Greenpeace - Making Waves: VICTORY! Coal gets the boot in Greece

Some excellent news from Dimitris, our climate and energy campaigner in Greece.

Last week we had a meeting with the CEO of the company that we targeted during the Greek leg of the Quit Coal tour with the Rainbow Warrior. In the meeting the company was represented by their CEO, ED, their Communications Director and a scientific expert.

During the meeting we were able to present our Energy Revolution vision and also warn him that we will actively oppose his coal plans, should he continue. The CEO agreed that he now thinks it is rather hard to invest in coal, due to economical reasons but also said that he is not willing to confront Greenpeace and other local anti coal movements.

We got in writing that he is not willing to invest in coal and that if ever he changes his mind, he will only do so after getting a consensus from local communities (which we aim to make sure will never happen). We also got in writing that the aluminium factory he owns (sited next to the location of the proposed coal plant and has been dumping toxic waste for more than 40 years) will reduce dumping by 65% by the end of 2008 and phase out dumping by 2011.

One coal plant out of the four proposed is now stopped in Greece largely due to the hard work we (the local communities and Greenpeace) have done here. We will now focus on the other three proposed coal plants, in close cooperation with local anti-coal movements.

I would like to thank the fantastic crew of the Rainbow Warrior, without which we wouldn't have made it happen.

From the Greek team we wish all the best to the rest of the Quit Coal Tour.

The Rainbow Warrior is currently on its way to the UK to give coal the boot over there! Stay Tuned.

Image: © Greenpeace/ Pierre Gleizes

Comments

Parabéns Guerreiros por mais esta bela vitória! Muitos Arco-Íris para todos nós sempre e cada vez mais guerreiros como vocês para lutar por eles, pela natureza, pela vida! Obrigada!
Sucesso sempre.....contem comigo! Bjs nestas belíssimas almas,

Solange Zomer (Soso)

Posted by: Solange Zomer | October 14, 2008 10:52 PM

BRAVO GUYS!
well done!
important to be involved by locals / or to involve locals.
To leave well-trained local resistance behind!

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN!

Posted by: Bob | October 15, 2008 1:25 PM