500 Greenpeace volunteers create a human peace sign in the Esplanade Tracodéro to commemorate the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior.
A two-minute silence was held in Paris and New Zealand at 13.48,
marking the time that the Rainbow Warrior was bombed.
"Wepresent an image of hope and a call for peace. We stand for
all ofthose around the world who share our vision of a world in
whichdiplomacy and generosity replace fear and bombs. This is the
only wayto achieve a real, lasting green and peaceful future," said
YannickJadot of Greenpeace France.
Global leaders over the past 20years have failed to meet the
challenge of creating a lasting peace.The cold war has ended but
oil wars have begun; the threat of nuclearwar has been joined by
the reality of global warming. While nearly halfthe world's
population survive on less than two dollars a day, theglobal
nuclear weapons bill is still rising. (1)
"This week's G8meeting has failed to deliver what is needed to
combat the causes ofconflict," said Mike Townsley of Greenpeace
International. "G8leaders made much this week of their offer to
increase funding toalleviate poverty. But even if all the money
they commited to on paperwere to be paid out, it represents a small
percentage of the money thatthe G8 nations spend on military
defence. In failing to tackle climatechange, they consign the world
to dangerous environmental changes thatcan only create more
insecurity and conflict. Far greater resourcesneed to be diverted
to removing the causes of conflict rather thanadding to its
consequences.
"Bombsare never the answer - not on the Rainbow Warrior, not in
the streetsof London and Baghdad, and not in the nuclear arsenals
of the US,France, the UK and the other nuclear weapon states," said
Townsley.
"By creating our human symbol of peace today in Paris, and
commemorating the
bombing of our flagship 20 years ago, Greenpeace hopes that
millions around the
world will draw hope and give life to the vision of a green and
peaceful future
for us all," concluded Townsley.
Other contacts: Sara Holden, Greenpeace International Press Officer, in Paris +31 615 007 406Michael Kessler, Greenpeace International Press Officer +34 660 637 053Mike Townsley, Greenpeace International, in Paris +31 621 296 918Yannick Jadot, Greenpeace France, in Paris +33 608 682 785
VVPR info: Photo Desk: John Novis +31 653 819 121Video desk : Maarten van Rouveroy +31 646 197 322http://www.greenpeace.org/
Notes: (1) For example: since 1945 the US has wasted nearly US$6 trillion on its nuclear weapons programme; this year alone France will spend 3.2 billion euros on nuclear weapons; and each year the UK spends more than 1.5 billion pounds on its Trident nuclear weapons system.