TIMBER SHIP SPEEDS AWAY WITH GREENPEACE ACTIVISTS ONBOARD

8 March 2002

Valencia: Greenpeace activists this morning boarded yet another vessel transporting timber to further highlight the crisis of the world's last remaining ancient forests. Climbers from Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior boarded the Meltemi off the coast of Segunto, Spain (30 kilometres north of Valencia) and locked themselves to the logs on deck, while other activists began to paint 'Save the ancient forests' on the hull. After hosing off the painters, crew from the Meltemi threatened to throw activists overboard. More than an hour later, the Meltemi was sailing headed in an easterly direction, however, it has since turned around and is again headed toward Valencia.

Greenpeace had previously boarded the Meltemi off the Mediterranean coast of France near Sete, France three nights ago. The vessel was found to be carrying hundreds of logs from Liberian tropical forests. Logs from the logging companies involved in environmental destruction, social conflict and arms trafficking were also discovered onboard (1) (2). It has also been discovered that one of the main buyers of the logs onboard this ship is the Danish timber trading company DLH.

"The scale of the destruction of Africa's last forests is scandalous. Greenpeace is doing what the Government of Spain should be doing and that is to stop the import of timber from the destruction of ancient forests," said Tim Birch, Greenpeace Forests Campaigner onboard the Rainbow Warrior. "We call on the Government of Spain, which is currently holding the Presidency of the European Union to take the lead and stop all imports of timber coming from environmental destruction before it is too late for the human and animal life that depend on these forests."

The actions today are part of a series of Greenpeace protests highlighting the illegal and destructive nature of the global timber trade and the role of importing nations around the world in driving this unscrupulous industry. With only 20 percent of the world's original forests left, those that remain are also in danger of disappearing with industrial logging posing the single largest threat to their survival.

In recent weeks, Greenpeace has been protesting against ancient forest destruction in Chile, USA, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Russia, Finland, The Netherlands and Switzerland.

In the run up to the forthcoming Ancient Forest Summit and beyond, Greenpeace is urging governments of all countries to act to immediately stop their role in the destruction of the world's ancient forests by committing to:

Stop the destruction - by stopping any further industrial developments in intact ancient forests until responsible plans for forest conservation and sustainable use have been agreed.

Cleanup the timber trade - by ensuring that timber is being produced and traded in a legal and ecologically responsible way; by refusing to trade with companies known to be operating illegally or destructively; and by demanding that all wood and wood products entering national ports must come from legal and well-managed forest operations according to high social and ecological standards.

Come up with the money - by providing at least US$ 15 billion each year to pay for forest conservation and sustainable development.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Tim Birch, onboard the Rainbow Warrior, (English) or Natalia Truchi, onboard the Rainbow Warrior, (English, Spanish, French and Portuguese) ++871 130 2412
Gina Sanchez, Greenpeace Press Desk, ++31 627 000 064
Filip Verbelen, Greenpeace Forest Campaigner, ++32 496 161 586
For photos: John Novis, Greenpeace Picture Desk, ++31 653 81 91 21
For Video: Mim Lowe, Greenpeace International Video Desk, ++ 31 653 50 47 21

http://www.oneworld.org/globalwitness/liberia/liberia_report_cover.htm

(2) Information on the role of logging (OTC and others) in arms trafficking activities in Liberia/Sierra Leone can be found in the Expert Panel Reports on sierra Leone from the United Nations Security Council (2000 and 2001)