Join With Us

Here at Greenpeace, we're pushers of a controlled substance. It's called hope. And our new "Inspiring Action" video is dizzy with it.

Join us. Become a climate activist.

When we take action against environmental crimes, we also take action against despair. And there are times when inspiring other people to take action is by far the most powerful outcome that we could hope for.

When we took our first action in 1971, we were a rag-tag group of hippies sailing against a US nuclear weapons test. We were sailing into impossible odds, with an impossible demand. But the individuals who set off on that voyage inspired an impossible number of people to achieve impossible things.

We've had three decades of experience in making the impossible happen -- an end to nuclear testing, protection of Antarctica from oil and gas exploration, a moratorium on commercial whaling, a ban on ocean dumping and a ban on trade in toxic waste, to name only a few.

We've not only made those changes happen, we made them look inevitable.
Earth Day? Every day from now to December is Earth Day.

This Earth Day, we're using our new video to drive a worldwide mobilisation. We're looking to turn 3 million people into climate activists. Starting with you.

Scientists are sounding more and more alarms about the fate of the ice caps, the acidification of our oceans, the loss of our equatorial rainforests and the consequences all these things will have on low-lying countries, on our health, on our ways of raising food, and the foundations of our civilization.

There are ample reasons for despair.

But many years ago, one of our activists bagged a quote from another famous activist, and summed up the Greenpeace ethos: "The optimism of the action is better than the the pessimism of the thought."

If you agree, we want you, and 2,999,999 people like you to sign up as climate activists.
Our best chance to make a difference

When the UN Climate summit convenes in Copenhagen this December, delegates there will be deciding the fate of the Earth. It's looking more and more likely they will bring us a lot of hot air, not a cooler planet.

YOU need to tell them that's not good enough.
YOU need to raise the bar on the world's expectations.
It's time to get involved. It's time to get your friends involved. It's time to get your parents or your kids involved.

Our first mission is to get the message out that we want our leaders to take personal responsibility for stopping climate change.

The first step to ensuring that the climate summit makes real decision is to make sure that real decision makers are there.

Demand key leaders go to the climate summit: sign our petition

Our leaders can't delegate the fate of the Earth. Tell Obama of the US, Hu of China, Brown of the UK, Merkel of Germany, Sarkozy of France, and Lula of Brazil that they simply have to clear their calendars, show up at the meeting which will secure the future of humanity, and take individual action to get us out of this mess.

Please send this video to your friends. Post a link in Facebook. Post it to your blog.

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Save Boracay

Boracay Island, PHILIPPINES — Greenpeace is stepping up its "Save the Climate, Save Boracay" campaign to target holiday-goers bound for Boracay this summer break with an intensive tourist awareness project to make island, one of the country's top tourist spots, into a climate-friendly destination. Particularly this coming Holy Week, the project engages the large number of tourists expected in Boracay to practice environment-friendly behavior in the island with three simple acts :
* Save energy by switching off and unplugging all electrical appliances when they leave their resort room;
* Reduce waste by bringing their own bag when they go out and saying no to plastic bags, straws and sachets; and
* Walk more, to enjoy the beach and lessen air pollution.

Concerned local groups in the island, including Boracay Foundation, Inc. and Boracay Yuppies, have thrown their support behind the campaign. In addition, Seair will be announcing the three simple acts from April 6 to 12 in their flights. Resorts as well as the local boat cooperative will be displaying project posters about what tourists can do help. Local TV cable stations Paradise Cable and Kalibo Cable will also be playing videos of Richard Gutierrez and Angel Aquino enjoining tourists to help make Boracay a greener destination.

"Save the Climate, Save Boracay," the first project of its kind in the Philippines, was launched last June 2008 during the "Quit Coal, Save the Climate" Philippine tour of the Greenpeace ship M.Y. Rainbow Warrior. The project is based on a manifesto signed by Boracay's tourism industry stakeholders. Among the points in the manifesto are: the inclusion of energy efficiency measures and promotion of renewable energy use as part of the environmental management plans for the island, particularly in the construction or expansion of establishments and the provision of regular energy audits, skillshares and workshops for establishments to ensure the continuation and replication of successful practices in the areas of energy and water conservation, as well as ecological waste management. Since the project's launch, Greenpeace has been conducting fora and dialogues with the island’s resorts and tourism groups.

