printed on recycled ecological paper certified and vegetable-based ink.

the climate!the climate!the climate!for

13th Parliamentarian of Mersin

From Copenhagento Cancun

Rainbow Warrior 3 is coming

The stars come out against climate change, as celebrities use their voice to help Greenpeace cancel the additional coal power plant which is planned to be built in Ashkelon

Issue | 43 Date | 2010

greenpeace.org.il

the climate!the climate!

Lights, Camera, Action,

Greenpeace Mediterranean

Editor in ChiefDr. Uygar Özesmi

Stories by Stephanie HillmanKorol DikerTheodora KarchovskyRicardo ScheleffDeniz Sözüdoğru

Editorial TeamThomas WuchterlSalvatore Barbera

Designed by:Isee Creative iseecreative.com

The power to change!

Dr. Uygar ÖzesmiExecutive DirectorGreenpeace Mediterranean

of “modernity” - is causing sea acidification in addition to global warming. I remember an ecologist saying that everything is connected to everything else.. or was that Buddha? Anyway, another milestone for Greenpeace Mediterranean was reached. We prepared a report on a network of marine reserves along the Lebanese coast to be launched soon.

So many confrontations and actions have happened since our last issue, in defense of the planet. The youth in Ashkelon gave a lesson in democracy to the politicians as they denounced the coal plant, and then met with Environment Minister, Gilad Erdan, also fighting the coal plant.

More exciting news is the building the Rainbow Warrior III. The new ship will be more environmentally friendly and will go far in our struggle to save the Earth, able to access all points on the high seas. Here, the key ingredient is you. Without supporters like you, there would simply be no Greenpeace. To remain fiercely independent, we do not solicit or accept donations from companies or governments. We rely on the support of dedicated individuals like you to run our environmental campaigns free from outside influences. With you we can make a difference and have the power to change!

Thank you for being a part of this global movement for change!

Everything around us is changing, unfortunately for the worse. The climate, oceans, and biosphere are degrading as time passes. Why? We have exceeded the world’s capacity to renew itself. And, if this was not enough, there are plans to build more nuclear power plants. Zombies we thought we had buried long ago. Fortunately, we are growing in supporters and resources faster than the dominant economic system, giving us hope and determination to bury the zombie once and for all. Greenpeace launched a massive campaign against nuclear power. Celebrities are supporting us in the “I lovve Nuclear” campaign, and our online campaign resulted in the second largest Greenpeace membership on Facebook. We thank you all for your incredible support.

Greenpeace’s goal is to take action to protect our fragile planet in all its diversity, for now and for future generations. Some people may be skeptical whether we can reach that goal, some even say that it is impossible. But I know what we have achieved together in the past, and I know very well that Greenpeace has shown consistently that change is possible, even if once proclaimed impossible.

Together we work to save the Mediterranean Sea, and play a vital role in securing marine reserves necessary to increase the resilience of the marine ecosystem, especially since the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere - the excrement

The 13th Parliamentarian of Mersin: Greenpeace

From Copenhagen to Cancun

Coal up to neck

Rainbow Warrior 3 coming

Doing Time for the climate Justice for the Tokyo TwoA natural born activist: Kumi NaidooGreenpeace Around the World

TurkeyAsmalı Mescit Mah. İstiklal Cad. Kallavi Sok. D:1 Kat: 2 Beyoğlu - IstanbulPhone : 90 212 292 76 19 Fax : 90 212 292 76 22 gpmedtur@diala.greenpeace.org

MaltaRegent House 52, 5th Floor St. Sliema SLM - Malta Phone : (356) 2149084 / 5 Fax : (356) 2149082 gpmedite@diala.greenpeace.org

IsraelP.O.Box 14423, Tel Aviv 61143, IsraelPhone : (972) 3 5614014 Fax : (972) 3 5614015)gpmedisr@greenpeace.org

LebanonP.O.Box 13-6590, 1102 2140 Beirut, LebanonPhone : (961) 1 785665 Fax : (961) 1 785667 supporters@greenpeace.org.lb

This was the headline of a local newspaper right after Greenpeace’s action in the Turkish National Assembly...

This past December, the city of Copenhagen hosted the largest ever gathering...

“More! More! Put some more coal on her hair!”, “Cover his hands! Both of them”! ...

Greenpeace was formed in 1971 when a group of volunteers on-board an old fishing vessel...

