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Amazon loggers strike back

Greenpeace activists joined by giant trees called Ents, that fans will recognise from the Lord of the Rings, have welcomed government delegates from around the world to the 9th meeting of biodiversity (SBSTTA). Enlarge Image

Montreal conference on protecting forests

Before any major international meeting there are advance meetings to lay the groundwork. A lot of the decisions finalised at the main meeting are often made at these meetings - months before the big one. Today was the start of one of the more important of these meetings, the ninth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice to the Convention on Biological Diversity. That's SBSTTA-9 and the CBD to you insiders, and it will be going on in Montreal all week.

Greenpeace and The Wilderness Society peaceful protesters successfully stop clearcutting operations with tree-sits rigged up to logging machinery. Enlarge Image

World's highest tree sit

In Tasmania, Australia, they have these trees, that are... tall. OK, a lot of trees are tall, but these are the tallest hardwood trees in the world. We're talking trees taller than a 25-story building and 400 years old. Some people look at trees like this and they just think, "wow". Other people, they look at these trees and they think, "Wow, I could cut that down, chop it up, feed it through a wood chipper, and sell it to these companies in Japan!" And that is just what they are going to do, unless we can stop them. Click here to find out how.

Alaskans, visiting Washington, DC to protest logging in Federal controlled wilderness in Alaska. Enlarge Image

Road to Forest Head reverts to grass

In the US the Bush administration is trying to change the rules – specifically the "Roadless Area Conservation Rule". This rule, signed under the previous president, essentially prevents access to pristine forestlands, and placed 58.5 millions acres of national forest land under protection from the logging, mining and drilling industries. However, under proposed Bush administration amendments the two largest national forests (both in the state of Alaska) are exempted from the rule.

Emily Craddock Enlarge Image

Emily Craddock remembered

Greenpeace activist Emily Craddock died last week in the Amazon. Emily was aboard the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise as part of our efforts to stop illegal logging in the area.

Over a thousand supporters recreat Pablo Picasso's 'Amnistia' on South Beach in Miami, Florida, to protest Bush Administration attempts to silence Greenpeace. Enlarge Image

Living artwork defies Bush attack on Greenpeace

Over a thousand people gathered this weekend on South Beach, Miami to create a massive 'human art' image in creative protest against the unprecedented prosecution of Greenpeace by the Bush Administration. Supporters of the international environmental organization gathered Saturday afternoon in support of the 'Endangered Forests, Endangered Freedom' campaign, replicating the 1950s Picasso work of art, of a dove flying past a jailed man.

The Arctic Sunrise campaigning for the extractive reserves in 2003. The announcement by the Brazilian government to create 2 million hectares of extractive reserve is a major victory for our campaign. Enlarge Image

2m hectares of Amazon saved!

The Brazilian government has stood up to the powerful forces of illegal loggers and greedy soya and beef barons in the Amazon by creating two massive protective reserves. This means increased sustainable use of the forest by local people and added protection against environmental devastation.

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Take Action! Support the activists in the Amazon. Become a Forest Guardian! Check out our highly interactive new website dedicated to ways YOU can help save the world's last remaining ancient forests. More information Get the view from the river in our Ship's Log -- where crew of the Arctic Sunrise and the riverboat Captão Dário are reporting events in the Amazon as they unfold.

"When the second rain came the loggers protesting at the ship departed along with the police. We asked the police to return to Porto de Moz to give the community leaders protection, they need it more than we do. A catholic priest is putting them up for the night and they are safe now. Although the priest trusts in God, he also has some added protection in case God is otherwise occupied, his own 38mm. The community leaders asked us to stay and continue to support their struggle for the creation of this extractive reserve. Over the last weeks we have seen first hand the devastation of illegal logging in the forest that also threatens the communities way of life. We're not going anywhere." --Tracy, aboard the Arctic Sunrise