"Save the Climate, Save Boracay" is supported by the Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Tourism (DOT),
the local government of Malay, Aklan, Task Force Boracay, Boracay Foundation, Inc. (BFI), Philippine Chamber of Commerce-Boracay (PCCI-Boracay), Boracay Association of Resorts, Restaurants & Independent Allies (BARRIA). The initiative is made possible through a grant from the Foundation for the Philippine Environment.
( greenpeace.org )

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Investigate Forestry Ministry

Jakarta, Indonesia — Greenpeace urged the KPK (Corruption Eradication Commission) to investigate the re-issuance of permits to 14 companies for clearing more than 100.000 hectares of forest by the Forestry Ministry.
"Many of these 14 companies were under investigation for illegal logging in 2007. While one of the Bupatis who aided and abetted the illegal operations is in jail, the investigation against the companies was mysteriously stopped by police in December last year. Now, in an election year, these same companies have been given approval for further logging by Forestry Minister MS Kaban and against the wishes of the regional government. " said Zulfahmi, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Forest Campaigner.

In a street theatre protest at the KPK’s Jakarta HQ this morning, Greenpeace role-played MS Kaban's surrender with an activist wearing an MS Kaban mask. Besides Kaban, Greenpeace also ‘surrendered’ Governor of Riau, Rusli Zainal. Meanwhile activists posing as the ‘President’ and ‘Vice President’ stood by and watched.

According to reports, Minister Kaban issued the Rencana Kerja Tahunan (RKT - yearly work plan) last week giving 14 companies, predominantly owned by APP (Sinar Mas group) and April, permission to cut 100.000 hectares of forest for the pulp and paper industry.

"The forests in Riau are under enormous pressure from the palm and pulp and paper industries and this approval of the RKT by Kaban is a death toll for a large proportion of the last remaining forest. Considering most of these forests are in carbon-rich peatland, this approval will also increase Indonesia's greenhouse emissions from deforestation," Zulfahmi added.

The granting of the cutting permits contravenes President Yudhoyono's international commitment at the 2008 G8 meeting in Japan, to cut Indonesia's greenhouse emissions from deforestation by 50 percent in 2009 and 75 percent\ in 2012.

"SBY's commitment at the G8, and his repeated statements on forest protection and green house gas reduction targets in international for a, have become a bit of a joke since he has allowed his government to actively increase Indonesia's emissions through their policies on peatland and allowing further logging and forest conversion. Stop watching and start acting Mr. President. Reduce emissions and implement a moratorium prior to attending the important climate meeting in Copenhagen in December this year," urged Bustar Maitar, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Forest Campaigner.

( from : greenpeace.org )

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Water Pollutions

Bangkok, THAILAND — Greenpeace released a shocking report which reveals that 92.68 percent of the total area in Thailand is at risk from water pollution. Within these risk areas, 6.87 percent is classified as ‘high risk’ and could impact approximately 4,440,049 Thai citizens if corrective action is not taken immediately. The “Water pollution risk areas of Thailand” report commissioned by Greenpeace Southeast Asia, integrates environmental investigations and GIS technology to project what areas and water sources in Thailand are at risk of water pollution [1]. The report ranked 5 provinces of Bangkok, Samutprakarn, Samutsakorn, Chonburi and Rayong respectively as high risk water pollution areas.
“The unabated and unplanned expansions of industrial activities, increased use of chemicals in agriculture and population density are identified as the major factors causing water pollution [2]. Most of the high risk areas were found in highly industrialized and urbanized areas. Although their total areas are relatively small, but given the high density of population they will suffer the worst impacts,” said Ply Pirom, Toxics Campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

The Report categorizes water pollution risk areas into 4 levels; high risk, medium risk, low risk and no risk. According to the findings, the eastern part of Thailand has the highest proportion of area at high risk level (35.64 percent of its total area), followed by Central part of Thailand (15.89 percent of its total area).

Additionally the report identifies that more than 99 percent of villages that are located near water source are also at risk of water pollution. 41.64 percent of these are considered to be at high risk levels. These areas have a population density of approximately 4,440,049 people.

Figures provided in the report also show that Rayong has 97.78 percent of its total area and 302 villages or 78.44 percent of the total villages are located near the water sources that have high risk of water pollution. Therefore, the call for Pollution Control Zone for industrial areas in the province, i.e. Maptaput, makes sense and should be implemented swiftly and with utmost sincerity.

The report also reveals that 7 rivers in Central part, 8 rivers in the Eastern part, 14 rivers and 2 backwaters in the northern part, 14 rivers and 5 backwaters in the northeastern part are at high risk of water pollution, while some have never been polluted before.

