Greenpeace

Some surveys have revealed that public speaking ranks higher than death as a phobia.  If you want to make it in politics, you had better overcome that fear pretty fast!  But even the most seasoned public speakers can have a rough time now and then: they stumble over a word, a joke falls flat, Greenpeace activists are in the rafters above them hanging banners against what they're saying...

This morning, British Prime Minister Tony Blair was forced to change the venue of his pro-nuclear speech thanks to some uninvited guests stealing his thunder.  Blair was prepared to tout nuclear energy as the answer to climate change, despite it being costly, dangerous and a terrorist target.

Vote "no to nuclear" on BBC's Web site.

Check out CNN's coverage.

Read a fellow Greenpeace blogger's account of the international climate change conference happening this week.

Photo: John Stillwell/WPA pool, AP

Italian authorities seized 7.8 million gallons of Nestlé baby milk products yesterday after tests showed that chemicals used in the labels were seeping through the cartons into the milk. The milk was produced in Spain and sold in France, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

Read the full disturbing story.

Goldman Sachs Group - the big investment banking firm - has announced a policy that details how its 24,000 employees should promote activities that protect forests and guard against climate change. It seems that Wall Street has opened its eyes to the importance of environmentally sound practices, now it's time to get Pennsylvania Avenue onboard.

Check out the NY Times article.

Last week, Greenpeace unveiled a new (and improved!) member center. This new system allows activists to update their profiles, blog, join discussions, take action and more in a quick and easy format. It turns out that the Internet isn't just good for googling the name of your blind date or selling your Cabbage Patch dolls on ebay. The worldwide web is a key tool for connecting activists and allowing them to work together to bring about change. Get started.

We've all heard the stories of dogs or cats gone missing hundreds of miles from home that show up on their owners' doorsteps. They're a little tired, a little hungry, but mostly just happy to be reunited with their families. But those animals don't have anything on "Phoky" or the other sea otters that are astounding scientists and infuriating fishermen.

Phoky was captured and flown from his natural habitat in Southern California's Anacapa Island to Monterey as part of a federal program. Shellfish divers didn't like sharing their catch with these natural predators so the government decided to step in.

But Phoky and dozens of other sea otters weren't satisfied with their new accomodations. So they decided to go back to where they belong despite the official order against it. Who knew otters practiced civil disobedience?

In light of the otters' arrival, the authorities are leaning toward abandoning the re-location plan altogether.

Greg Sanders, a biologist that had been tracking Phoky and the others admitted, "We flew 'em out there, although we didn't blindfold them."

Read more on these clever critters.

Yesterday, Christmas came early for British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Apparently Mr. Blair has been quite naughty this year because he received 14 TONS of coal, courtesy of Greenpeace activists.



The special delivery was a reminder to Blair of his commitment to tackle climate change. In the past few weeks, he has made statements that have cast doubt on his long-term support of global warming solutions like the Kyoto Protocol. Negotiations for the second phase of Kyoto are set to begin in Montreal this month and Brits are counting on Blair to redeem himself.

Read the full story.

China has recognized that it has a dependence on imported oil and its coal-burning power stations and stoves are dangerous for residents. But instead of going to war or pretending the problem doesn't exist, China is taking the road less traveled and looking to renewable energy sources to meet its needs. In fact, solar panels are powering army outposts for soldiers guarding the country's border.

Check out the full story.

For nearly 35 years, Greenpeace has engaged in non-violent protests. But just because we're committed to remaining peaceful at all times, doesn't mean the corporations and governments we stand up to feel the same way. Over the years, our activists have suffered multiple beatings at the hands of irate workers and abusive law enforcement personnel. In 1984 the French Secret Service bombed our ship, the Rainbow Warrior, and killed our photographer, Fernando Pereira.

Today, one of our activists participating in a peaceful protest against a coal power plant in the Philippines was attacked with a pipe by local plant security. He is now recovering in the hospital. Four other activists were pummeled with stones.

How can this brutality be justified against people armed with nothing more than a banner?

Read the full story and listen to audio from the scene.

Congress is meeting today to discuss ExxonMobil and the rest of the oil industry's record-breaking profits. And tomorrow the House of Reps is expected to vote on a bill that would allow drilling in the Alaskan National Wildlife Rescue - dubbed "America's Serengeti."

Meanwhile, renewable energy sources like solar and wind power are getting more advanced and more affordable by the day. Take TMA's latest wind turbine design for example. This new model won't harm birds, runs more quietly and doesn't need to be installed as high as previous versions. Looks like the conservatives have run out of excuses to oppose clean energy. Unless they want to go on record complaining that wind power won't put $9.9 billion in Lee Raymond's pocket.

Today a fleet of Japanese ships departed for the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. If you think they've left for a whale watching pleasure cruise, think again. These six ships are planning to hunt down and kill 1,000 whales, despite a worldwide ban on whaling in effect for almost 20 years.

These whalers are exploiting a loophole that allows whaling for scientific purposes. But these 1,000 whales will end up on supermarket shelves, not in laboratories - you can count on it. We're calling on Japan to honor the moratorium and call off the hunt.

Read more.

British engineers are finalizing plans to design and build a string of "eco-cities" in China over the next few decades. These urban centers will be self-sufficient in energy, water and most food products, with the aim of zero emissions of greenhouse gases in transportation systems. What will those clever blokes think of next?

Read the Guardian article.

Googlism.com will find out what Google.com thinks of you, your friends or anything! Check out what is has to say about Greenpeace. My personal favorite is "Greenpeace is demanding a phase." Damn right we are!

Over 180 different actions, events and demonstrations against Kimberly-Clark - maker of Kleenex - are occurring right now across Canada and the United States. This International Day of Action was coordinated to protect our ancient forests and force Kimberly-Clark to use recycled paper in its products.
See pics and more at: Kleercut.net

In the words of Senator Barbara Boxer, the Democrats have said "enough is enough" when it comes to the Iraq war. Democrats forced the Senate into a closed session yesterday, demanding the Intelligence Committee move forward with its investigation into how the Bush administration handled prewar intelligence about Iraq's suspected weapons programs. Better late than never...

Note the word "suspected." Newsflash: Iraq didn't have any weapons of mass destruction! But in a poll taken as late as FEBRUARY 2005, 36 percent of Americans still believed that Iraq had WMDs when the United States invaded. Apparently, 36 percent of Americans live under a rock. Sad.

Few tears were shed on Thursday when Harriet Miers withdrew herself from consideration to be the next Supreme Court Justice. Conservatives whined that Miers was inexperienced and lacked a clear-cut stance on many conservative issues. Liberals complained that she was, well, a conservative. President Bush wasn't about to make that mistake again. For his second pick, he wanted someone the Republicans would applaud and the Democrats would despise. Mission accomplished with Samuel Alito.

Alito's views align to the right when it comes to most issues including gays, abortions and guns. Senior legislative counsel with Earthjustice is also concerned that Alito could mean trouble for the environment. For example, in 1997 Alito ruled against Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), gutting citizens' access to courts under the Clean Water Act.

Since no one is looking out for the environment in the White House or Congress, it would be nice to have a little love from the Supreme Court. If you want to do your part to oppose Alito's confirmation, visit MoveOn.org