Why is Microsoft – one the world’s biggest corporations – having such a struggle pulling up its pants on climate change policy?

Oh Ballmer.

Love him or hate him, those who recognize Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer can’t help but marvel as one does over sixties B-horror movies – with a mix gruesome wonder and amusement. One thing we know for sure is that he loves the spotlight (and has the sweat stains to prove it). If only he could infuse his stand-up performance with a little vision and take a real position on climate change.

I’m willing to bet there is only so long a media persona like Ballmer’s can run on sweaty exuberance alone. Microsoft’s business needs this cherub to put on green wings and fly to Copenhagen.

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Today almost 100,000 people around New Zealand received an email from a future self in 2020 courtesy of Greenpeace.

Judging by the responses we’ve had so far, (and there has been an avalanche), a lot of people were a little startled, many were really quite chuffed, a few were a little offended and some were simply outraged … but clearly the message got through!

This is the most important year for the most important campaign Greenpeace has ever run, so we are communicating the urgency in ways we might not have tried before – like sending emails from the future.

Amidst all of the advertising and other messages we’re bombarded with on a daily basis (especially at this time of year) it can be difficult for us to give the climate crisis, and the action we need to take, the attention it deserves.

This was one way of trying to address that.

It’s essential that world leaders make a strong commitment at Copenhagen and it’s vital that we get out on to the streets and let them know we’re expecting bold action. We are the last generation with a chance to make a difference … let’s not waste it!

What do you think?

Join GREENPEACE outside the Fonterra HQ in Auckland for a peaceful protest against the dairy giant’s climate crimes.

Weeks out from the Copenhagen international climate talks, Fonterra’s influence is still stopping John Key and the NZ Government making the commitment to reducing emissions.

Fonterra is New Zealand’s largest greenhouse gas emitter and is actively blocking action on climate change. Its intensive dairying is responsible for New Zealand’s skyrocketing climate pollution.

This protest will bring the climate crimes of Fonterra to their front door.

Come along, bring your friends and a placard if you can. We’ll see you there!

RSVP on Facebook

Here in the Greenpeace office, focus has well and truly shifted to the campaign’s big finale for 2009 – simultaneous marches in Auckland and Wellington, and a free concert in Myers Park at the end of the Auckland march, featuring Opshop, Midnight Youth, Kirsten Morrell, Don McGlashan and Lucy Lawless. The day shall hereby be known as “Planet A Day”.

At the Auckland do, we’ll also have a go at a giant haka to challenge the New Zealand delegation at Copenhagen. There’ll be special speakers, Rhys Darby being funny as MC and hopefully sun. It’s going to be a right royal send off for the NZ team heading to Copenhagen, and a clear directive to Prime Minister John Key to ensure his Government does the right thing at the most important meeting in history.

Here’s a video of and about the Haka kindly produced by Oxfam and Prince Davis of Ngati Whatua of Oraki.

The Auckland concert will be streamed live to the world wide web via ziln.co.nz

Tell all your friends about the Planet A events, RSVP via facebook and post to your Facebook profile, or download a poster and stick it to something.

Here’s what the performers have to say about the Planet A concert in Auckland:

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I’ve arrived at the Greenpeace International office in Amsterdam where I’ll be based for the next couple of weeks. It’s a better option than flying to and from Europe prior to Copenhagen.

The first thing you notice in Amsterdam (apart from the wonderful buildings) is the absence of traffic noise.  The second thing you notice is lots of bicycles.  They’re everywhere.  The roads are designed with cycling in mind and there are plenty of cycle paths. And there’s reliable regular public transport.  It’s very easy to get where you want to without using a car.

Compared with any New Zealand city there are very few cars on the road with little evidence of congestion.  It’s a good reminder that in many New Zealand towns and cities we could do a lot to cut our greenhouse gas emissions by taking a much more sensible approach to roads.  It makes me cringe to think how much money Infrastructure Minister Stephen Joyce is wasting by plundering the public transport budget to build roads without first checking whether the roads will benefit the country. http://www.bettertransport.org.nz/2009/05/economic-benefits-of-roads-of-national-significance-unknown/

Fonterra Climate Crime

Just before dawn this morning Greenpeace activists shut down a pit in the Southland  ‘New Vale’  lignite coalmine.

The dirty lignite coal is used by Fonterra to help fuel operations at its nearby Edendale dairy factory. Like the two palm kernel shipments bound for Fonterra dairy farms recently, the activists have labeled the lignite mine as another Fonterra climate crime.

This action follows our recent expose of Fonterra’s role in rainforest destruction for palm based animal feed and two actions on palm kernel imports into New Zealand.

At the mine activists unfurled a massive 40 by 40 metre banner, reading Fonterra Climate Crime on the ground of the opencast mine. Other activists have blocked one of the entrances and locked themselves onto some of the excavating machinery. See more at http://www.greenpeace.org.nz

Today Greenpeace activists locked down four excavators in the carbon-rich Kampar Peninsula belonging to pulp and paper company APRIL to highlight the need to immediately halt all deforestation in Indonesia.

Carbon emission from deforestation and degradation of forest and peat land areas is the major contributor to Indonesia being the third largest emitter in the world.

At 6.15 am more than 50 activists arrived at the APRIL site. Half an hour later three excavators have been locked down and a banner deployed saying ” OBAMA YOU CAN STOP THIS”.

With three teams blocking excavators, other activists are holding smaller signs saying “climate crime”, in reference to APRIL’s huge contribution to climate change through its massive clearance of forests, with fresh evidence of illegal deforestation.

Follow the action on Twitter or the Climate Defenders page.

The Kampar peninsula on the island of Sumatra sits deep in the heart of the Indonesian rainforest. Part of the ring of tropical forest that circles the middle of the planet, it’s rich with diversity – a unique and complex ecosystem, sustaining fishing communities, hunters and farmers, full of unique plants and animals, and home to endangered species like the Sumatran tiger and the Wallace’s hawk, not found anywhere else in the world. Read more »