Press release - August 5, 2009
Activists from across the Pacific, including New Zealand, have shut down the Hay Point Coal Terminal in Queensland, Australia, to pressure leaders John Key and Kevin Rudd to do the right thing on climate change.
Activists approach the coal loader.
The Port of Hay Point is one of the largest coal export ports in
the world. Launched from land and Greenpeace ship the Esperanza,
10 activists have climbed onto the coal loader and shut it
down.
"We're here to show solidarity with our Pacific neighbours,
who're crying out for Key and Rudd to commit to bold cuts in
greenhouse gas emissions at Copenhagen in December," said
Greenpeace New Zealand's Campaign Director Chris Harris, currently
on top of the coal loader.
"It's time New Zealand and Australia's leaders actually listened
to our neighbours on the urgency of climate change. If New Zealand
wants to retain credibility in the Pacific, it needs to listen to
its people and reflect their concerns."
The activity comes as the Pacific Island Forum kicks off in
Cairns.
"The Alliance of Small Island States ((AOSIS) - which includes
seven Pacific Island nations - is calling on developed countries
like New Zealand to commit to an emission reduction target of at
least 40 % by 2020. Prime Minister Key must heed this call," said
Harris.
Just yesterday, the Small Island States chairman and Niue
Premier Toke Talagi said the alliance would push Australia and New
Zealand to agree to cut emissions by 45 percent by 2020 and by 85
percent by 2050.
An Oxfam report released recently (1) says millions of people
from developing Pacific nations faced increased risk from cyclones,
storm surges, king tides and ecosystem destruction due to climate
change. People living in poorer Pacific nations already faced
higher rates of malarial infection, more frequent flooding and were
losing land and being forced from their homes.
The report also calls for both New Zealand and Australia to
reduce emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020.
New Zealand actress, Keisha Castle-Hughes, who recently visited
the Pacific to help document the impacts of climate change as part
of Greenpeace's Sign On campaign said: "if New Zealand
doesn't start doing its bit, then our Pacific neighbours will face
the consequences. They are already suffering.
Over 87,000 people have joined the Sign On campaign, which calls
for John Key to commit to a 40% by 2020 reduction in New Zealand's
emissions on 1990 levels.
ends