Lyttelton coal action update II
The Rainbow Warrior has been boarded by police and moved off it’s position by tug boats. The three activists on the side of the coal shipment were hosed down with high pressure hoses by the crew and then removed by police. They, along with another three people in a Greenpeace inflatable, have been arrested and taken to Christchurch Central Police station.
Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, the coal ship has managed to leave port. Nonetheless we are happy to have brought attention to the double standards at play with climate policy in New Zealand.
The New Zealand government paints itself as clean and green, yet every year we are exporting millions of tonnes of coal for use in other countries; effectively shipping climate change offshore. And the state owned company Solid Energy responsible for the coal being shipped today has plans to expand mining, exports and domestic burning of coal.
It is totally nuts for this to be happening at a time when one of the most important things we could be doing is phasing out fossil fuels.
The New Zealand Government must get serious on climate change.
Talk is cheap – we need action.
Greenpeace ship the Rainbow Warrior blocks the State Owned Enterprise Solid Energy’s coal ship the Hellenic Sea from leaving the Port of Lyttelton. The 225-metre bulker carries up to 60 thousand tonnes of export coal. This is the first time the Rainbow Warrior has been used to block another ship in New Zealand. Activists show the banner. Lyttelton, New Zealand, 2008. Greenpeace / Dimitri Sharomov
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Greenpeace ship the Rainbow Warrior blocks the State Owned Enterprise Solid Energy’s coal ship the Hellenic Sea from leaving the Port of Lyttelton. The 225-metre bulker carries up to 60 thousand tonnes of export coal. This is the first time the Rainbow Warrior has been used to block another ship in New Zealand. The Police arrest one of the climbers. Lyttelton, New Zealand, 2008. Greenpeace / Dimitri Sharomov
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Having been aboard recently in Auckland and met the crew, I am thinking of you now and wishing I could be with you!
You are keeping alive what Greenpeace is really all about, and on such a local issue too- great timing!
Kia kaha Rainbow Warriors, lets show people how clean and green our country really is.
Happier than ever to be a supporter, my subs are being well spent!
“..we are happy to have brought attention to the double standards at play with climate policy in New Zealand…”
And indeed you have. Thank you courageous Greenpeace activists!
Shipping coal offshore for others to burn is equivalent to the weapons merchants selling bombs for others to drop – because ‘business is business’.. But it’s our business to reduce CO2 emissions and indeed the NZ govt has to clean up its climate change policies.
Hope this stimulates debate in the mainstream media …and become an election issue.
Living close to the railway line, I hear those trains every day and night hauling coal. It is upsetting knowing where it is going, what it will be used for when we are trying to protect the future for our children and grandchildren. How short sighted the NZ governments are on trade and economic policy and hypocritical to be exporting coal.
My family went to Lyttelton to cheer Greenpeace on…well done. this matter has concerned me for years, good to see some action.
solid action.
unsolid energy.
go well greenpeace
Perhaps if we as a Nation would not be driven by greed for cheap importet wares there would not be such a demand on the world recourses, including coal? A change of attitude by everyone is needed. People of the country need to be made aware that the power is in the wallet.
Perhaps in respect of a natural resource in New Zealand it could be put to better use here in moderation where needed.
Keep up the good work, Greenpeace.
Stellar work,awareness IS power
Yeah good work, ( GREAT work actually ) shame you can’t moor the boat close to the V8 Racing that’s doing the rounds of NZ at present .
V8 racing , gas guzzling cars and nothing more than a front for the car, tyre and oil industries to push their products , the Labout govt gave – how many million $$ ? – to them to extend the track at Taupo so they can race their obscene cars and squander fossil fuels. If there is an example needed of fiddling while Rome burns its the motor racing industry and in particular , its V8 Series.
I have often wondered at the wisdom of cutting down on consumption of fossil fuels only to sell that fuel overseas where it will be used in
the same way, overall not making a bean of difference to the planet.
The public don’t seem to notice, and the media do not cover a story on it weird.
Good luck to you fellas i agree whole heartedly with what you are doing, hopefully the issue of the coal is covered by the media instead of stunt which is normally the case.
Great work!! Good on you for highlighting the fact that this coal was mined by a government owned company.
