow Warrior have always participated
inpeaceful non-violent protest," said Greenpeace
Internationalspokesperson Jean Francois Fauconnier aboard The
Rainbow Warrior. "Wecondemn this aggressive act which placed the
ship and lives at risk."
"For two days we have called on both the plant's management and
theThai energy minister to respond to our demands. Greenpeace
wantsthe construction of this plant stopped and a thorough review
ofthe Thai Government's coal-driven energy plan to be
undertaken."
"Coal plants like BLCP are guilty of causing climate change.
Greenpeacewill continue to expose those who continue to fund and
promotedangerous energies like coal instead of looking at cleaner
options likewind and solar power. Our climate simply can't
wait."
On Tuesday, with the Rainbow Warrior looking on, four climbers
unfurledbanners saying "BLCP, Climate Killer" on the plant's coal
unloadingcranes. Later that day activists and volunteers set up a
first campoutside the main gate of the BLCP coal power plant. Today
a second campwas installed on one of the BLCP coal plant's 60-metre
electricaltransmission pylons. The seven activists have decorated
the tower withbanners relaying messages from cyber activists and
miniature windmillsas symbols of renewable energy.
Greenpeace is an independent campaigning organisation that
usesnon-violent creative confrontation to expose global
environmentalproblems to drive solutions that are essential to a
green and peacefulfuture.
Other contacts: Tara Buakamsri, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Climate Campaigner +66 185 50 013Jean-Francois Fauconnier, Greenpeace International Climate Campaigner +66 142 29 645Michael Kessler, Greenpeace International Communications +66 689 84 302Ua-phan Chamnan-Ua, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Media Officer +66 192 82 426Amsterdam: Gina Sanchez, Greenpeace International Acting Chief Media officer +31 627 000064
VVPR info: Photos: John Novis, Greenpeace International + 31 653 819 121
Exp. contact date: 2005-12-18 00:00:00