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Workers from from Panay Power Corporation surrounded the Greenpeace "climate defenders camp" with bamboo and tarpaulin fence at a proposed coal power plant site in Baranggay Ingore, Iloilo City about 600 Kms south of Manila. Greenpeace activists have camped there for 3 days by erecting tents and a tower with banners "Quit Coal, Save the Climate".
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In an unprovoked attempt to disrupt the camp, PPC workers, under orders from management, first tried to dismantle the camp tower, even while Greenpeace climbers were still on the structure and could be injured. Later the workers fenced in the Camp tower with bamboo poles and tarpaulin, denying Greenpeace activists any access to land or sea.
The harassment happened in the presence of local Police, Barangay officials, and PPC management. It began at 1:30 PM today, as 20 Greenpeace volunteers and some representatives from RISE (Responsible Ilonggos for Sustainable Energy) were hosting a gathering with around 20 townsfolk from Bgy Ingore, shortly after a solidarity activity, where Greenpeace volunteers and community folk planted symbolic windsocks at the camp site.
Panay Power Corp. and Global Business Power Corp., a subsidiary of Metrobank, one of the largest banks in the country, have been trying to intimidate activists at the Greenpeace Climate Defenders Camp since it was established last Friday, 13 June 2008.
Greenpeace Southeast Asia Campaigns Director, Shailendra Yashwant said:
"Greenpeace condemns the Panay Power Corporation's attempts to harass and intimidate a peaceful protest by young people demanding solutions to climate change. It is shocking that the PPC has to resort to life-threatening bullying tactics which are completely disproportionate to the non-violent nature of our activity. Instead of engaging and responding to the issues raised by us, including the fact that the proposed coal-fired power plant will contribute massively to catastrophic climate change impacts for the next 30 years, PPC is using their muscle power and connections with Police and Barangay Captains to muzzle the voices of people's aspiration."
Greenpeace has set up a 'Climate Defenders Camp' at the proposed coal plant site. The camp consists of a tower and tents adorned with colourful banners with messages saying 'Quit Coal, Save the Climate'. The camp serves as a center to raise public awareness on the ill effects of coal-fired power plants, climate change and its dangerous impacts, and solutions such as Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.
The harassment happened in the presence of local Police, Barangay officials, and PPC management. It began at 1:30 PM today, as 20 Greenpeace volunteers and some representatives from RISE (Responsible Ilonggos for Sustainable Energy) were hosting a gathering with around 20 townsfolk from Bgy Ingore, shortly after a solidarity activity, where Greenpeace volunteers and community folk planted symbolic windsocks at the camp site.
Panay Power Corp. and Global Business Power Corp., a subsidiary of Metrobank, one of the largest banks in the country, have been trying to intimidate activists at the Greenpeace Climate Defenders Camp since it was established last Friday, 13 June 2008.
Greenpeace Southeast Asia Campaigns Director, Shailendra Yashwant said:
"Greenpeace condemns the Panay Power Corporation's attempts to harass and intimidate a peaceful protest by young people demanding solutions to climate change. It is shocking that the PPC has to resort to life-threatening bullying tactics which are completely disproportionate to the non-violent nature of our activity. Instead of engaging and responding to the issues raised by us, including the fact that the proposed coal-fired power plant will contribute massively to catastrophic climate change impacts for the next 30 years, PPC is using their muscle power and connections with Police and Barangay Captains to muzzle the voices of people's aspiration."
Greenpeace has set up a 'Climate Defenders Camp' at the proposed coal plant site. The camp consists of a tower and tents adorned with colourful banners with messages saying 'Quit Coal, Save the Climate'. The camp serves as a center to raise public awareness on the ill effects of coal-fired power plants, climate change and its dangerous impacts, and solutions such as Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.
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- Lea Guerrero