Greenpeace penetrates G8 coastal exclusion zone to demand climate action now

Heiligendamm, Germany — As the leaders of the G8 summit, meet at to discuss climate change, 24 Greenpeace activists, using 11 speedboats took the message “G8: Act Now!” to the waters around the Heilingendamm summit. They entered the outer restricted area at 11am, informing the police as they did so. They came in from both east and west sides, entering into the inner restricted zone 10 minutes later.


Update: Update on Greenpeace action at Heiligendamm

Thursday 7 June, 2007

The Greenpeace speedboat action finished at 12pm this afternoon 24 Greenpeace activists came in 11 boats to the waters around the G8 summit, with the message “G8: Act Now!”. In total 11 boats were involved, 5 inflatables, 2 inflatable catamarans and 2 six- metre long inflatables.

6 people were injured when they were knocked into the water by the police boat, they have bruises all over their bodies. One activist is being kept in hospital for further observation.

Daniel Mittler said: "You can stop inflatables in ways other than ramming them, as the police boat did.

“Merkel is about to announce the climate deal made at here at Heiligendamm. As this morning’s action shows, the world outside of the razor wire fence demands real action on climate change now.”

The boats and 19 people remain in police custody.


Earlier update:

The activists tried to deliver a petition calling for clear commitments on climate change, which governments have so far failed to agree at this Summit. Some were stopped by police, and some boats are still in the water. Two Greenpeace inflatables were knocked over by police, injuring three activists, who are on their way to hospital.

Daniel Mittler of Greenpeace International said: “Greenpeace has taken the message ”G8: Act Now!“ to the G8 summit today, demanding decisive action to cut carbon emissions. Climate change is the greatest global threat to peace, development and the environment. The G8 countries have caused most of climate change - they must face up to their responsibility. The real world on the other side of the 8 foot high razor wire fence is tired of empty words and demands action now.”

Greenpeace urges the seven G8 members who are part of Kyoto to ignore Bush’s latest round of non-committal posturing and commit themselves to decisive action. They must agree to binding commitments that will lead to cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions of 50% by 2050, compared to 1990 levels.

“As an absolute minimum, the G8 must agree to commit to 30% cuts by 2020, compared to 1990 levels. They must also agree to a formal mandate and timetable to secure the necessary radical emission cuts under the Kyoto Protocol, by 2009 at the latest, at the next UN negotiations in December. Only if they do this can they come out from behind the fence with any chance of calling the summit a success, added Mittler”