Update:
Update on Greenpeace action at Heiligendamm
Thursday 7 June, 2007
The Greenpeace speedboat action finished at 12pm this afternoon
24 Greenpeace activists came in 11 boats to the waters around the
G8 summit, with the message "G8: Act Now!". In total 11 boats were
involved, 5 inflatables, 2 inflatable catamarans and 2 six- metre
long inflatables.
6 people were injured when they were knocked into the water by
the police boat, they have bruises all over their bodies. One
activist is being kept in hospital for further observation.
Daniel Mittler said: "You can stop inflatables in ways other
than ramming them, as the police boat did.
"Merkel is about to announce the climate deal made at here at
Heiligendamm. As this morning's action shows, the world outside of
the razor wire fence demands real action on climate change
now."
The boats and 19 people remain in police custody.
Earlier update:
The activists tried to deliver a petition calling for clear
commitments on climate change, which governments have so far failed
to agree at this Summit. Some were stopped by police, and some
boats are still in the water. Two Greenpeace inflatables were
knocked over by police, injuring three activists, who are on their
way to hospital.
Daniel Mittler of Greenpeace International said: "Greenpeace has
taken the message "G8: Act Now!" to the G8 summit today, demanding
decisive action to cut carbon emissions. Climate change is the
greatest global threat to peace, development and the environment.
The G8 countries have caused most of climate change - they must
face up to their responsibility. The real world on the other side
of the 8 foot high razor wire fence is tired of empty words and
demands action now."
Greenpeace urges the seven G8 members who are part of Kyoto to
ignore Bush's latest round of non-committal posturing and commit
themselves to decisive action. They must agree to binding
commitments that will lead to cuts in global greenhouse gas
emissions of 50% by 2050, compared to 1990 levels.
"As an absolute minimum, the G8 must agree to commit to 30% cuts
by 2020, compared to 1990 levels. They must also agree to a formal
mandate and timetable to secure the necessary radical emission cuts
under the Kyoto Protocol, by 2009 at the latest, at the next UN
negotiations in December. Only if they do this can they come out
from behind the fence with any chance of calling the summit a
success, added Mittler"
Other contacts: For images - John Novis, Greenpeace International +31 65 38 19121For video footage - Thomas Reineke +49 173 60 88 620 Contacts: Jo Kuper, Greenpeace International Communications (at the G8 press centre) - +31 6 46 16 2039Agnes de Rooij Greenpeace International Climate Campaigner (in Rostock) +31 6 41 45 66 74Daniel Mittler, Greenpeace International climate policy expert +49 171 876 5345
Notes: (1) The Greenpeace ship the Arctic Sunrise was boarded and occupied by German police in the Baltic Sea, near Heilingdamm where the G8 summit is being held. The Arctic Sunrise was outside of the restricted area.The police boarded without a search warrant and confined the 24 crew before seizing Greenpeace equipment including engines from inflatables, making the boats unusable, and the hull of a Greenpeace hot air balloon.(2) Greenpeace has identified as a bare minimum, the following checklist of points the G8 must agree to, in order to have a chance of claiming Heiligendamm as a success.O Keep global temperature rise as far below a 2 degree Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels, as possible.O Commit to 30% emission cutsby 2020, rising to 80-90% by 2050 (compared to 1990 levels). Germany must unilaterally agree to a 40% cut by 2020, to show leadership.O Call on the United Nations climate negotiations in December to agree a formal mandate and timetable to secure the next round of binding emission cuts under the Kyoto Protocol by 2009, at the latest. O Agree to ensure an end to the loss and degradation of intact forests by 2010 and of all forests by 2020: up to 25% of CO2 emissions come from tropical deforestation.
Exp. contact date: 2007-06-19 00:00:00