Korol DikerNuclear Campaigner

This was the headline of a local newspaper right after Greenpeace’s action in the Turkish National Assembly. Two Greenpeace activists opened banners saying that ‘Mersin and Sinop Don’t Want Nuclear’. But the headline was more than expressing the support to the Greenpeace action in the Parliament.

The 13th Parliamentarian of Mersin: Greenpeace

Since the Turkish Government announced their nuclear plans for Mersin Akkuyu they ran a very undemocratic process not even tolerating the smallest criticism. The government didn’t listen to the scientists, chambers, NGOs, or even the locals who would have to live with the risks of nuclear power in their daily life. Moreover they didn’t share the details regarding the negotiations and the agreements with the Russians along the way which is one of the main responsibilities of the Turkish Government while spending Turkish People’s money.

The Higher Court’s decision to cancel the nuclear tender in

November 2009, had prevented the government from making a huge mistake. But government’s insistence on this dirty energy has driven them to series of new mistakes. To by-pass the court’s decision and circumvent complex legislative processes Turkish Government decided to make an agreement with the Russian Government.

The Energy Ministry’s projections clearly show that this expensive deal will only boost the energy costs and make Turkey a more dependent country. But the Energy Ministry with hundreds of energy specialists still can’t address the problem and its real solutions.

Greenpeace with a staff of only 20, published Turkey’s Energy Revolution pathway showing how to keep the sustainable growth with energy efficiency solutions and renewable energy sources without being dependent on dirty energy like coal, fuel oil, natural gas, and nuclear energy.

In the coming months we’ll continue to deliver the messages of locals to the government until they understand that Turkish citizens from all over Turkey and especially Mersin and Sinop don’t want nuclear energy in their lives.

Greenpeace activist unfurled message during weekly address

nukleer.greenpeace.org

Stephanie Hillman Program Director

This past December, the city of Copenhagen hosted the largest ever gathering of Heads of State, as more than 120 attended the United Nations Climate Change Summit. The world watched with hope that global leaders would come to a strong commitment to combat catastrophic climate change, and the world was terribly and tragically let down. It is the overwhelming opinion of the global scientific community that to avoid the worst of climate calamity, that we need to keep the average global temperature rise below 2 °C and emissions output must peak 2015 and then rapidly decline immediately thereafter.

From Copenhagen to Cancun

Greenpeace activists express disappointment in Copenhagen outcome

The Copenhagen agreement absolutely had to include that industrialized countries agree to a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emission based on 1990 levels, and provide the funding for developing nations to significantly reduce their growth in emissions. The results and commitments made in the Copenhagen Accord will go far amiss from this necessary target and have no legally binding status.

At the end of the COP 15, the mandate was given that industrialized countries would submit their pledges to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) by the end of January. The pledges were initiated with goal of meeting the Copenhagen Accord’s objective of collectively reaching the crucial cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. Fifty five countries have since submitted their pledges to the

UNFCC, and the analysis shows that, as a group, the emissions pledges reach only a miniscule percentage of what is needed to keep the temperature rise under 2 degrees. In fact, this will quickly escalate to an average global temperature rise of 3 degrees, and a possibility of ruinous social and environmental impacts.

Contrary to the greenwashing spin that most world leaders are putting on it, the Copenhagen Accord turned out to be a massive failure, and will most likely result in tragedy for millions living in the world’s most vulnerable countries. However, there is one bright point in the negotiations. There was agreement on the need to establish a climate funding mechanism, providing up to 100 billion dollars a year for lesser developed countries to work toward a low carbon economy

and to adapt to the inevitable difficult climate impacts. This agreement, though, is not a legally binding one, and leaves plenty of loopholes and opportunities for letdown.

Negotiations on a global deal will continue in November 2010, as heads of state will meet again in Cancun, Mexico. Expectations for governments to reach a fair, ambitious and legally binding agreement have been lowered after the Copenhagen experience, but the desire of most of the world’s population to keep pressure on these leaders remains great, as hundreds of thousands of the world’s most vulnerable populations could easily be dead from climate impacts before leaders meet in Mexico.

Israeli actor Moshe Ivgy participates in Greenpeace anti-coal campaign

Theodora Karchovsky

burning power plant in Ashkelon, where there is already one active and poisoning coal plant.

Mayors in the region, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and all of the environmental organizations in Israel completely oppose it. Only the Infrastructure Minister, Uzi Landau, and the Electric Company are adamant about it and refuse to look for cleaner and greener alternatives.

