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Video: Greenpeace Spoofs The Genesis Ad
Stop The Greenwash! – Greenpeace Spoofs Genesis Ad
Greenpeace said today it was time New Zealand energy companies like Genesis Energy stopped trying to brand themselves as caring and clean, when in reality they were increasing the threat of climate change.
The comments follow the release this week of Greenpeace’s spoof of the Genesis’ pukeko advertisement, in which the company seeks to convince the public that it gets its energy from a range of sources, thereby helping secure the future.
Greenpeace
climate campaigner Vanessa Atkinson said the ad was a
blatant attempt at greenwash. “Genesis claims to be
securing our future; in reality, it’s posing a direct
threat to it with over 75 per cent of its power plants
running on coal and gas and polluting the climate.
”Its coal fired power station in Huntly is the single
biggest source of deadly carbon dioxide in New Zealand. And
it’s mainly thanks to an increase in coal use at the plant
that carbon dioxide emissions from coal for electricity
production have leapt 889% between 1990 and 2005 (1).
“Meanwhile, the company’s using images of wind turbines in its billboard campaign, when just 0.4% of its generation plants use wind (2). Diversity shouldn’t mean relying on such a vast proportion of thermal generation.”
Ms Atkinson said it was ironic the
government was proposing a carbon-neutral New Zealand, when
Genesis – a State Owned Enterprise - was pumping such
massive quantities of carbon into the air every day.
“It’s a case of “do as we say, not as we do”, which
is just not good enough with a problem as big as this.
“It’s still possible to avoid the worst effects of
climate change, but this requires a concerted effort, with
countries like New Zealand leading the way by setting
targets to cut emissions, putting a price on greenhouse
pollution, switching to clean, renewable energy sources and
boosting energy efficiency and conservation.
“Huntly needs to be phased out and replaced with renewable energy and energy efficiency measures. There’s no place for coal in New Zealand’s future and no excuse for pulling the wool over New Zealanders’ eyes.”
Greenpeace’s spoof ad featuring the disgruntled pukeko from the Genesis campaign has been published on youtube.com and is currently in the most highly rated and most viewed clip on the popular international video website.
The direct link is Greenpeace Spoof on YouTube
Revised New Zealand Energy Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Ministry for Economic Development, December 2006, page 34 and page 5.
According to the company’s own figures on installed capacity, available on their website.
Greenpeace
Greenpeace exists because this fragile earth deserves a voice.
Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace.
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