Greenpeace Takes Over Four Italian Coal-Fired Power Stations

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Greenpeace – like PETA – really knows how to make an attention-grabbing statement. Over 100 Greenpeace activists from around the world took over four Italian coal-fired power stations in an attempt to force Heads of State to take leadership on climate change. World leaders convened yesterday in Rome for the G8 Summit, and climate change was one of the issues discussed.

From Greenpeace, via PlanetSave:

In the early hours of this morning, the activists, from 18 countries, occupied coal conveyors and climbed smokestacks and cranes on the four power stations in Brindisi, Marghera (just outside of Venice), at Vado Ligure, (near Genoa) and at an old oil plant at Porto Tolle, (set to be re-opened as an experimental so-called “clean coal” power plant.)  Coal is the worst climate pollutant of all fossil fuels.

The Brindisi plant is Italy’s biggest coal-fired power station and the country’s largest single source of C02 emissions. Greenpeace plans to stop it from polluting by blocking the coal conveyor belts and preventing coal from going into the plant.

“Politicians talk but leaders act” said UK activist Ben Stewart from the top of the 160m high chimney at the Marghera plant.  “There is no more time to waste. The G8 leaders must stop putting the interests of big coal and other climate polluting industries ahead of the planet and take strong, decisive leadership on climate change. That means deep cuts in emissions by 2020, investing in adaption and mitigation in the developing world and halting tropical deforestation.”

Greenpeace was asking world leaders to agree to a stringent set of criteria in the fight against global warming, including ensuring that global emissions peak by 2015 and be as close to zero as possible by 2050, and committing, as a group, to cut emissions by at least 40% by 2020.

Unfortunately, the world’s major industrial nations were not able to agree on specific cuts to heat-trapping gases by 2050. In the end, the failure to establish specific targets was due to the refusal of emerging nations like China and India.

You can follow a live feed of updates on the Greenpeace website, including photos and observations from the protesters. Photos of the activists climbing scaffolding hundreds of feet above the ground are quite striking and can be viewed full-size at ScribbleLive.com.

Link [Greenpeace] via [PlanetSave]

This is Why We Love Daryl Hannah

Vogue recently named Cameron Diaz “Queen of Green”, and while we’ve got nothing against the lovely Cameron, we respectfully disagree. If there’s any celebrity that deserves that title, it’s Daryl Hannah without a doubt.

Hannah is a real green warrior, living an authentically green life and putting her neck on the line for causes she feels passionate about. This isn’t your typical “look at me, I drive a Prius” wannabe green celebrity. Daryl Hannah cares, and she’s out there doing what she can to save the world.

Hannah was arrested on Monday afternoon along with about 30 other people including NASA scientist James Hansen and former Rep. Ken Hechler for blocking State Route 3 near a Massey Energy subsidiary’s coal plant in Raleigh County, West Virginia.

From Ecorazzi:

The peaceful protest on mountaintop removal coal mining, organized by local residents and the Rainforest Action Network, was met with strong opposition by a surprising crowd of Massey Energy workers and coal supporters. According to police, tensions ran high and one Massey supporter was arrested and charged with battery during a brief confrontation with protesters.

Of course, there are still tons of people out there that just don’t get it. Take this ridiculous comment, seen by Ecorazzi at the Charlotte Gazette:

“What is the value of the mountain other than what is in it? Actually it is a thing of beauty when foliated, but not all that pretty when leaves are gone. They make some people sick to drive in and always impede transportation. They present danger during snow and ice. How many people, who live in the areas affected, really give a hang about the mountains keeping their original contour?”

“Just thought I would ask an obvious question that I have not seen posed heretofore. Would the people living in the area prefer a peak on a mountain or have it flattened out for alternate use. Make a place for housing, industry, schools, recreation, etc. Actually, what is preferred if the coal profit were removed? It seems that it is OK to create jobs, but the fact that some entrepreneur makes a profit gives rise to a problem for some.”

Congratulations to Hannah and the rest of the protesters for getting this important message out into view of the public. Screw Jon and Kate, Perez Hilton’s crybaby drama and the Real Housewives of Skankville, this is the celebrity stuff that matters.

Link [Ecorazzi]
Photo credit: Rainforest Action Network