Press release - 9 December, 2005
In a major breakthrough at the end of a Greenpeace blockade of the BCLP coal facility at Map Ta Phut, the Thai National Economic and Social Advisory Council of the Prime Minister's office, has committed to review of the Government's energy policy.
"Greenpeace considers this a major victory for the Thai people,"
saidGreenpeace Southeast Asia spokesperson Tara Buakamsri from the
sit-in,which had disrupted the plant's operations today. "Thailand
has a vastpotential for clean, renewable energies such as modern
biomass, windand solar. It's time to shift government policy
towards them."
"Coal plants like BLCP are the main cause of climate change,"
saidGreenpeace International's Jean Francois Fauconnier aboard
theRainbow Warrior. "We came here asking the Thai government to
reviewits coal-driven energy policy so that it could
realisticallycommit to an 8% target for renewable energies by 2011
and now we haveone. At a time when nations party to the Kyoto
Protocol have been atthe table discussing commitments to reducing
greenhouse emissions inMontreal, it is incumbent on the government
that they begin taking theissue of climate change seriously."
"Coal has produced devastating environmental and health problems
forboth workers and neighbouring communities. It is a step
forwardthat the government has committed to consult with affected
communities who joined us here in peaceful protesttoday,"
concluded Buakamsri.
Greenpeace is an independent campaigning organisation that
usesnon-violent creative confrontation to expose global
environmentalproblems to drive solutions that are essential to a
green and peacefulfuture.
Other contacts: Tara Buakamsri, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Climate Campaigner +66 185 50 013Jean-Francois Fauconnier, Greenpeace International Climate Campaigner +66 142 29 645Michael Kessler, Greenpeace International Communications +66 689 84 302Ua-phan Chamnan-Ua, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Media Officer +66 192 82 426
VVPR info: Video: Michael Nagasaka, Greenpeace International +31 646 166 309 Photos: John Novis, Greenpeace International + 31 653 819 121