Greenpeace deliver forest art to Blair

Thousands of people join with Greenpeace to produce giant art installation for Blair telling him to help protect the world's remaining ancient forests

Today, Greenpeace along with a delegation of individuals from the fashion, club, DJ and arts world have taken part in a procession delivering a postcard-petition sculpture to Tony Blair at No 10 Downing Street. The delivery coincides with the Ancient Forest Summit being held in The Hague, the Netherlands from 17th - 20th April.

The delivery of the art sculpture is a result of thousands of people around the country signing a Save or Delete postcard. It depicts animals in a devastated ancient forest landscape with a message telling Tony Blair to ban the import of illegal and destructively logged timber from the world's remaining ancient forests. In addition to the vote-postcards individuals wanting to add their voice to this crucial issue have been able to register their vote online at www.saveordelete.com and send a message directly to Tony Blair.

The postcards have been transformed into a striking visual art piece by Brit-artist Tod Hanson. The sculpture design entails a series of beautiful giant leaves representing threatened species of trees found in the ancient forests. To construct the sculpture Tod teamed up with Notting Hill based production team Mahogany, famous for their large carnival costumes. The postcard construction is made from metal mesh that the postcards have been affixed to.

"The concept of producing the art installation out of postcards I feel is a really excellent way to bring people on board and get them participating in a political campaign that is cutting edge and trend setting" says Tod Hanson.

Ministers from the world's governments, including the UK's Environment Minister, Michael Meacher will be meeting this week in The Hague to decide the future of the world's remaining ancient forests. If no action is taken at this Summit illegal and destructive logging will continue threatening to wipe out thousands of species of plants, animals and put the livelihoods of indigenous communities at risk.

The UK is particularly relevant as it's one of the world's biggest consumers of wood and paper products from these ancient forests. Last year Tony Blair promised to tackle illegal logging and put the UK Government's own house in order by ensuring it uses legal wood from well-managed forests. So far, these promises have been little more than rhetoric.

Brenda Ramsey, Greenpeace Forest Campaigner said: "The postcard sculpture is a message from the public alerting Mr Blair that this year is a key opportunity for his government to put words into real action and ban the import of illegal and destructive timber from ancient forests."

To help raise the profile of the Greenpeace Save or Delete campaign famous clubs, fashion and artists have put their names to the campaign by organising club nights, designing cloths and producing artwork.

Renowned clubs like Ministry of Sound, Cream, Cargo and Gatecrasher have been dedicating nights to the campaign and turning themselves into polling stations where people who go clubbing each weekend could register their votes to save the forests.

Further information:
Contact Rhiannon Sheehy on 020 7313 2568 or email on Rhiannon@spring-pr.com, or call the Greenpeace press office on 020 7865 8255.

Solution: wind turbines at work

Leading environmental organisation Greenpeace has joined forces with international high street retailer, The Body Shop today, to challenge world governments to provide access to renewable energy for all within ten years, in particular the two billion people who live without any power.

Currently, one third of the world's population live without access to electric lighting or adequate cooking facilities. Everyone has the right to power but many of the world's poorest are already experiencing the devastating impacts of climate change through increased floods, drought and disease, the result of centuries of the world's use of fossil fuel energy.

The two organisations have launched a new study "Power to Tackle Poverty" to provide a framework showing world governments how this ambitious target can be met and are urging G8 leaders to take action following their discussion of renewable energy at their summit in Genoa (20-22 July).

John Morrison, Head of Campaigns of The Body Shop said:

"We are taking on two of the world's most crucial issues, climate change and global poverty, and offering sustainable solutions. If the world's governments commit to our proposals, we stand a good chance of avoiding a potential climate catastrophe, and ensuring the world's poor have access to clean and reliable energy."