This is where Israel’s bravest artists entered the picture, realizing that the biggest problem of this campaign is that the struggle has no face, only thick gray smoke that squeezes itself out of the chimneys of the coal plant and poisoning thousands of babies, children and adults. After one day in a room full of coal, one cannot stay indifferent to it. It strangles you, stays in your nose, your clothes, your food.

True, we are fighting against powerful entities in the country - they have lots of money and manpower - but we, the public will win this struggle. There is no reason to build additional coal plants in Israel. There is no reason to sacrifice the citizens on the altar of electricity, especially when other solutions, clean, cheap and more profitable are available.

We would like to thank a few people who helped us make it all happen;Dan Dovrat, our activist and a student in the Visual Communication department of “Shenkar” college, who made it all happen; to the well known fashion photographer Ronen Fadida, that did it all voluntarily, and his assistant Hana; the make up artists Haim and Alex, and all of the brave artists who entered a bed full of coal for this important campaign.

Thank you!

One standard living room in the center of Tel-Aviv: computer, TV, small dining table, bed, closet and more than 10 kilograms of coal in the center of the room. Black, dirty and messy, real coal. At the center of the room lays, as if naturally, a “coal bed”. It looks as seductive as a bed full of needles and yet everyone who came that day, went into it bravely.

Dana Spector (journalist), Eli Finish (comedian), Moshe Ivgy (actor), Oded Katash (basketball coach), Mosh Ben-Ari (singer), Liraz Cherhi (actress) and Yael Goldman (model) - all entered the bed white and clean and got out of it black and dirty. All of that for the “coal up to neck” campaign of Greenpeace, a campaign designed to arouse public awareness to one of the fast growing dangers in recent years - Coal. A danger of invisible, transparent poison that threatens us every day but goes unnoticed.

Burning coal is the main factor of climate change. A phenomenon that is not just a problem of the polar bears at the poles, but the entire world. It creates extreme cold in Europe and the United States, heavy heat waves in Australia, droughts and water shortages in Africa and the Middle East and deadly floods in Southeast Asia.

In Israel, most of our electricity is produced by burning coal. Coal that can’t be found in Israel but is being imported from countries like Indonesia with which we do not have diplomatic relations. Despite the intense struggle for the past 5 years, power consumption in Israel dropped last year. Despite the unequivocal health risks – the Electric Company insists on building another coal

Comms Officer

Coal up to neck

“More! More! Put some more coal on her hair!”, “Cover his hands! Both of them”!These were the voices in the background while Dan, our activist and “father” of this production, put dirty coal on the bodies of the most known artists in Israel.

Program Director

Stephanie Hillman

About 20 years ago, Greenpeace was one of the first environmental groups to ring the alarm on this inevitable danger, and to take action. When the UN Conference on Climate Change announced they would hold a Conference in Copenhagen, with over 180 heads of state to come to a global agreement on combating climate change, Greenpeace made it a priority and was determined to have a strong voice. We made our voice heard around the planet as we rolled out numerous direct actions, visual activities and lobbyied for more than a year. Again, Greenpeace activists were willing to jeopardize their freedom to be the voice of millions gravely affected by climate change.

One of the most notable of these came during the Copenhagen meetings, as 4 activists, Nora, Juanxto, Joris and Juan knew all media eyes were on the red carpet rolled out by the Queen, as leaders arrived for a gala at the palace. These four, now known as “the Gala 4,” posed as a head of state, his wife and

staff. As they arrived and stepped out onto the red carpet in full formal evening wear in front of the cameras, they unfurled banners reading “Politicians talk, Leaders Act.” They were immediately apprehended by security and placed under arrest. Given the high profile and location, the activity was taken very seriously, and Danish authorities were determined to make an example of the Gala 4.

The activists spent a month in prison and will face a trial which could result in more time behind bars. The four were supported by Greenpeace activities around the globe, from candlelight vigils to letters delivered to Danish embassies.

The Gala four spent the winter holidays in prison, yet they have no regrets, pointing out that their 4 weeks of suffering do not begin to compare with the lifetime of suffering that will be imposed on millions of people affected by climate change.

Greenpeace was born out of non-violent direct action,

nearly 39 years ago, when a group of anti-nuclear

protestors set out for Alaska to put themselves between

the planet and nuclear weapons. Since then, a global

organization has been built on the willingness of activists to risk arrest, spend time in jail

and put their personal safety on the line to speak for the health of the planet. Since

then, we’ve witnessed many threats to the environment,

but few as great as catastrophic climate change.

