Green revolution underway in France?

Paris, France — Nicolas Sarkozy, France's President, yesterday called for an environmental "revolution". Among other measures, he promised to outlaw energy wasting lightbulbs by 2010, ban commercial growing of genetically modified food and feed crops, and use the precautionary principle for all future government decisions. If yesterday's words become laws, and those laws become deeds, it could be the spark that changes the world.

Genetically engineered crop ban

France - the EU's biggest agricultural producer - is the sixth government in Europe to ban genetic engineered crops. (Austria, Germany, Greece, Hungary and Poland are the other five.) The only genetically engineered crop currently grown in France is Monsanto's genetically engineered maize (MON810).

It's not clear if what was announced is a permanent ban, or a temporary measure. Sarkozy did cite three good reasons to avoid growing genetically engineered crops:

• Doubts about their usefulness.
• Doubts about their benefits for health and the environment.
• Concerns about their uncontrolled dissemination.

"We're calling on other governments inside and outside of Europe to follow this positive example," said Greenpeace campaigner Geert Ritsema. "And to put the interest of citizens and the environment before the interests of a handful of multinational corporations such as Monsanto, Bayer, and BASF that produce and sell genetically engineered crops."
Saving energy

Lightbulb manufactures themselves are calling for an end to energy wasting lightbulbs in Europe by 2019. Sarkozy scores considerably better with his target of 2010.

Compact fluorescent lightbulbs use one-fifth the energy of traditional incandescents lightbulbs. Switching to energy saving bulbs in the EU alone, would save 20 million tonnes of CO2, equal to shutting down 25 medium-size dirty power plants.

Greenpeace campaigner Sharon Becker said, "We hope that this measure will open the eyes of other EU countries and that the energy efficiency standards needed to ban these bulbs, will pave the way for a broader spectrum of standards, for example for electronics and appliances."

Sarkozy also called for more use of train transport, and better fuel efficiency for cars. Following through on the promise of cars which emit on average 120 gram of CO2 per kilometre by 2012 would have a knock-on effect globally by fully commercializing existing technology.


Nuclear - lack of progress

Although Sarkozy gushed about renewable energy, it's clear France is not quite ready to give up its nuclear addiction. France has 59 operating nuclear reactors, and is building a new one based on what is called the European Pressurized Reactor (EPR) design.

France is also marketing its nuclear technology to countries like the UK, US, China, Canada, Brazil and Morocco. Already there is an EPR nuclear plant under construction in Finland - years behind schedule, over a billion euros over budget and plagued by more than 1,000 documented quality problems.

"It is good that Sarkozy agreed to phase out energy wasting bulbs," said Greenpeace campaigner Jan Beranek. "But by saying A he should also say B, which is that thanks to plans for improved efficiency, there is no need for additional reactors in France."


Sustainability first

From now on in France, the burden of proof must be placed on ecologically destructive activities, according to Sarkozy. Rather than environmentalists having to show that there's a better way, companies and people proposing ecologically destructive decisions need to prove there is no other choice.

This is probably the most important idea put forward by Sarkozy. It's very similar to the precautionary principle championed by Greenpeace and other environmental groups:

The precautionary principle is a moral and political principle which states that if an action or policy might cause severe or irreversible harm to the public, in the absence of a scientific consensus that harm would not ensue, the burden of proof falls on those who would advocate taking the action.
(Source: Wikipedia)

Following the precautionary principle is the route to sustainable economies and a healthy planet for future generations. Applying it thoroughly would be a true revolution.

7 steps - join

• Join the revolution by taking your own 7 steps. With seven emails over seven weeks, we'll help you make an easy change in your own home, then pressure governments and corporations to follow suite.

Donate!

• We don't accept money from governments or corporations -- and our financial independence is what allows us to pressure both. We rely on over 2 million people worldwide who give whatever they can. Please join us.

www.greenpeace.org

Hazardous substances reduced but not eliminated from laptops

International — Our investigation into hazardous materials in laptops shows that manufacturers have phased out use of some of the most toxic materials over the past year but still have a long way to go in eliminating others, such as PVC, brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and phthalates.

We purchased 18 laptops from Acer, Apple, Dell, HP, Sony and Toshiba in 14 countries in Europe, the Americas and Asia and sent them for analysis by an independent laboratory and at our Exeter Research Laboratories.

