As Lisa mentioned, the Rainbow Warriors in the UK, continuing on its mission to free the world from the threat of coal.
Right now, I’m sitting on the Warrior as she steams towards Kingsnorth power station – potentially the site of the first new coal fired power plant to be built in the UK in over thirty years.
It’s a crucial time for coal in the UK. Just one year ago, hardly anyone had heard of Kingsnorth. Over the past few months though, Climate Camp booted the issue up the media agenda; a not guilty verdict for Greenpeace volunteers at the Kingsnorth trial sent shockwaves through the government; and Gordon Brown’s new appointments to his government mean that the hope for stopping coal and kick starting renewable energy is no longer just a distant dream. There’s everything to play for.
So we’re going to Kingsnorth to remind E.on (the energy giant that wants to build new coal in the UK) and the government just what’s at stake. A new plant at Kingsnorth would emit as much CO2 as the world’s 30 least polluting countries combined, dashing our chances of beating climate change and spelling disaster for millions around the world.
When we get there, our volunteers plan to walk through the existing power plant to the site of the proposed new power station, where they will plant flags from each of the thirty least polluting countries in the world – many of whom will bear the brunt of climate change.
It’s quite a sight: I’m sitting on the bridge looking out at the eight other Greenpeace boats heading down the River Medway. The sky is clear and the atmosphere on board is peaceful, if a little nervous.
I’ll be blogging on the Greenpeace UK website (as well as Twittering and Moblogging) as things unfold. Stay tuned.