“Global warming is happening fast and the polar bear could be
its first victim,” said Melanie Duchin, Greenpeace climate expert
from onboard the Arctic Sunrise. “It is human activity that is
destroying this magnificent animal’s habitat and it must be our
urgent action that protects it.”
The Bush administration is attempting to block or weaken a
climate initiative at the G8 meeting. The Guardian reported last
week that U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair is considering splitting
from the United States over the global warming issue. The snub
would lead to seven leaders agreeing on a final communiqué on
global warming with President Bush left out.
“The Bush administration is backed into a corner by continuing
to ignore and deny global warming is real,” continued Duchin.
“State and local governments in the United States, especially
politicians from the president’s own party are distancing
themselves and promoting solutions to global warming. It is
unfortunate that we have to do so in spite of the president as
opposed to in support of him.”
From late June through late August, the Arctic Sunrise will
travel the coast of Greenland, to investigate and document the
dramatic evidence of global warming, including disappearing
glaciers and melt lakes. The ship is also visiting prominent
research stations and will serve as a platform for scientific
research on the effects of global warming.
Following its work in Greenland, the Arctic Sunrise will
tour several states on the East Coast to work for solutions to
global warming, including the first offshore wind power facilities
in Massachusetts and New York. The ship tour is part of
Greenpeace’s Project Thin
Ice-Going the Distance to Stop Global Warming.
For photos from the Arctic Sunrise, polar bears and global warming
impacts visit: usaphoto.greenpeace.org/project_thin_ice_images/
Read the
petition regarding the protection of polar bears.
Other contacts: Carol Gregory
202-319-2472; 202-413-8531 (cell)
Exp. contact date: 2005-08-05 00:00:00