The report, "Toxic chemicals in computers - Reloaded", show bromine being present in over 40 percent of the components tested, at concentrations of up to 10 percent by weight. Of the components tested, Sony laptops were found to have the lowest number containing bromine, Dell laptops had the highest number.

PVC was found in 44 percent of all plastic coating internal wires and external cables that were tested. Phthalates were found in the power cables supplied with all laptops, with the highest levels in those of Acer and HP laptops.

The new report follows up our investigation into toxics in laptops sold in Europe in 2006, before EU legislation on hazardous substances in electronic equipment, known as RoHS.

With the implementation of RoHS, computer manufacturers have significantly reduced their use of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium and certain brominated flame retardants.

The good news is these changes have been implemented by all companies and not only for the European market where it is a minimum legal requirement.

The analysis shows that, for almost every component found to contain either bromine or plastic PVC, an equivalent component free of these chemicals can be found in another laptop.

First computer free of the worst toxic chemicals?

In theory, by combining components from different machines, the industry could already almost produce the first computer free of the worst toxic chemicals. The question is, which company is going to be the first to go the whole way?

Take Action

"While levels of certain toxic chemicals in the laptop components tested do not exceed current European standards, other hazardous chemicals found in laptops are not yet covered by European regulations," said Zeina Alhajj, Greenpeace International toxics campaigner.

"Greenpeace's goal is for computer manufacturers to eliminate the use of toxic materials completely."

"The results demonstrate that legislation in one region can have an influence even in countries where it does not yet apply. However, even where they do exist, current laws fail to regulate all hazardous chemicals in laptops, or in other electrical equipment, "said Dr. Kevin Brigden from the Greenpeace Research Laboratories who oversaw the sampling analyses and produced the report. "Laws which aim to protect human health and the environment must ultimately address all hazardous substances," he added.

Who's making the most progress?

We have been working since 2004 to push all the computer companies mentioned in the report to eliminate the worst toxic chemicals.

They have all published plans to drop these chemicals in 2008/9 (with the exception of HP) from all their products. These plans form part of the companies' scores in our Guide to Greener Electronics.

Our ranking guide also scores companies on whether they have already computer models free of PVC and BFRs on the market. Based on this criterion, out of the computer companies whose laptops we tested, Sony scores highest followed by Toshiba.

On the basis of this test, it seems Sony is closest to the goal of eliminating toxic chemicals from computers. Apple is making progress since the last test but Dell, HP and Acer still have the most work to do.

Take Action

• You can keep the pressure up by writing to the CEO's of the top computer firms to challenge them to produce a greener computer.

Donate

• We never allow ourselves to be fed by a hand we might want to bite. Not accepting corporate donations means we rely entirely on people like you to help keep us going. Some of our corporate targets spend in a few hours what we spend in an entire year. Please help with anything you can.

www.greenpeace.org

Greenpeace Activists Trapped by Loggers in Amazon

Para, Brazil — Eight Greenpeace activists trapped in a Brazilian environmental protection agency (Ibama) office, for nearly two days, have finally managed to escape. Our team was forced to seek refuge in the Ibama Amazon base, after loggers blocked them from transporting a dead Brazil nut tree we had government permission to collect and use. [UPDATED]

300 loggers, with eight trucks, ten vans, and 15 motorbikes surrounded the building. Then, last night, Brazilian police escorted our team to out of town.

We intended to use the Brazil nut tree as part of a public exhibition exposing Amazon destruction and its contribution to global warming. The tree was taken from land that had been illegally cleared and burnt.

Update - 26 October - Both the governor and the mayor of Sao Paulo have joined our call for zero deforestation in the Amazon. (read more)

Government Sides with Loggers

Unfortunately, the Brazilian government gave in to the loggers, and revoked Greenpeace's license to remove, transport and exhibit the valuable and protected Brazil nut tree, now in custody of the loggers. Despite the government back down, many loggers continued to surround the building with our activists inside. It was not until police committed to escort them later that night, that the Greenpeace team was able to make it to safety.

The loggers were undermining basic constitutional rights such as security and freedom of movement. It is the second time in two months that Greenpeace has been harassed like this in the Amazon jungle.


