Greenpeace today welcomed Indonesia’s Forest Minister, Mr. Zulkifli Hasan’s, statement ordering pulp and paper products manufacturing giant APRIL to halt its forest clearing activities on the carbon-rich peatlands of the Kampar Peninsula, Riau, Sumatra, pending review of their permits.
© Greenpeace/Ardiles Rante
On December 1, 2009, Greenpeace celebrates the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty. From this treaty, an international landmark was created and a World Park was established to protect an entire continent.
UPDATE: November 18, 2009 - Two Greenpeace activists from Germany and Italy and two members of the press from India and Italy, all of whom were traveling on valid business and journalist visas, were picked up and detained by Indonesian police.
While politicians continue to talk, we're taking action at the frontline of forest and climate destruction in Indonesia. Barack Obama is about to arrive in Asia for his first official visit while the US continues to block progress ahead of the critical UN climate summit.
On November 6th in Barcelona, Spain, United Nations climate change negotiations were supposed to conclude final preparations for the long-awaited talks in Copenhagen this December. But, after the-five day session concluded, the world was not much closer to the fair, ambitious and legally-binding treaty needed from the Copenhagen talks.
Greenpeace activists hang a banner from Barcelona's Sagrada Família that reads "World leaders, make the climate call." © Greenpeace/Pedro Armestre
People could some day recall that it was the Information Technology (IT) industry’s advocacy for strong action which tipped the balance at the Copenhagen climate summit. But that's not going to happen unless all of us press them to become climate champions. As our updated Cool IT Challenge leaderboard reveals, IT heavyweights such as Google, Microsoft and IBM are still hesitating to speak up on the urgent need for emissions reductions.
On October 27, 2009 Greenpeace established a base in the heart of the Indonesian rainforest in order to bring urgent attention to the role that deforestation plays in driving dangerous climate change, a critical issue to be addressed at the UN Copenhagen Climate Summit in December.
Greenpeace activists and 200 local community members take part in a traditional ceremony to mark the completion of the Climate Defenders’ Camp, which they built together on the threatened Kampar Peninsula. © Greenpeace / Ardiles Rante
While our leaders continue to talk about what's "politically possible," the world continues to warm and precious days go by. We can't continue to allow our leaders here in the U.S. to sit back and play political games when our future is at stake. Greenpeace is joined 350.org and a massive coalition of organizations and grassroots activists around the world to demand world leaders do what is necessary to stop global warming.
In a call-to-action report written to President Obama, Greenpeace details the handouts and loopholes that have undermined the integrity of the current energy and climate legislation. In order for federal climate law worthy of this nation to pass through Congress, we see no alternative to active and principled engagement from the Oval Office.
Big polluters do not want to invest in green jobs and clean skies in America. Instead, they want to keep on with their dirty business as usual and outsource pollution cuts to someone else on the cheap. One of the primary ways they are trying to pass the buck is with cheap forest offsets.
Apple has stormed out of the biggest lobby group in the United States. At issue is the US Chamber of Commerce's use of funds to oppose climate change legislation. Apple has done the right thing, and IBM and Microsoft should think different too.