Janet Dalziell, Greenpeace project leader said,

"President Bush walked away from the Kyoto treaty, with the excuse that the world's poorest countries are not doing their bit to tackle climate change. But the US and the other rich countries are not only responsible for most of the world's pollution but are funding massive dirty power stations in the developing world. Bush and the other polluters must stop this hypocrisy and switch their aid from dirty power to clean energy to reduce the threat of climate change for all of us and help bring renewable energy to those who have no power at all."

The lack of access to energy is one of the key factors that keeps people trapped in poverty. According to the International Energy Agency, providing modern energy systems that meet basic needs for clean water, health care facilities, heating and lighting is one of the most pressing problems facing humanity today.

Currently much of the developing world's energy requirements are met by kerosene lanterns and inefficient, smoky stoves, which are damaging to health. Increased use of fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas in the developing world will increase the problem of climate change, which is already devastating many lives of poor people. The only way to meet the legitimate needs of 1/3rd of the world is via renewable energy such as wind, solar and small hydro systems. It will mean a massive increase in the size of current renewables industries, and provide a boost for economies the world over.

Anthony Derrick, Director of the organisation, IT Power, which wrote the report, said:

"Greenpeace and The Body Shop have today set out a very ambitious challenge to governments. It is a challenge that can be met provided governments are prepared to demonstrate they have the political will and will make the required capital investments in energy systems for the future, instead of relying on the polluting fossil fuels and nuclear projects that should be left in the past."

Further information:
Contact:
Greenpeace Press Office 020 7865 8255
Shelley Simmons, The Body Shop 01903 844040
James Plastow, IT Power 0118 932 4407

Background information
There are 2 billion people in the world without power - five times the population of Europe who have no access to electric lighting or clean fuels for cooking. Getting people clean and reliable energy necessary for essential needs such as clean water, health care facilities, heating and lighting has been identified by the UN as one of the most pressing problems facing humanity today.

Global warming means more severe extreme weather events like floods and storms. Over the last three years 100,000 people have already been killed by extreme weather events worldwide. Global warming caused by the burning of fossil fuels threatens people's lives all around the world. While the world's poorest use only a fraction of the world's oil, coal and gas, they are likely to suffer most if no action is taken. Rising seas threaten to engulf entire countries in the Indian and Pacific oceans, while the frequency and severity of for floods, storms and droughts is set to increase. If we are going to stop global warming careering out of control we must leave the majority of the world's oil, coal and gas underground.

Developing countries have already installed over one million solar home systems. Renewable energy can provide an affordable and reliable means of getting power to the world's poorest people. It can provide electricity for refrigeration of medical supplies, sterilisation, lighting and telecommunications as well as for radios and water pumps. There are around 150,000 solar home power systems in Kenya, more than 100,000 in China and 60,000 in Indonesia.. Globally, 150,000 health clinics, schools and other communal buildings in developing countries are powered by wind and solar power systems.

The total cost of getting renewable energy to the 2 billion people is estimated to be less than half of the $500+ billion that is likely to be invested over the next decade in fossil fuel power stations and infrastructure in poorer countries. Energy development through fossil fuels would lock poorer countries into a lengthy and damaging dependence on fossil fuels. But with suitable financing, a solar home system could cost just $10 a month. In fact, for just $1.4 billion, clean renewable energy could be supplied to one million schools and health care centres, serving some 600 million people (nearly twice of Europe).

Key organisations such as the World Bank, the United Nations and governments in rich countries must help bring about a radical transformation in energy aid and investment. There is no technical, financial or institutional barriers that cannot be overcome to provide clean renewable energy to so many people. What is needed is a radically different approach to energy development, shifting subsidies and investment and tax breaks from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

 

Celebrities join stop esso campaign

A national campaign to boycott Esso was launched in London today by the Stop Esso Campaign, an alliance founded by Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and People & Planet (1). Bianca Jagger unveiled a 'Boycott Esso' mobile billboard at the campaign launch. Annie Lennox, Ralph Fiennes, Jerome Flynn, The Body Shop, Damien Hirst and Keith Allen, along with several politicians have already signed up to the boycott.

