Full feedThe end to an intense three days
All our activists are safely down from the smokestacks and coal conveyor belts now. Here's a final entry from Julien - our trusty climate campaigner/ blogger.
Here at the top of Brindisi coal-fired power plant, we're gathering our things together to come down. By the time we get to ground, we'll have occupied this power station for more than 60 hours. As the G8 wraps up, we're not going to be left behind. As the so-called "leaders" of the G8 and MEF meetings travel the world, we'll be there
to make sure the pressure doesn't drop for a moment.
The G8 leaders have just held their final press conference, and Greenpeace is doing the same to make sure the so-called leaders don't get away with making themselves look heroic. We've said throughout this G8 summit that politicians talk but leaders act.
We've called for real climate leadership from the G8, but instead they've shown us what a typical bunch of politicians they are.
They have balked at putting any sort of target on the table for reducing emissions over the next 10 years, and have bombarded us with hollow words and aspirational goals so far into the future, it's like having a bus careering toward you and saying "well, it really shouldn't hit me and perhaps when it gets to within a few millimeters of me I'll make a leap towards safety". Problem is that it's a safe climate for humanity that these leaders are failing to protect and that simply cannot be tolerated.
I would seriously encourage everyone out there to consider what sort of peaceful action they would be prepared to take in order to bring about change on this issue. If you need ideas or inspiration, we're here to help. As a start, you can sign on to our YoU-Turn the Earth campaign and add your voice to the global call for climate action. We need to make serious progress before the UN climate talks this December.
The actions over the last few days though have been mightily impressive. We started with four power plants being occupied on the first day, three of which have managaed to stay occupied throughout the entirety of the G8 summit. Our fellow activists in the US got great attention drawn to their action at Mt Rushmore, where a massive banner was unveiled reading "America honours leaders, not politicians. Stop global warming". We also held an amazing projection at the Kremlin in Russia on the first night.
The next day, a fifth power station at Civitavecchia was occupied and painted and this morning, activists were back at Civitavecchia, this time taking their paint brushes to a ship importing coal from South Africa. We wrote "G8: FAILED" on the ship; if only our message could have been more positive.
Here at Brindisi, we have occupied the plant over three days, prevented 50,000 tonnes of greenhouse pollution from entering the atmosphere, saved $4 million in climate damage, painted "STUPID" down the side of the smoke stack and have spoken to international media about why we're here. Now it's time to come down and greet the workers and police who will no doubt be waiting for our safe return to ground.
Before I go, I realise I've been doing all the talking when there are 6 other activists up here. These are amazing and extremely skilled and professional people who are here because they believe in Greenpeace and what we stand for, and care deeply for the future of this planet. I've asked them to leave their own personal messages here:
So that's it from up here. Let's keep this pressure up on our politicians and turn them into leaders! Looking forward to seeing you out there.
Julien
Comments
What a beautiful testimony Julian that flows from your heart, of the real meaning of Love, ...selfless actions to create a better world for us all. Thanks so very much, for so many of you in both field and administration going all out with your magnificent world wide presence on this G8 thing. May you always be blessed with these feelings within you, and continue to bring your gift of Love to light our world, ...free us from the toxins and poisons, both in our earth, and in the hearts of men. 'Thank you for all the rainbows'. They were especially intense this time, ...GC
Posted by: Grateful Child | July 11, 2009 4:59 PM