24 HOUR GREENPEACE PROTEST IN FRONT OF THE CANADIAN EMBASSY IN VIENNA

Vienna - 21 May 1997

Since 9 O'clock this morning 30 Greenpeace activists have been positioned in front of the Canadian embassy for a 24 hour vigil in the city of Vienna. With this action Greenpeace Austria joins worldwide actions against the clearcutting of one of the last great temperate rainforests of this planet in British Columbia, Canada. Greenpeace calls for immediate end to clear-cutting activities in the Great Bear Rainforest.

The environmental activists unfurled a two banners with the slogan Clearcutting kills! Save the spirit bear!" Additional activists were positioned around the building holding placards with slogans like STOP CLEAR CUTTING NOW! SAVE THE SPIRIT BEAR".

Following actions in Washington, Los Angeles, Boston and Seattle Greenpeace Austria is pointing out the Austrian wood industry's imports of Canadian wood and pulp, which were 80.000 tons in 1995.

The destruction of habitat is the major reason for the extinction of the Canadian bears and the threat of extinction of hundreds of other species!" says Patrick Anderson of Greenpeace International. Therefore Greenpeace calls for immediate stop of clearcutting and an end of roadbuilding activities in rainforest areas and supports First Nations traditional use of rain forests".

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For more information call:

Patrick Anderson or Martin Frimmel,

Tel:+43-663-9208162