Brazil: New Greenpeace campaign sails into Brazil today

The Arctic Sunrise sailed through heavy rains into the port of Manaus
to an energetic welcome from local partners, state government
representatives and media who are lending their support to our
campaign. Arctic Sunrise has embarked on a tour of Brazil to warn
against the impacts of climate change and highlight the important role
Brazil can play in fighting it. The “Save the Planet: now…or NOW” tour
will focus on solutions to deforestation and climate change, together
with an end to nuclear energy in Brazil.

It will also highlight the
positive impacts that healthy forests, oceans and renewable energy in
Brazil can have on the global community. With this year’s crucial UN
meeting on climate change in Copenhagen on the horizon – come December
the international community will have to start its blueprint for the
next phase of the Kyoto Protocol, it is now or never, as the Arctic
Sunrise helps spread the urgency of the problem and the need for
governments to act on climate change. The Arctic Sunrise’s first port
of call – in what is arguably the most important year for climate
discussions – is no coincidence. Brazil plays a pivotal role in the
global climate debate as it is currently the 4th largest greenhouse
gases (GHGs) emitter in the planet.

Furthermore, Brazil is in an
important position to combat climate change, being among the 10
largest economies in the world and is the fourth largest emitter of
CO2. Deforestation and misuse of land, mainly in the Amazon, is
responsible for 75 percent of Brazilian emissions of GHGs. The
destruction of the Amazon forest releases more than 800 million tonnes
of carbon dioxide every year. Brazil needs to commit itself to targets
for reducing greenhouse gases, eliminating the deforestation of the
Amazon by 2015, promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency and
implementing a network of marine areas to protect the oceans. The
Arctic Sunrise will be open to the public at its ports of call. Check
out the agenda of the Arctic Sunrise during its “Save the Planet: now
or NOW” tour. http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/brazil-ship-tour150109
http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenpeacebrasil/sets/72157612280197839/show/
Check out the images of the Save the Planet tour’s first stop – Manaus
and the Amazon river.

— Posted to http://forestpolicyresearch.com via gmail to posterous and
also to forestpolicyresearch@yahoogroups.com

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Deane’s posterous