“All the water bodies identified in the report are of high socio-economic and cultural significance for Thai people. We urge government to take aggressive action to combat the growing threats to the country's water resources. We have the least amount of fresh water resources available per capita in Southeast Asia. It is important that we do our best to protect our limited water resources from pollution” Ply added.

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Quit Coal

Manila, PHILIPPINES — Greenpeace activists held an “Earth Day Barbecue” at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) compound in Quezon City to call attention to how the government’s distorted coal power policy aggravates rather than helps solve the global threat of climate change. The activists ‘roasted’ a balloon replica of Planet Earth over charcoal, which is safer than the coal used in power plants, to illustrate how the relentless pursuit of coal-fired power plants is cooking the planet.
In the barbecue were volunteers dressed as DENR Secretary Lito Atienza and Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, both of whom play key roles in the Philippine Task Force on Climate Change and are part of the newly-formed ‘Carbon Cutting Coalition.’ In reality, their agencies abet rather than prevent the construction of coal-fired power plants which scientists now recognize as the single greatest cause of global warming. The activity also featured the Philippine launch of the Greenpeace report “True Cost of Coal” which details how the use of coal as fuel causes irreparable damage to the environment, people’s health, and communities around the world.

“The government’s chosen Earth Day theme this year is ‘Earth Survival: Climate Change Solutions.’ The single greatest move the government can do to help stop climate change is to phase out coal and stop the construction of coal plants. Unfortunately, such a thing is not in the government’s plans. In fact, the DENR deliberately turns a blind eye on the environmental costs, continuing to issue Environmental Compliace Certificates to these dirty and polluting plants. The Department of Energy meanwhile has at least nine coal plants in the pipeline for construction or expansion. This is clearly a case of sheer hypocrisy,” said Greenpeace Southeast Asia Climate and Energy Campaigner Amalie Obusan.

Coal is the most climate-polluting fossil fuel, responsible for one third of all global carbon dioxide emissions. Although widely considered as a cheap source of power, the cost of coal becomes immeasurable when its effect on the climate, the environment and people’s health, are counted. According to the report “True Cost of Coal,” the global cost of coal in 2007 alone was at least €360 billion. However, this figure is most certainly an underestimation, as it doesn’t account for all damages caused by coal while very conservatively estimating the ones that it does.

The impacts of coal are not only related to climate change. Coal also pollutes water resources, dirties the air and causes black lung disease. The report contains 'on the ground' stories from 12 countries that describe how human rights are violated in Colombia while mining coal, how mountain tops are blown apart in the United States and how coal use adds dramatically to air pollution in China. It also includes stories of community struggles against coal plants, such as in the Visayas in the Philippines.

Coal fired power plants at present account for 26.44 % (4213 MW) of the country’s total energy mix--the largest share in terms of installed capacity. Current plans will increase this capacity by 1915 MW. In contrast, genuine climate change solutions such as new renewables (solar, wind, etc) account for only .16% (25 MW) and plans are only to double this amount.

“As one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, the Philippines is already paying a high price for the cost of coal, with thousands of lives and billions of pesos lost due to climate change impacts such as extreme weather events. Greenpeace is challenging the government to Quit Coal and show its sincerity in working for climate change solutions,” said Obusan.

“There are better options available to us other than coal, and which does not require the use of dangerous nuclear energy. Greenpeace’s Energy [R]evolution Philippine Scenario provides a practical blueprint that shows how renewable energy, combined with greater energy efficiency, can cut CO2 emissions from fossil fuels by 50% by 2050. In these times of economic crisis, the need to catalyze an energy revolution takes on an increased urgency, as it shows how tackling climate change by investing in renewable energy systems and energy efficiency not only makes environmental sense, but economic sense as well.”

( greenpeace.org )

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No more Chernobyls!

Manila, PHILIPPINES — Greenpeace marked the anniversary of the world’s worst nuclear power plant disaster with a solemn candle-lighting ceremony to protest the proposed revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP). Calling for safe energy for the Philippines , supporters and volunteers of the environment group lit more than 2,000 candles which spell the words “No Nukes” in a park in Quezon City .
“Greenpeace is calling on the Philippine government to abandon its nuclear delusions. Nuclear power is the most dangerous way to produce electricity. The Chernobyl disaster and its ongoing tragic legacy of deaths, cancers and contamination remind us that every nuclear dream is only one accident away from turning into a terrible nightmare,” said Greenpeace Southeast Asia Campaigner Francis Dela Cruz.

