We arrived in Chennai today and made our mark: a big sign down the side of ship – CUT COAL – SAVE CLIMATE. The ship, like so many other cargo ships along this coast, is a coal carrier that ferries thermal coal from Paradip in the north to coal fired power stations in Chennai.
We sat just off shore with the harbour in sight of the Rainbow Warrior and we could see the ship under the larger cranes that unload the coal here. As the APJ Sridevi started to move out of the harbour, we got our four inflatable boats in the water. Two carrying teams to paint the 8 ft letters on the side of the ship, one safety boat and another boat carrying our campaigner Vinuta, the photographer, boat driver, crew and myself. We didn’t have time to get the local video crew on board so I doubled up as blogger and videographer – my first time shooting a Greenpeace action.
There was a strong wind coming in from the north and some light rain. The waves were big enough to soak us as we raced towards the coal ship. We arrived at her starboard side just as the pilot boat was pulling away. The paint crews set to work. One painting “cut coal” the other “save climate”. The “save climate” team had a rough job fighting the waves off the bow of the 176m cargo ship, Smitha was almost covered in paint by the time she finished.
Already India is the fifth largest emitter of CO2 in the world emitting 1889 million tonnes of the climate damaging emissions. But India is currently planning to build another 73 coal fired power stations in the next 10 years which will help to move India to the third biggest climate polluter in the world.
The crew of the ship came and looked on, asked us what we were painting, they didn’t seem to mind much, but the captain must have felt differently - the giant cargo ship increased speed and the painting work became harder as we were tossed about on the waves.
But the crew were determined to finish the job. Just last week we were in the Sundarbans where the local communities are already feeling the impacts of climate change. We need to cut our coal emissions, not build new coal fired power stations. India urgently needs to change its energy policy.
It will take a revolution in the way we use and produce energy to stop climate change, as well as a strong a commitment to stop deforestation worldwide. And governments will get their chance in December during the next meeting of the Kyoto Protocol in Bali. All governments must commit to real action to cut our carbon emissions, and make sure the people who feel the biggest impacts of climate change get the help they need.
With the ship gaining speed and the job done we returned to the Rainbow Warrior. But we will be in Chennai for a few more days meeting with people to make sure the message gets out that it is time for clean, greener and climate friendly energy production in India.
More photos from today:
Comments (3)
its shame that government are still not learning form the consequenses that are taking place all over the world because of climate change.we all that this is something very serious because once this happens we wont get a second chance but still more 73 coal plants its really a shameful act.governments are only conducting meeting istead of this they should stard acting y r we not taking the initiative for renewable energy.come on guys its time to act not to talk.
Posted by mellwyn tigga | October 22, 2007 10:02 PM
Posted on October 22, 2007 22:02
Most of Holland's power is derived from windmills. While such initiatives have started in India, India has no vision at all to make them the mainstay of they power production, and is only undertaking such activities as a token of their support for the cause to reduce global warming, but, in actuality isn't doing anything worthwhile.
Recently, it was demonstrated that a new method of harnessing geothermal energy by pumping water to the hot magma flows and utilizing the steam is possible. If this source of energy develops enough, we might see a cooler earth.
Posted by Anonymous | October 23, 2007 1:50 PM
Posted on October 23, 2007 13:50
Our South African is similar to the Indian government, as it is spending R204 billion already approved for generation projects, R1.1 billion has been allocated for renewable energy(a measly 100MW wind farm that is likely to be operating in 2010). Over and above this, about R2 billion is allocated for subsidies on installing solar water heaters in homes and businesse.
Our generation mix will consist of mostly coal fired staions and peble bed nuclear reactors.
Note also that carbon reclamation from the coal stations seems to be too difficult to apply(or maybe too costly)
Posted by Tertius Lindenberg | October 24, 2007 12:23 PM
Posted on October 24, 2007 12:23