Doing Timefor the climate

“The Gala Four” show their action, post prison release

Stephanie HillmanProgram Director

Nearly two years ago, Greenpeace took a different course of action and conducted a 4 months undercover investigation to expose the corruption in the whaling industry in Japan, which is funded by the Japanese government, and therefore, the tax payers. During this investigation, two of our activists, Toru Suzuki and Junichi Sato, discovered an extensive embezzlement operation on board the whaling ship, Nisshin Maru, which had been hunting whales in the Southern Oceans Whale Sanctuary.

Acting on the public interest, the two now known as the “Tokyo Two,” got hold of a box of stolen whale meat headed for the public market, and turned the meat into the authorities as evidence of the widespread crime. Rather than being hailed as heroes, the two were arrested for theft, and are now on trial and face up to 10 years in prison. Greenpeace believes that this is meant by authorities to be a deterrent against opposition to Japanese whaling, as the two have also been subjected to intimidation and unfair treatment by the courts.Recently the view of Greenpeace

was supported by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention when they found the Japanese government had violated several human rights in their detention and prosecution of the Tokyo Two. Throughout the past two years, Greenpeace globally has band together to support the T2 with several high profile and visual activities at embassies and iconic places. Furthermore, support for the T2 has been expressed by almost a half a million people around the world, including legal experts, human rights organizations and several celebrities. The trial for the Tokyo Two began in mid February, after several preliminary hearings to determine what would be allowed as evidence and who could be witnesses. Not all court findings went in favor of the T2, but they have managed to build a strong defense nonetheless. The trial is expected to last for a few more months and draw considerable scrutiny from the legal community, supporters and Greenpeace around the world.

Over the past century, the planet has witnessed the

decimation of approximately 2 million whales, bringing

several species to the brink of extinction, from which some may never recover.

In 1975, realizing the grave threat of commercial whaling,

Greenpeace launched a global anti-whaling campaign which has been running strong ever since, working on the political

level with the International Whaling Commission (IWC), as

well as confronting the whalers on the high seas with non-

violent direct action.

Justice for the Tokyo Two

Greenpeace activists in front of the Japanese embassy in Stockholm in support of the T2

Digital simulation of the Rainbow Warrior 3

Ricardo Sheleff

This ship will be one of the greenest ships afloat, built primarily to sail (thus using wind energy instead of fossil fuels), with the option in unsuitable weather conditions to switch over to engine-powered, diesel-electric propulsion. The A-frame design of the mast and the positioning of the sails have been optimized for efficiency and the shape of the hull has been designed for maximum fuel conservation. Heat created by the generators will be re-used to heat water on board and for engine pre-heating.

The Rainbow Warrior is synonymous with Greenpeace, with taking a stand to defend the planet, and is an icon of hope worldwide. Not only does it provide Greenpeace with a platform to challenge environmental abuse across the world, it provides people with inspiration to take action. More than ever the world needs the hope and inspiration provided by the Rainbow Warrior.

The first Rainbow Warrior was sunk in the port of Auckland by the French Government on 10 July, 1985, as she was preparing to protest French nuclear testing in Mururoa.

Greenpeace have currently 3 vessels, Arctic Sunrise, Esperanza and the most symbolic and oldest one, the Rainbow Warrior II. She has been sailing with a Greenpeace flag for more than 20 year, being launched on 10 July 1989, so now it is time to take a long rest.

“The Rainbow Warrior II has been a great ship, with a proud record of effecting environmental change, but even great warriors need to be retired”, said Gerd Leipold, former Greenpeace CEO.

With the Rainbow Warrior III it is the first time in Greenpeace’s history that it has chosen to commission a purpose-built high seas ship instead of refurbishing an older one. The organization maintains that even in these difficult financial times, environmental protection must remain the international community’s single greatest priority.

Actions and Volunteers Unit Head

Rainbow Warrior 3 is coming

Greenpeace was formed in 1971 when a group of volunteers on-board an old fishing vessel called the Phyllis Cormack set out for Amchitka off the coast of Canada to protest against nuclear testing on the island. Since then many ships with different names have sailed around the world flagging our flag and bearing witness of environmental crimes but there is only one name that remains painted on the sides of one ship in our fleet, and that’s the Rainbow Warrior.

Comms Officer

Deniz Sözüdoğru

From 1998 to 2008, Kumi was the Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer of Civicus: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, which is dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society throughout the world.

He started to fight for social injustice and now he fights for climate change and environment. Kumi Naidoo says: “I don’t really see much of a divide between social and environmental activism, for me they are two sides of a coin. Take for example our work to keep toxic chemicals out of water supplies, or to protect our agriculture systems - the first people to suffer from any of these environmental issues are the poor. For this reason we really can no longer disassociate social and environmental activism”.

