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15 April 2002
Greenpeace exposes European consumer countries' role in ancient forest destruction
 Greenpeace activists exposed the import of tropical ancient forest timber to the UK, Netherlands and Greece today and their role in the destruction of our last ancient forests.
In London, teams of Greenpeace volunteers headed out this morning in their zodiacs to pursue the Roxanne Delmas carrying timber from the last African rainforests, which is home to gorillas and chimpanzees. Climbers managed to attach themselves to the stern door of the moving ship and others painted the words "Gorilla Killers" on the side of the ship. more on this action>
 Greenpeace activists also exposed Greece's role in ancient forest destruction by boarding the vessel 'MV Zini' in the port of Kalamaki, Corinth and protested the unloading of logs from Liberia's last remaining ancient forests.
Each year, hundreds of thousands of cubic metres of Liberia's remaining forest are exported to countries in Asia and Europe by logging companies linked with the illegal arms trade. As a result of today's action, the Greek Ministry of Environment committed itself to keep a very clear and strong position for the protection and sustainable management of the last ancient forests. more>
Meanwhile the action continued in Flushing, the Netherlands. Five climbers spent Sunday night on board the Balaban which is carrying timber from the Amazon rainforest.
 Yesterday Greenpeace's newest ship, Esperanza, and flagship Rainbow Warrior blocked a harbour in the Netherland and stopped ancient forest timber from entering the small Dutch port of Flushing.
Read on to learn how two Greenpeace ships, ten inflatables, four canoes and six climbers fared against two tug boats, two police boats, three fire hoses and the enormous container vessel Balaban, carrying its more than 4,000 cubic metres of ancient rainforest.
 Kids For Forests take their messages to delegates
A new presence was also felt at the in the Hague today. More than 30 Greenpeace Kids for Forests joined the Ancient Forest Summit to bring the voices of kids and teens worldwide to conference delegates and environment ministers.
The Kids for Forests have set up an Ancient Forest Embassy in the conference centre to represent the interests of ancient forests. The Kids will distribute information about the ancient forests and their uncontrolled destruction. The children will urge delegates to the Ancient Forests Summit to protect the world's forests. more>
Negotiations: no progress
Greenpeace actions in consumer countries around Europe highlight the urgent need to protect ancient forests. Yet world governments at the Ancient Forests Summit this week have made no progress towards an agreement that will do so.
 Activists and local youth dressed as endangered Spotted owls converged on the G8 ministers meeting this weekend as they head to the Hague to decide the fate of the world's ancient forests at the Ancient Forest Summit.
There are only 44 breeding Spotted owls left in Canada, and they will be extinct within the next five years if logging in their ancient forest habitat continues. more>
As destruction of the world's ancient forests continues, Brazil
and the Netherlands, in particular, seem to be uninterested in
taking leadership at the Summit. The Netherlands, which is hosting
the Summit in the Hague, is not showing the leadership required
to make the negotiations on ancient forests a success.
The
Brazilian government recently announced that it will continue
to eradicate illegal logging of mahogany. However, in the negotiations
this past week, Brazilian delegates have been strongly opposing
the prioritisation of ancient forests protection. They have refused
to take immediate action on combating illegal logging and related
trade. Without international cooperation, markets around the world
will continue to accept timber from illegal and destructive logging,
fuelling the crisis in the world's last remaining ancient forests.
You
can help us put pressure on world governments to save the planet's
remaining ancient forests. Send
a personal message that we will deliever to your country's
delegates at the meeting.
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Get the latest audio and written updates from the crew of the 
From the deck of the Balaban, 23:00: 
From the Rainbow Warrior, 16:00: 