All this fuss over a tree

That a mob of 300, many of them involved in illegal deforestation, was allowed to stop eight activists from collecting one dead tree shows how out of control the situation is in this part of Brazil - and how special Brazil nut trees are.

Since 1994, the Brazilian nut tree (Bertholettia excelsa) has been protected by law from burning and logging, but is still endangered by illegal land clearing.

They can grow to over 50 metres tall, live for 500 years and are integral to the rainforest ecosystem. Brazil nuts grow in canon ball like clusters about the size of grapefruits, which can reach deadly speeds as they fall from the canopy. Its fruit (nuts) are extremely high in protein - eaten in the region and exported to countries like the UK, Germany and Italy. The nuts are one of the main non-timber forests products in the Amazon. About one million people depend on them.

Now this one tree is a symbol. On this, even the illegal loggers and the activists they blockaded agree. The loggers have said they will build a memorial with the tree in the town square. For us, this is a memorial showing the lack of governance in the Amazon - that the ones in charge aren't the government or the people of Brazil, but the loggers.


Brazil: World’s fourth largest climate polluter

Deforestation is responsible for three quarters of Brazil's greenhouse gas emissions, and makes the country the fourth largest climate polluter in the world. Our exhibition using the Brazil nut tree to highlight this has wide support across the country. Governors of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo have already confirmed their attendance.

Brazil wants to be recognized as a serious player on the international stage, yet can’t even uphold its own constitution in the Amazon. Greenpeace is calling for including deforestation in the post-2012 Kyoto climate regime to be discussed in Bali, Indonesia this December.

As Marcelo Maquesini, one of the team trapped inside the Ibama office said, "If Brazil is to be taken seriously by the international community in negotiations on climate, biodiversity or human rights, then they need to be able to enforce basic law and order in the areas where forests are being destroyed."


Amazon deforestation must end

The Brazilian government should allow us to take the Brazil nut tree as agreed. Tackling deforestation is an urgent issue, and people in Brazil (and around the world) have a right to see first hand the consequences of land clearing in the Amazon.

Greenpeace, in cooperation with nine other groups, two weeks ago launched a proposal for a national agreement to end Amazon deforestation at an event attended by the Brazilian Minister of Environment and State Governors. The proposal seeks a broad commitment from the Brazilian government and civil society to create measures protecting the Amazon rainforest.

Sign up

• Sign up for our regular ezine and action alerts.

Donate

• We don't accept money from governments or corporations -- and our financial independence is what allows us to pressure both. We rely on over 2 million people worldwide who give whatever they can. Please join us.

www.greenpeace.org

Tracking whales from space

International — Every year humpback whales migrate thousands of kilometres from the warmth of the South Pacific to their feeding grounds in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. It is a journey full of danger, as the whales must now contend with numerous threats along the way. From entanglement in fishing gear to the effects of climate change. And this year, for the first time in 20 years they will arrive in the sanctuary and have to contend with the whalers' harpoons.

It is a journey that has until now been a mystery. We know where the whales breed, in the warm waters of the South Pacific and where the whales feed, in the iceberg filled waters of the Southern Ocean. The journey the whales take between these two distant places however, is unknown.

The mystery may finally be revealed this year because we are collaborating with scientists from Opération Cétacés in New Caledonia and the Center for Cetacean Research and Conservation (CCRC) in the Cook Islands to find out where the whales go on their epic migration.



The scientists at Opération Cétacés and CCRC have placed satellite tags on 20 humpback whales and we are now receiving regular updates from the satellites on the whales locations as they travel along the 'Great Whale Trail'. The satellite data isn't just for the scientists though, you can follow the whales with our interactive google map.

Looking at the map already raises some fascinating questions, for real and amateur scientists alike. The whales from the Cook Islands are heading in a westerly direction, not south as you might expect. Some of the whales are even swimming away from the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary!

Maybe they are swimming towards a current that sweeps across the Pacific Ocean to the east coast of Australia before turning south. Maybe there is another other ocean feature they are heading for that we don't know about.

The whales from New Caledonia are also showing some fascinating behaviour with most of them heading south as expected but fanning out over a huge area, not staying together. One of the New Caledonia whales is heading west to the Australian coast.