The Stop Esso Campaign is calling on the public not to buy any Esso products until the US based oil company changes their stand on global warming. The campaign is targeting Esso as the world's leading global warming villain because:

1. Esso are the financial power behind George Bush - Esso donated more dollars than any other oil company to help Bush win the election and soon reaped the rewards when Bush ditched an international agreement to stop global warming. Esso have been the most active company undermining this treaty, the Kyoto protocol.
2. Esso refuse to accept the link between their oil and global warming.
3. Esso don't invest any of their massive profits in renewable energy or green fuels.

The campaign will be urging the British public to avoid all Esso petrol stations and pledge their support at Stop Esso. Campaigners will also focus on companies that buy Esso fuel in bulk and ask them to switch suppliers. The boycott will continue until Esso agree to support the Kyoto Protocol to fight global warming.

Stop Esso Campaign co-ordinator Lorne Stockman said,

"We're not going to let Esso get away with polluting the planet to make their billions. They are not too big for the rest of us to stop them. If Esso choose to sabotage the fight against global warming, we can choose to sabotage their profits."

Bianca Jagger, who was at today's launch, said,

"Often we as individuals feel powerless in the face of this catastrophe that is unfolding. But with this campaign we can make a difference. We can say enough, we can say stop. We will make our voices heard."

Comedian Rory Bremner said of Esso,

"Your choice is their income. Use your choice. Make a change."

Anita and Gordon Roddick said,

"At The Body Shop we're all taking this very personally. The Body Shop will be launching the Stop Esso campaign in their shops in the UK and we'll be encouraging all of our customers to take it personally".

Greenpeace Executive Director Stephen Tindale said,

"Esso are the world's number one global warming villains. They have paid George Bush to ditch the only international treaty to stop global warming from devastating our lives. We should all take this personally and stop buying from Esso".

Charles Secrett, Executive Director at Friends of the Earth said,

"This campaign will demonstrate to Mr Bush and his corporate backers that it doesn't pay to put profits before the planet. By supporting the Stop Esso campaign the British public will show that it wants effective action to tackle global climate change."

"People & Planet Director, Kevin Steele said,

"Claims by Esso that burning oil might not cause global warming are as believable as tobacco industry claims that cigarettes might not cause cancer."

Esso faces the threat of a worldwide boycott. Already in the UK, former Environment Minister and Conservative MP, John Gummer has called for consumers to stop buying petrol from Esso. Last month the Observer newspaper told its readers that if they wanted to take direct action over climate change they should not buy from Esso and "Don't put a tiger in your tank."(2)

Notes to Editors:
Photos and video of today's launch and jpegs of Stop Esso campaign logo available from the Greenpeace Press Office.

Download the media briefing on 'The case against Esso'.

Pledges to boycott Esso so far: Bianca Jagger, Annie Lennox (singer/songwriter), Ralph Fiennes (actor), Linus Roache (actor), , Gary Kemp, (actor), Tim Roth (actor), Jerome Flynn (actor, musician), Les Ferdinand (footballer), Kenny Logan (rugby player), Goldie (musician/artist), William Roache (actor), Ronny Jordan (jazz musician), Edward Goldsmith (The Ecologist), Gaby Yorath (TV presenter), Jeremy Thomas (film producer), Eski Thomas (screenwriter), Julien Temple (film director), Amanda Temple (film producer), Sacha Puttnam on behalf of the band Bush, Darren Johnson (GLA), Tony Lloyd MP (Labour), Simon Thomas MP (Plaid Cymru), Robin Harper MSP (Green Party), The Body Shop (Anita and Gordon Roddick), Dan Morell (Future Forests), Keith Allen (comedian/actor), Damien Hirst (artist).

(1) "People & Planet is a national student network campaigning to end world poverty, defend human rights and protect the environment."

(2). John Gummer interviewed on Channel 4 News, 3/4/01 and Observer Editorial 22/4/01

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