The accident in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine on 26 April 1986 is the worst civilian nuclear catastrophe in history, releasing one hundred times more radiation than the atom bombs dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki . The meltdown produced a radioactive cloud that contaminated most of Europe and devastated lives of millions of people in Western Russia, Belarus and the Ukraine even 20 years after. At the time of the accident, about 7 million people lived in the contaminated territories including 3 million children. Today, about 5.5 million people including more than a million children continue to live in the contaminated zones.



According to Greenpeace the full consequences of the Chernobyl disaster could top a quarter of a million cancer cases and nearly 100,000 fatal cancers. On the basis of Belarus demographic data, during the last 15 years 60,000 people have additionally died in Russia because of the Chernobyl accident. Estimates of the total death toll for the Ukraine and Belarus could reach another 140,000. Ongoing health impacts of radiation from the disaster have further created devastating effects on survivors - damaging immune and endocrine systems, leading to accelerated aging, cardiovascular and blood illnesses, psychological illnesses, chromosomal aberrations and an increase in fetal deformations.

Last February Greenpeace revealed that the BNPP, an outdated light water reactor, will count among the world’s most dangerous nuclear power plants if operated since it does not conform to the current safety fundamentals of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)—making the inherently dangerous facility even more risky. Moreover, all studies conducted on the BNPP, whether government or privately initiated, have declared the facility unsafe to operate.

A major accident in a light-water reactor can lead to radioactive releases equivalent to several times the release at Chernobyl and about 1,000 times that released by a fission weapon. Relocation of the population can become necessary for large areas of up to 100,000 square kilometers and the number of cancer deaths in the ensuing years could exceed one million. The island of Luzon where the BNPP and Metro Manila is located measures 109,965 km².

Despite claims of improvements in safety, scientists agree that another catastrophe on the scale of Chernobyl could still happen any time, anywhere. And although no disastrous accidents similar in scale have happened since, most radioactive contamination today come from decommissioning of reactors and nuclear waste storage. Up to now, there is no known scientific solution to nuclear waste.

“Nuclear power is a disaster waiting to happen. Cong. Mark Cojuangco and Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes will most certainly be remembered as purveyors of death and radioactive contamination if they continue to pursue the nuclear path--rabidly promoting what is by all accounts a defective nuclear reactor,” said Dela Cruz.

“Greenpeace is calling on Philippine government to instead choose the safe energy path of renewables. Congress and the Philippine government already chose the right direction with the Renewable Energy Law. Renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies are the genuine solutions to climate change and energy security. Our government leaders should focus on strengthening this law instead of continuing to dream up pointless--and dangerous--nuclear fantasies.”

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Nuclear Nightmare

Pattaya, THAILAND — Greenpeace activists today protested at the main gate of the ASEAN+3 Summit venue in Thailand by launching a large balloon with banners saying "Not for Nukes, $ for Renewable Energy--Climate Action Now." Greenpeace demanded that government leaders meeting at the ASEAN +3 Summit turn the current financial crisis into an opportunity for addressing runaway climate change by ensuring that the economic stimulus package being proposed for the region go into the development and deployment of clean renewable energy systems that can also create thousands of sustainable jobs in the region.

The environmental group also warned governments not to waste money on imports of costly and dangerous nuclear reactors. The governments of Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam have recently expressed intention to build nuclear power plants. Currently, the Philippines' Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) is the only existing nuclear plant in Southeast Asia. It has never been operated due to serious safety and corruption scandals but a much-criticized proposal for its commissioning is now lodged at the Philippine Congress. In December 2008, the Philippine National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Korea Electric Power Corp (Kepco) for a study to revive the plant. South Korea is a member of ASEAN + 3, expected to meet with ASEAN leaders at the Pattaya summit.

"Nuclear power plants are not only dangerous and dirty, but also extremely costly. Their construction would bring large profits to rich countries at the expense of the economies in Southeast Asia, and make this region dependent on technologies, fuel and supplies from overseas. ASEAN leaders should instead shift investments into renewable energy projects which have been proven to generate hundreds of thousands of sustainable and clean jobs that would stay in the region. These projects will also advance climate protection in a big way. Nuclear power is just a dangerous distraction, a monumental waste of resources and time that we cannot afford," said Greenpeace International nuclear energy expert Jan Beránek.

While governments meeting at the ASEAN +3 Summit will try to find ways to cushion the impacts of the global economic crisis, the nuclear ambitions of several ASEAN countries are looking like glaring strategic follies by government leaders. The costs of new reactors worldwide have escalated to USD5 - 8 billion, three times as much the nuclear industry was promising only five years ago. Most recent French reactors under construction in Europe are already 3 billion over budget, years behind schedule and riddled with thousands of defects.