As well as the map of the whales migration and profiles of the whales, you can also sign up for your free 'Whale Mail' which gives regular updates on the whales migration, threats they face along the way and all other whale related action, and you can also be part of a competition to name some of the whales!

By collaborating with Opération Cétacés and CCRC, we are supporting important, non-lethal research into the migration of humpback whales.

By combining the satellite data with other non-lethal research like biopsy darts (small pieces of skin and blubber that can be DNA analysed) and scientific observation, the final mysteries about the lives of humpback whales can be unravelled without harming the whales.

This research, is in stark contrast to the unnecessary, fake research that the Japanese Fisheries Agency carries out each year by killing around 1,000 whales in the Southern Ocean.

After swimming thousands of kilometres to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary the whales should be safe. The whales we are tracking however, could be in the sights of the whalers in just a couple of months time.

To keep up to date with all the latest whale news, sign up below for your regular 'Whale Mail'.

Sign Up

• Get your free 'Whale Mail' with all the latest news about the whales and how you can help.

www.greenpeace.org

Smoking kills - Kolaghat coal plant protest

Kolkata, India — Today, Greenpeace India activists scaled a 76 metre (250ft) smokestack spewing carbon dioxide at the Kolaghat coal fired power station, to paint the message "SMOKING KILLS". No, we're not talking about cigarettes - we're pointing the finger at one of the biggest causes of climate change - coal. [UPDATED]

"The addiction to coal fired power plants is a deadly one that the Indian government needs to get away from immediately," said Soumyabrata Rahut, Climate Campaigner Greenpeace India. "As in any addiction, we will have to wean ourselves away from the bad habit in a phased manner, but to continue on a carbonized growth path will be suicidal not only for the health of the country but for the entire planet."

Currently 67 percent of India's total electricity is from coal fired power plants, and additional proposed plants will lead to the doubling of CO2 emissions from the power sector in India. This will push India in to the third slot just behind USA and China from the current fifth position in overall CO2 emissions.

Update - 12 October - Six volunteers were arrested yesterday, were denied bail and remain in jail. They have been charged with criminal trespass and violation of the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order Act of 1972.

The Rainbow Warrior arrived in Calcutta today bearing the message "Arrest Climate Change: Free the Climate 6." (read more)

Update - 15 October - The six Greenpeace activists, four men and two women were granted bail this afternoon. The next hearing of the case is scheduled for December 19. (read more)

Saving energy - the other side of the issue

Greenpeace India is not only tackling climate change from the supply side, they're also going after the demand side by calling for a ban on energy wasting lightbulbs. Earlier this week, they used floating life rings create a massive 45 metre (150ft) ‘BAN THE BULB’ message on the Hoogly river (also in Kolkata), and over 200,000 people have signed their ban the bulb petition.

Banning energy guzzling incandescent lightbulbs would cut India's carbon dioxide emissions by a whopping 55 million tones. It's a simple, quick and doable step that can lead to a four percent cut in India’s carbon dioxide emissions.


Rainbow Warrior on the way

The Rainbow Warrior is scheduled to arrive on the 12th of October on its maiden voyage to Kolkata and the Sunderbans, to highlight the extreme vulnerability of this ecologically sensitive region and to sea level rise. Watch the Greenpeace India website for more on the Rainbow Warrior's work there.

Ban the bulb

• Ask India to ban the bulb.

Donate

• Support Greenpeace - donate today.

www.greenpeace.org

Indonesia: Forests and climate up in smoke

Sumatra, Indonesia — Never has the threat to the world’s forests been more acute nor the risk of dangerous climate change so imminent. With about one-fifth of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions being caused by forest destruction we are highlighting how Indonesia is at the heart of this problem.

Indonesian forests are being destroyed faster than any other major forested country, for logging and oil palm plantations.

This destruction has obvious, immediate consequences for the unique plants, animals and people who call the Indonesian forests home. These forests contain between 10 and 15 percent of all known species of plants, mammals and birds that make up the world’s treasure chest of biodiversity. Orangutans, elephants, tigers, rhinoceros, more than 1,500 species of birds and thousands of plant species are all part of the country’s natural legacy. But many of these unique forest-dwelling animals, including the orangutan and the Sumatran tiger, are on the brink of extinction.