He brings his community activism experiences into the organization. As a new head of Greenpeace he plans to broaden Greenpeace’s presence and programmes in developing countries. He emphasizes that Greenpeace’s position in the Mediterranean is very important for the region.

Greenpeace already works within coalitions comprising human rights, anti-poverty and faith-based groups as well as trade unions and other organizations.

When it comes to the Copenhagen Accord Naidoo summarizes Greenpeace’s stand with those words: “In submitting their pledges to cut and limit emissions, as part of the Copenhagen Accord, virtually all governments have been unwilling to go beyond the positions they took in the run-up to Copenhagen. Collectively it is a suicide note for the climate, penned by our leaders. We will keep the climate issue at the top of the international agenda, increase the pressure and continue to grow in numbers till the climate negotiations in Mexico this November.”

Kumi Naidoo believes we have no other option, because the impacts are already with us. Last year alone an estimated 300.000 people died as a result of climate change. Science tells us that if we don’t act against this problem now, it will lead to some 1 billion people”.

A natural born activist Kumi Naidoo, who is Greenpeace

International’s Executive Director since November 2009, has a long

journey in the name of justice, human rights and equality. He

first became involved in the struggle against apartheid at the age of 14. At 15 he was expelled

from school for organizing boycotts as part of a national

rebellion against unequal apartheid education. During

his life he went on to become more involved in community

activism. Kumi went to the United Kingdom in 1987 and

spent his time in exile at Oxford as a Rhodes scholar, earning a

doctorate in political sociology.

A natural born activist: Kumi Naidoo

Greenpeace International’s new Executive Director, Kumi Naidoo

Greenpeace Around the World

Kit Kat Kills Bluefin Tuna at RiskGreenpeace has targeted Nestle, maker of Kit Kat candy bars, for destroying Indonesian forest. Nestle currently purchases palm oil from companies who are brutally killing Indonesia’s valuable rainforests, with complete disregard for the people or wildlife who inhabit them.

The destruction of these forests has pushed the orangutan to the brink of distinction, compelling Greenpeace to launch a global campaign against Nestle. In 8 (!) weeks alone, Greenpeace one the campaign and met its goals as Nestle agreed to change their destructive policies and contracts.

The long-term survival of the Bluefin Tuna species is at serious risk as the Convention in Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) has failed to pass conservation efforts. Despite the support of the EU and USA to ban the fishing of Bluefin tuna, it appears that the majority of parties to the convention are more

concerned with short term profit than long term survival of the species.Greenpeace will continue to campaign for the protection of tuna through large-scale high seas marine reserves and sustainable fishing practices.

Facebook = Climate Change?

GE Rejected!

The colossal social networking site, Facebook, is currently planning to construct an enormous data center in the United States, filled with the most energy efficient computers and electronics available.

This would sound wonderful and responsible, if it were not for the fact that the

center will be powered by the dirtiest and most climate destroying source of energy available-coal.

Greenpeace has asked Facebook fans to tell the networking site to reject coal and to plug into clean energy.

The Swiss people have recently been granted a reprieve on the existence of genetically engineered plants in their country, as the Swiss parliament has extended the ban beginning in 2005, until 2013. This decision is strongly supported by the Swiss public

and the Swiss farming industry, and sends a strong message to the European Union, which in recent years, have slowly accepted the use of genetic engineering in agriculture and food production.

Greenpeace’s flagship is coming to Israel for the Climate & Energy campaignWe are happy to invite you to an Open Day for the gen-eral public, which will take place in Haifa Port on Saturday the 03.07.10The Entrance is Free!Amongst the day’s event we will have:A tour on the boat, a variety of attractions in the port, live shows, puppet theater and games for children, meetings with the crew and more..The event will be held at 10:00-17:00. Entrance from Gate no. 5ID requiredFor further details: 03-5614014

Greenpeace is celebrating the arrival of the ship with a party in the magical bar “Carlton on the Beach”, located south to Hilton beach in Tel-Aviv.The party will be held on Saturday 01.07.10 between 18:00-22:00.The entrance is free for the general public (entrance above the age of 18).Come and join us on the white night with music, live shows and more..

* There might be changes. Due the port’s requirements, the open day can only be held on Saturday

the

rainbow

warrior

is coming

to israel

Special broadcast on Radio 99FM on Thursday 01.07.10

Party!

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