I truly am appalled at how two faced our government is – makes you realise they really do just say and promise anything in order to retain votes and their fat pay cheques!
Wish I could share the experience with you first hand, but will keep an eye out over the web.
Kia Kaha!!
Keep on keeping on. I wish more people were willing to give up their time and personal comfort for the sake of our planet and home. Please be careful, we need you to stay in one peice!!
Well done!! You’ve shown great awareness to those around the nation. You have my support where ever you go. God Bless
The ultimate irony is that three of the four state owned coal mines on the West Coast don’t make money. They are just glorified work schemes designed to keep people happy on the coast and destroy the global environment. What are we going to do when the oil runs out and technology has made it possible to burn coal with a clean conscience and we have given all of our coal away?
Go the Warrior
It’s a pity that governments don’t seem to want to do the right thing unless they are shamed into it. Keep up the good work.
It’s amazing how they found so many policemen to descend on Lyttelton yesterday. People say that if you try to get one to attend a burglary they’re all too busy. I wonder why?
Congratuations to the Rainbow Warrior and Greenpeace for protesting against the Government’s hypocritcal stand on climate change. The SOE, Solid Energy are destroying our flora and fauna (eg rare red tussock wetland and Great spotted Kiwi habitat at Happy Valley and Upper Waimangaroa area) to continue mining and exporting an unsustainable non-renewable fuel. Please pass on my thanks and support to the protesters and crew of the Rainbow Warrior. Kia kaha !
Tena koutou nga tangata tino toa i runga i te waka rongonui a Rainbow Warrior,
Greetings to all the warriors on the famous Rainbow Warrior,
Although many of us cannot be there for various reasons, please know our aroha and support are with you in wairua(spirit)
I am so proud to be apart of this mission to make our world a better, cleaner and greener one for our children’s future.
Kia kaha, kia maia, kia Mataara!!! Be strong, be brave, be alert!!
Nick,
Absolutely marvellous.
Keep up the good work.
We absolutely do not need NZ coal transformed into warehouse junk and polution in China.
Hope you are enjoying the action.
Good Luck
Bill Caunce
thanks for your great work
you put your lives at risk and it doesn’t go unnoticed
you bring the eyes and consciousness of New Zealand and the world into focus
thank you
To the crew of Rainbow warrior- Congratulations on a great media coverage .
You do capture the essence of fighting and showing the strength of a cause to our young people. The worth of man is evident in your eyes as you make sacrifices and you have strengthened us in knowing we are more alive and worthy of being part of this race and country.
We are more alert and knowledgable with your efforts of obstruction and are aware of your committment to our country, our people but more importantly to the world. Kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui tatou katoa.
We salute you all
Hi all
I live in NZ, emigrated from UK a few years ago, and I think you are all wonderful for what you are doing. It’s good that people like you care about the environment, where would we all be without your dedication. I sincerely thank you.
Good luck for the future.
Regards Trish
We have got your back guys!
Keep up the good work. Perhaps the Police should be focussing on stopping crime rather than wasting time!
Heres to the guys who take action against the irresponsible, non-thinkers of today.
good stuff greenpeace, i think a lot of support has grown from this action.
a lot of grumpy south island people got grumpy
good job
Great stuff. Don’t forget that some of the carbon ends up in the steel, i.e. is not burnt. Would be good if GP can also mention the direct ecological impacts of the mining in its media work.
I think you guys are doing a GREAT JOB,with you all the way, keep it up. If only i was 30yrs younger i would be by your side in all the things you are doing.
Havent you Peacenick Morons got anything more constructive to do with your time than disrupt the course of progress with your idiotic and might i add often illegal operations. its about time the french came back and finished the job they started by putting your pathetic little Rainbow boat on the ocean floor, preferably with a full cargo of Greenpeace Activists. Get a Life and Get over it.
Dear John
You sound like a terrorist. Do you have links with the US government?
So John Doe (good trolling with a fake name there mate), what would be more constructive exactly?
Perhaps the organisation should give up trying to ensure future generations inherit a world that can actually sustain life, and just devote it’s time to space exploration in the hope it can find a replacement planet.
It’s hilarious how people take GP actions against corporations and governments personally.