While the loss of forests is bad enough, there's a double blow for the environment from forest clearance in Indonesia. Beneath most of this forest are thick layers of peat that lock up millions of tones of carbon. Once the forest is cleared the peat swamp is drained and often also burned to make the soil more suitable for palm oil plantations. Burning of the forest and peat results in huge amounts of greenhouse gases making Indonesia the world’s third largest climate polluter.



Brazil is the fourth largest climate polluter, with up to 75 percent of its emissions coming from land conversion and deforestation mainly in the Amazon.


More emissions than transport

Globally deforestation and forest fires account for approximately 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. That's more emissions than the world’s entire transport sector. If global deforestation is left unchecked it will continue to accelerate the rate of global warming.

This urgent global problem needs a global solution. We have launched a Forest Defenders Camp on the boundary of forest clearing in a region of Sumatra. In the coming weeks we'll be highlighting scale of the destruction and who's responsible. But also in Indonesia lies the start of that global solution.

Indonesia will be hosting the next round of international climate talks in December. Governments from around the world will gather in Bali to negotiate about extending the Kyoto Protocol, the only international agreement containing legally-binding limits on greenhouse gas emissions.

We aim to ensure that deforestation is included in the next phase of the Kyoto agreement extending beyond 2012. The decisions that governments make in the near future are critical for securing the financing and capacity needed by countries to safeguard their tropical forests and to allow them to make a serious contribution to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Stabilising the world’s climate depends on countries agreeing to deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions from the energy and industrial sectors and completely halting deforestation. And, above all, ensuring that this is firmly written into the revised Kyoto Protocol.

About the camp

• Read more about our Forest Defenders Camp.

Donate

• We don't accept money from governments or corporations -- and our financial independence is what allows us to pressure both. We rely on over 2 million people worldwide who give whatever they can. Please join us.

www.greenpeace.org

Greenpeace UK shuts down coal fired power station

Kent, United Kingdom — Just after 5am this morning, 50 Greenpeace UK volunteers went into Kingsnorth coal fired power station. One group immobilised the huge conveyor belts carrying coal into the plant then chained themselves to the machinery. A second group is climbing up the chimney, with supplies to hold it for several days and force the power station off the national grid.

Coal is the most polluting of all fossil fuels; it just isn't fit for purpose in the 21st century. No new coal fired power station has been built in the UK in over 30 years but now we're worried that prime minister Gordon Brown may be giving the green light to a new coal rush.


Background on Brown, E.ON and coal

In December last year, the owner of the Kingsnorth plant, E.ON, applied to build a new coal plant that would emit as much carbon dioxide as the world's 24 lowest emitting countries combined. Worse, it could keep pumping out emissions for another 50 years. And it will only be 45 percent efficient, in an age when power stations can reach 95 percent efficiency. E.ON, the German group behind the plan for the new coal plant, is Britain's single biggest greenhouse gas polluter.

Brown's repeatedly been asked to veto the plans; he's refused. In fact, his government has convened a coal forum to "bring forward ways of strengthening the industry, and working to ensure that the UK has the right framework to secure the long-term future of coal-fired generation."

"Instead of climate wrecking coal fired power stations, Brown should be investing in energy efficiency, renewable energy and decentralised energy," said Greenpeace energy expert Robin Oakley outside the power station. "For example, the London Array offshore wind farm will provide energy for 750,000 homes. Let's see more projects like that instead of outdated, dirty projects like Kingsnorth 2."

Updates (via Twitter):

• gpuk: Nuclear power: an ailing industry http://tinyurl.com/2rpc8v
  2007-10-25 18:02:54+00:00
  
• gpuk: Biofuels: A small group makes a big, bad decision http://tinyurl.com/2rnncz
  2007-10-25 13:59:17+00:00
  
• gpuk: Links for 2007-10-24 [del.icio.us] http://tinyurl.com/3cqr32
  2007-10-25 05:01:44+00:00
  

Follow the action via the Greenpeace UK blog, Facebook profile, Moblog, Flickr and Twitter.

Send a message

• Support the struggle for an energy [r]evolution. Send a message to prime minister Brown.

Donate

• We don't accept money from governments or corporations -- and our financial independence is what allows us to pressure both. We rely on over 2 million people worldwide who give whatever they can. Please join us.

www.greenpeace.org