"Spending national budgets and aid money on nuclear energy does not only take away financial stimulus needed to help our people and economies. It also veers countries away from the real solutions to help address climate change. Southeast Asia faces the grim prospect of massive economic and ecological dislocation if efforts are not made in time to reverse climate ruin. Instead of subsidizing and supporting dirty energy projects and destructive industries, the economic rescue package for the region must prioritize the development of clean renewable energy systems and help our countries adapt to the already anticipated impacts of climate change. In the spirit of fairness, ASEAN must call on the industrialized world to deliver the required financial and technical assistance to assist developing countries with their climate adaptation efforts and help enable their transition to low carbon based economies. We expect our leaders to carry this demand all the way through the climate summit in Copenhagen in December," said Greenpeace Southeast Asia campaigner Francis dela Cruz.

Greenpeace sees no role for nuclear power in cutting the world's greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050, to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Instead, Greenpeace is calling for an Energy Revolution based on the increasing use of renewable energy sources and better energy efficiency measures. Governments which opt for nuclear power will also find their energy independence and security limited to the very few countries and companies which can provide nuclear technology and fuel.
( greenpeace.org )

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Hutan Gambut di Riau

Indonesia — Greenpeace dan Jikalahari (LSM Lingkungan di Riau) hari ini memaparkan dampak kehancuran hutan gambut di Riau terhadap kehidupan dan ketahanan pangan masyarakat di sepanjang aliran sungai Riau. Penelitian yang mencakup dampak air gambut terhadap udang air tawar di sungai kualacenaku, Indragiri hulu, Riau dilakukan oleh tim peneliti dari fakultas Perikanan dan kelautan Universitas Riau bersama Greenpeace. Lahan gambut di Riau merupakan salah satu lahan gambut terbesar yang menyimpan karbon di dunia. Maka ketika lahan dan hutan gambut ini di hancurkan maka emisi karbon akan meningkat dan menimbulkan efek gas rumah kaca yang mempengaruhi perubahan iklim, kehancuran hidup dan ketahanan pangan masyarakat.

Dari hasil penelitian ini di temukan bahwa penurunan populasi udang air tawar di sepanjang aliran sungai kualacenaku di karenakan rendahnya kadar asam yang terkandung di sungai tersebut. hilangnya populasi udang air tawar berdampak pada penurunan pendapatan masyarakat dan sumber pangan.

Pembuatan kanal-kanal yang mengalirkan air gambut dari lahan gambut ke sungai berdampak sangat serius pada udang air tawar. Untuk mengembalikan populasi undang air tawar ini, harus adanya penghentian atau menutup kanal-kanal di sepanjang aliran sungai.

Udang yang di dapat dari sungai kualacenaku beberapa bulan setelah pembendunganPada Agustus 2008, Gubernur Riau Wan Abu Bakar pernah mendeklarasikan jeda tebang di hutan alam dan menghentikan pengrusakan hutan di Riau. Riau merupakan provinsi pertama yang berinisiatif merespon pernyataan presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono pada saat pertemuan G-8 tahun 2008 lalu di Hokaido, Jepang untuk menurunkan 50 persen emisi karbaon dari pengrusakan hutan tahun 2009.

Menindaklanjuti pernyataan Gubernur akhir tahun lalu, secara nyata Greenpeace dan Jikalahari melakukan penilaian dan pemetaan di beberapa lahan gambut termasuk di Semenanjung Kampar untuk membangun rencana rehabilitasi lahan gambut yang kering dan rusak. Namun hingga saat ini, moratorium belum menjadi sebuah kebijakan resmi pemerintah Riau.

Penghancuran hutan dan lahan gambut akan mengancam keselamatan dan ketahanan pangan masyarakat dan moratorium adalah suatu rentan waktu untuk melakukan tindakan memperbaiki sistem pengelolaan hutan yang selama ini tidak dilakukan.

Dengan kenyataan ini menjadi tantangan bagi legislative kedepan untuk menjamin keselamatan dan ketahanan pangan masyarakat Riau dengan menggunakan hak-hak legislasi sehingga kebijakan jeda tebang bisa terwujud.

Untuk masyarakat Riau hutan adalah Jati Diri masyarakat melayu Riau. Diharapkan Gubernur Riau dapat menunjukan kepedulian atas kehidupan dan ketahanan pangan masyarakat Riau dengan segera menjadikan Jeda tebang suatu kebijakan di Propinsi Riau.

( greenpeace.org )

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