News

Polar bear listing falls short of real protection

Thu, 15 May 2008 00:21:29 GMT

For the last three years, the Department of Interior has been dragging its feet when it comes to protecting the polar bear. Today, it finally listed the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. This might seem like a victory but there are enough holes in this listing to leave the polar bear unprotected against its biggest threat, global warming.

Pacific Pirates busted by Activists

Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

We caught an illegal tuna purse seiner (Queen Evelyn 168) in the Pacific Commons yesterday. This Philippines-flagged vessel was close to the transfer of tuna between her sister vessel and a refrigerated mothership. It was likely that the transfer of fish at sea, involving this illegal vessel, was about to occur. But upon our arrival the vessels immediately separated and fled the scene.

Greenpeace frees ocean life from Pacific longliner

Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Esperanza freed tuna, sharks, marlin and an endangered sea turtle from a Taiwanese longliner on Saturday. The vessel was fishing in the Pacific Commons, the international waters we want to see protected as a marine reserve.

New Greenpeace report exposes CCS as a dangerous distraction

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Greenpeace International has released a new report, entitled “False Hope: Why Carbon Capture and Storage Won’t Save the Climate,” which proves once and for all that “clean coal” is nothing more than a slogan aimed at greenwashing the image of an irremediably dirty energy source.

Bush Administration ordered to quit stalling on polar bear listing

Sat, 03 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken has ordered the Bush Administration to make a final decision about listing the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), a ruling that could finally end the administration’s deliberate stalling of the listing process while it sells off oil prospecting rights in the Chukchi Sea.

Aaptos kanuux, New Species of Sponge Discovered

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

It may look slimy and slightly alien, but this newly discovered species of sponge is an ambassador for undiscovered critters living in the nooks and crannies of our magnificent planet. Damaging human activities, like bottom trawling in the oceans, are decimating ecosystems and wiping out creatures before we even know they exist.

Nuclear power belongs in the past

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

It is now the 22nd anniversary of Chernobyl explosion, the largest civil nuclear disaster ever. Serious contamination spread over 150,000 square kilometers in Byelorussia, Ukraine and Russia. Radioactive clouds deposited radiation thousands of kilometers away. Hundreds of thousands people had to be evacuated, and millions more were left to live in areas that were dangerous to their health and lives.

Brussels Seafood Expo - business closed!

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

"Ladies and Gentlemen your attention please, the Dongwon, Mitsubishi, Moon Marine, Azzopardi and Ricardo Fuentes stalls are now closed." That was one message being relayed over the public address sound system at the Brussels Seafood Expo, as Greenpeace closed down the stands of five tuna suppliers - including the world's largest, Mitsibushi.

Sharkfins discovered on Taiwanese longliner

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

As the sun rose over the horizon in the Pacific, the Esperanza’s helicopter, Tweety spotted a lone fishing boat. The Taiwanese longliner was in the international waters just north of the Solomon Islands. Two Greenpeace inflatables were quickly launched with activists and a Chinese interpreter onboard to meet the Nian Sheng 3. After a conversation with our translator, the Captain of the vessel allowed our activists and cameramen to board the ship and inspect the contents of the hold.

Unilever's 'Monkey Business' - Greenpeace swings into action

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Greenpeace activists across Europe have been busy, many of whom have been dressing up as orangutans to draw attention to Unilever's "monkey business". We're launching the next stage in our campaign to protect the rainforests of Indonesia from the expansion of the palm oil industry.

Greenpeace fights to protect the Pacific Commons

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Greenpeace activists were on international waters to bear witness to fishing practices that are threatening to drive the tuna fisheries in the South Pacific to near collapse. In just one day of patrolling international waters, activists witnessed both a purse seiner and a FAD (Fish Aggregation Device), both of distant origin.

Whalers Return to Japan

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

After five months at sea, the Nisshin Maru arrived in Japan today having taken around half the number of whales from the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary as planned, but still 551 whales too many.

Whalers' plans to take 985 whales foiled

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:40:04 GMT

Japanese whalers have announced that they are struggling to harpoon their quota this year. As the season draws to a close, they have caught less than half the 985 whales they targeted.

Samsung and Toshiba new leaders in greener electronics ranking

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In the latest edition of our quarterly Guide to Greener Electronics Samsung and Toshiba share top spot. Nokia misses out on top spot due to a penalty point for inconsistent global takeback. Nintendo remains rooted to the bottom with only a tiny improvement but Microsoft and Philips both improve their scores.

Another delay in the fight to save the Polar Bear

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In December of 2005, Greenpeace and two other conservation groups sued the Bush administration when it missed its first legal deadline to list the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Three years later, the federal government missed yet another legal deadline for listing the polar bear under the ESA. Once again, Greenpeace is suing the Department of Interior to seek protection for the polar bear and let the administration know that repeated delays and back door politics will not be tolerated.

Chemical Facilities Threatening 1,000 or More People

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Chemical facilities can put neighboring communities and workers at life threatening risks. The most deadly materials these facilities produce, store or use are poison gases. In the event of a terrorist attack or accident they would become airborne, jeopardizing the lives of thousands of people and the environment up to 25 miles from the plant.

The Time for Safer Chemical Plants is NOW

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

UPDATE: The House Security Committee passes a chemical plant anti-terrorism bill. The bill would significantly strengthen the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) regulations and create a permanent law to address the risks posed by chemical facilities. The bill will next go to the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Where does all the e-waste go?

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Do you know what happens when you throw out your old electronic gadgets? Probably not, but considering they contain both toxic chemicals and valuable metals you'd think someone would know? Unfortunately our new report "Toxic Tech: Not in Our Backyard" reveals the fate of millions of tons of e-waste generated each year is largely unknown.

Sustainable Seafood? Time to Prove It.

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Around the world, there is a growing scientific consensus that our oceans are in crisis. Decades of destructive fishing practices and mismanagement have taken their toll on many of our fisheries. Three-quarters of all commercially valuable fish stocks are now exploited, overexploited or depleted. Worldwide, up to 90% of stocks of large predatory fish such as halibut, sharks, tuna and swordfish already have been fished away. According to a new study published this month in the journal Science, 96% of the world’s oceans have been damaged by human activity. Researchers predict that global fisheries could collapse by the middle of this century.

Scandalous whale hunt has resumed

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 22:01:39 GMT

The Japanese whaling fleet has again defied world opinion and resumed whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

The Australian Customs vessel, the Oceanic Viking, reports that the Fisheries Agency of Japan’s whaling fleet has killed at least five whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.