Greenpeace marks anniversary of bombing with a new Rainbow
Warrior
Auckland, New Zealand July 10, 2010 - Greenpeace is today
commemorating the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Rainbow
Warrior, and the death of Greenpeace photographer Fernando
Pereira.
In Poland, the keel is being laid for the Rainbow Warrior III,
the organisation's first purpose-built ship.
In Auckland, a small event will be held in Greenpeace's Mt Eden
office, where staff, friends, former crew, and supporters will
gather to remember Fernando, and hear about the new challenges
facing Greenpeace today.
And at 1:45pm, the documentary 'The Rainbow Warriors of Waiheke'
will screen in Auckland's Skycity theatre.
"In the 1980s, using non-violent direct action, Greenpeace faced
down one of the world's nuclear superpowers. Nuclear annihilation
was a threat that came close to becoming a reality several times
during the Cold War, says Greenpeace International's Executive
Director Kumi Naidoo.
"Today's biggest threat is climate change, which as we now know,
has been underway for decades, since long before the French sank
the Warrior," he says.
Greenpeace New Zealand Executive Director Bunny McDiarmid says
everyone needs to be making big changes right now in order to avoid
catastrophic climate change. "Governments must begin operating at a
whole new level; ordinary citizens will have to become active in
telling their governments they want action, and consumers are going
to have to wean themselves off the habit of constant consumption,"
says McDiarmid.
The 57 metre Rainbow Warrior III will carry on the work of its
predecessors, once launched in October 2011. She will be able to
travel the globe under sail, generally only needing to motor when
entering port or when involved in actions. The environmental
impacts of her construction, operation and eventual disposal have
all been mitigated as much as is possible through good design, and
the use of non-toxic materials. The ship will have a secure media
room for broadcasting what its crew witness to the world, and,
unusually for a sailing ship, she will have a helicopter pad and
hanger.
The Rainbow Warrior III will cost $20 million Euros. Greenpeace
NZ is aiming to raise the $400,000 needed for the Rapid Response
area, from where the crew will launch their actions. Since the
fundraising site www.rainbow-warrior.org.nz went live just over a
week ago, $26,000 has been raised.
"It's an initial result that I'm sure means, with some more
support from New Zealanders, we will meet our target," says
McDiarmid.
"Climate change is something that businesses, governments and
people everywhere know they have a vested interest in stopping. But
that will only happen with real and urgent action," she says.
Moving and still vision of the Rainbow Warriors I, II and III,
as well as some other more general vision, is available for free,
one-time, anniversary-related use, if properly credited, from:
For more information and for interviews with Bunny McDiarmid,
please call Jay Harkness, Greenpeace NZ Communications and Media
officer, on 021 495 216.