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Greenpeace occupies Turkish coal power plant
Clean energy now!: Greenpeace activists occupy coal
power plant in Turkey
Canakkale, Turkey. 29 August 2005 - Greenpeace activists today scaled the cooling tower at state-owned 'Can' coal-fired power station (1) in protest at the Turkish Government's continuing obsession with fossil fuel energy sources despite their proven role in causing the global threat of climate change. This action is part of the Greenpeace 'Mediterranean Energy Tour' to urge governments to immediately act to stop climate change by switching to renewable energy and energy efficiency measures in the region.
As nine climbers unfurled their message that coal causes climate disaster, at the entrance to the plant a further ten volunteers demonstrated that renewable energy solutions are ready and able to prevent climate change.
"Climate change is now the single biggest threat facing our planet. The Canakkale region where the coal power plant is located has the best wind potential of anywhere in Turkey. Renewable energy solutions already exist in the Mediterranean, but governments seem to continuing their dependence on dangerous fossil fuels," said Greenpeace International energy campaigner Jim Footner.
The Greenpeace vessel 'Anna' launched its visit to Turkey on Saturday and will sail to Lebanon, Israel and Egypt to raise the urgency of dangerous climate change in the Mediterranean region and to highlight the importance of public, political and the power sector engagement with this global crisis.
Renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, have a huge role to play in combating climate change. Wind energy is one of the fastest growing sectors in the world. "There is enough renewable energy potential to meet the entire electricity needs in the region with more to spare. But this potential will continue to be wasted unless governments end their addiction to fossil fuels and start seriously addressing the obstacles that stand in the way of a clean energy future," added Footner.
"Our vision for the future is a common region based on a hundred percent of renewable energy", he concluded.
Greenpeace is an independent, campaigning organisation, which uses non-violent, creative confrontation to expose global environmental problems, and to force solutions essential to a green and peaceful future.
Notes to Editors:
1. 'Can' coal fired power station
is a 320MW plant operated by the state utility using lignite
coal that began operating in 2003.
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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