02 September 2007 - International
— After officials from 158 countries meeting
in Vienna agreed the next steps for negotiating
phase two of Kyoto, the world now turns
its gaze southward towards the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Sydney
to see if some of the world's biggest emitters
of greenhouse gases can rise to the challenge.
The Vienna climate change meeting agreed
that a cut in greenhouse gas emission in
the range of 25-40 per cent below 11000
levels, by 2020 provides a useful initial
parametre to set future emission reductions
by industrialised countries.
Despite the agreement, some countries were
pushing for smaller reductions targets.
Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Russia and
Switzerland tried to introduce lower emission
reduction ranges that, if adopted, would
lead to higher greenhouse gas levels, and
a much greater risk of dangerous climate
change.
The positions supported by these countries
could lead to a 4ºC global mean temperature
increase or higher.
To keep climate change from spiralling
out of control, we need to see emission
cuts which keep global temperature rise
as far below 2ºC as possible, compared
to pre-industrial levels.
Australia too has been trying to weaken
global emissions targets by refusing to
ratify the Kyoto Protocol along with the
US.
As the APEC meeting in Sydney began, Greenpeace
activists warned the many heads of state
at the meeting of Australia's real climate
policy by painting the message "Australia
Pushing Export Coal" in two metre high
letters along the side of a coal ship.
"Australia's climate policy is to
'Push Export Coal' and to hell with the
consequences for the planet," says
Ben Pearson, Greenpeace energy campaigner.
"Real action on climate change means
moving away from coal and shifting to clean,
renewable energy - and we don't have the
luxury of time for expensive talk-fests
that have no concrete outcomes."
During week long APEC meeting, Australia
will export more than four million tonnes
of coal, resulting in over 11 million tonnes
of CO2 emissions - equivalent to the annual
emissions from 800,000 average Australian
households.
Factoring in the costs of climate change
impacts, as detailed in the Stern Review,
Australia's coal exports will result in
more than AUS$1.2 billion (US$1 billion)
of damage during the APEC week alone, and
AUS$64 billion (US$52 billion) annually.
On the other side of the world more Greenpeace
activists blocked a Canadian coal shipment.
The activists painted the words "No
Coal. No Nuclear. Clean Energy." on
the freighter's hull to press politicians
in Ontario to commit to renewable sources
of energy.
You can take action to stop climate change
clicking the 'Take action' link below.
Island contaminated by illegal GMO - 05
September 2007 - Romania — Environmental
activists today placed an entire island
under strict quarantine after finding illegal
genetically modified (GMO) soya being grown
there.
Bralia Island in Romania is normally a
quiet farming area on the Danube river but
now it is the site of a huge environmental
contamination by soya that has been genetically
modified by the agricultural-chemical company,
Monsanto.
The peaceful action in Romania began early
in the morning when 30 Greenpeace activists
from across Europe set up a 'decontamination
station' at the ferry harbour area on Braila
Island.
All vehicles leaving the island were decontaminated
by being thoroughly washed to prevent the
genetic contamination from spreading further.
It is illegal for member states of the
European Union (EU) which includes Romania,
to cultivate GMO Soya. Greenpeace is calling
on the Romanian government and the European
Commission to act immediately to locate
and destroy all of the illegally cultivated
GMO Soya.
"We have taken action to protect the
rest of Romania from contamination by these
illegal GMO crops, which pose massive risks
to the environment, biodiversity and human
heath. Romanian people have overwhelmingly
rejected GMO," said Gabriel Paun, Greenpeace
Romania, GMO campaigner.
"This is not the first time Greenpeace
has discovered illegal GMO production in
Romania, the situation is out of control.
The Government must immediately locate and
destroy all of the crops before they enter
the food chain."
At the same time as activists were decontaminating
Bralia Island in Romania, more activists
were busy taking action against another
site of GMO contamination in France. 20
volunteers painted a field of illegally
grown GMO maize (corn) bright red, in order
to expose its location.
The GMO maize, known as MON810, is another
genetically modified product being pushed
onto consumers by Monsanto. The GMO maize
is being illegally grown, as either the
farmer, or the French government have failed
to inform the public of its presence as
required under French law.
"By failing to take control, the Romanian
and French governments are allowing biotech
companies such as Monsanto, to run riot
over their environment and ignore the wishes
of European people; contaminating their
food and their fields" said Myrto Pispini,
Greenpeace International GMO campaigner.
