Solar Generation

Friday 7 Dec 2007
by Razceljan SG-Philippines

Mr. Solarsunshine painted the surrounding scene when we arrived at the fishing community to join the fishermen for the flotilla together with SV Rainbow Warrior – the “legend”, according to Chris, one of the SolarGen from Indonesia.

The outrigger boats were colorful with the banners on each of them that states: SAVE THE OCEANS; SAVE THE CORAL REEFS; and SAVE THE CLIMATE. Some were translated in Balinese language. The local fisherfolks have already felt the impact of climate change (like coral bleaching, sea level rise, sea water encroachment) to their livelihood and they want to raise this concern to the ‘authorities’ to do something. It was the reason why they joined the flotilla to support the organization’s action to help ‘save the climate’.

After attaching all the banners on the boat, each of us boarded to separate boats and off we went all to sea to convene with the ‘mother ship’.

The Beaufort level was 1 – meaning, the sea was choppy, but big waves curl up upon hitting the coast to the surfers’ delight. The colorful little boats floating in unison towards the emerging silhouette of the Rainbow Warrior was a wonderful sight of collective force.

Photograph by Ivy Londa

As we got closer to the Rainbow Warrior, the Beatles’ song “Magical Mystery Tour” streamed into my brain and I started singing it. But I was actually listening to Jack Johnson’s “Bubble Toes” with my mp3. Our outrigger boat finally got too close to the ‘mother ship’ and the boatman drove in circle of the Rainbow Warrior to my delight seeing the “flagship of Greenpeace”.

The crew members of the boat were working on putting the big banner. They were climbing the mast head. And then I saw Jay from the Philippines (obviously recognizable with his ‘Pilipinas, Go Renewable! Shirt) – the fantastic master chef at the Skill Share last October and now cooking for the crew of the ship.

Photograph by Razcel Jan Luiz Salvarita

I found out that we were not the only group joining Rainbow Warrior. The Indonesian POLISI (police) and Navy’s boat were also around us. A little later, the Rainbow Warrior started moving fast past most of the boats and the police intervention began.

The armed policemen riding the dinghy asked us to move back and not to follow the RW. The dinghy tried to swerve right in front of us to create waves for us to change course, which we did not do. We still pushed through towards the coast though not to the port to land and go back to the guest house. We had a quick debriefing with Mark Dia from the Philippines – the regional coordinator for the Road to Bali project.

All of us enjoyed the excitement in the morning’s action, especially the police intervention. The encounter with Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior sparked great inspiration upon me to keep on with the movement and become one of the ‘flagships’ of my generation.

Rainbow Warrior brings a symbol of hope for a colourful and positive future.

Long Live Rainbow Warrior!