Latest news with #RainbowWarrior
Scoop
2 days ago
- General
- Scoop
French Authorities Block Greenpeace Ship From Participating In UN Ocean Conference
French authorities have blocked Greenpeace International's ship Arctic Sunrise from entering the port of Nice, where the "One Ocean Science Congress" and the UN Ocean Conference are being hosted. This was retaliation against Greenpeace France, highlighting the weaknesses of the French network of Marine Protected Areas last month in the Mediterranean Sea, in an expedition on board the Arctic Sunrise. Greenpeace International will write a formal letter of complaint to the United Nations, deploring the behaviour of the hosting French government. Civil society participation is a core element of the UN Ocean Conference. The presence of the Arctic Sunrise in Nice would coincide with the 40th anniversary of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior by French secret services in Auckland. Greenpeace Aotearoa spokesperson Ellie Hooper says, "It's ironic that so close to the 40th anniversary of the French Government's attempt to silence Greenpeace here in Auckland by bombing the Rainbow Warrior, the French Government is again trying to shut us down by blocking our ship from entering Nice." "But just like we were not silenced then, neither will we be silenced now. Climate change, ecosystem collapse, and accelerating species extinction pose an existential threat, and our work has never been more important." The Arctic Sunrise had been invited by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs to participate in the "One Ocean Science Congress" and in the Ocean wonders parade taking place right before the UN Ocean Conference. Greenpeace International had intended to deliver the messages of three million people calling for a moratorium on deep sea mining to the politicians attending the conference. The ship's entry to Nice has now been blocked. Mads Christensen, Greenpeace International's Executive Director, says, "The French authorities' attempt to silence fair criticism ahead of this UN Ocean Conference is clearly a political decision and is utterly unacceptable. Greenpeace and our ships have been working peacefully to protect the oceans for decades. The Arctic Sunrise highlighted the failure of the French government to properly protect its Marine Protected Areas - where bottom trawling is still permitted - and now we are being punished. "France wants this to be a moment where they present themselves as saviours of the oceans, while they want to silence any criticism of their own failures in national waters. We will not be silenced. We believe the voices of the three million calling for a stop to deep sea mining must be heard in Nice. Greenpeace and the French government share the same objective to get a moratorium on deep sea mining, which makes the ban of the Arctic Sunrise from Nice even more absurd." Millions of people around the world have joined Greenpeace's campaign to stop deep sea mining from starting. In 2023, the Arctic Sunrise crew took action at sea to bear witness to the threat of the deep sea mining industry. They peacefully protested against The Metals Company, which had been publicly accused of "environmental piracy" by the French government a few weeks ago, given their attempt to bypass international law by requesting an exploitation permit through President Trump's administration. Right now, the Rainbow Warrior is in the Tasman Sea to expose the damage being done to ocean life there and will be in New Zealand to mark the anniversary of the bombing in Auckland on 10 July. Onboard photographer Fernando Pereira died in the attack, which came soon after Operation Exodus, in which the Greenpeace flagship had evacuated victims of American nuclear tests on Rongelap Atoll and was preparing to oppose French nuclear tests on Mururoa Atoll. Following the first-ever deep sea mining licence application by The Metals Company to the United States, Greenpeace says that now is the time to resist and stop this industry from starting. This UN Ocean Conference will be a key moment to galvanise support ahead of the July meeting of the International Seabed Authority, the UN regulator.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
King's Birthday Honours Recognise Significant Contributions Of Māori
Press Release – New Zealand Government The impressive mahi of Mori recipients this year are too numerous to mention. They have been honoured for achievements across many fields it is my privilege to recognise all of them today and to highlight just some examples, Mori Development … Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka today recognises the significant achievements of the Māori recipients in the King's Birthday 2025 Honours List, for their dedicated mahi and outstanding contributions across various important areas. 'The impressive mahi of Māori recipients this year are too numerous to mention. They have been honoured for achievements across many fields, coming from Iwi right across New Zealand – it is my privilege to recognise all of them today and to highlight just some examples,' Mr Potaka says. 'The King's Birthday Honours recognise the commitment and the passion that the recipients have shown, along with what has come from their dedication to their work and their causes. 'Among those recognised are, Mrs Deborah (Debbie) Davis, who has done extensive work to bring so much good, including through He Iwi Kotahi Tātou Trust, the grassroots organisation transforming the community of Moerewa in Northland, along with her husband, Mr Ngahau Davis (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Manu, Kohatutaka) 'Mrs Davis (Ngāti Pāhauwera, Ngāti Kahungunu) has worked, through the Trust since 1987, to address challenges including housing, food security within the community, and youth engagement. Her and her husband's work helped to provide insulation and heating solutions to more than 12,000 Northland homes since 2008. 'They have developed food rescue programmes and have introduced cultural and sports programmes that blend physical activity with the preservation of Māori traditions. They have expanded whānau support services to offer counselling, school programmes, and drug and alcohol programmes. Over the past 15 years, they have been involved in the establishment of a rehabilitative-focused sentencing in Kaikohe, Matariki Court. 'Hon Dover Samuels is recognised for services as a Member of Parliament and his achievements and what he progressed in that time, including as Minister of Māori Affairs. 'Mr Samuels (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kura, Ngāti Rēhia) was a Labour MP and MP for Te Tai Tokerau, working across various portfolios, including not least Māori Affairs, where his care and ability made considerable gains that continue to benefit Māori today. He also helped establish Rawini Health Hub for a rural Māori community and led the Rainbow Warrior project to sink the wreckage of the vessel and erect a memorial on Matauri Hill. He is kaumatua of several organisations. 'Mrs Elizabeth (Liz) Graham, who has dedicated more than 40 years to her community and to Māori education. 'Mrs Graham (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Toroiwahi), has contributed to her community in many ways – that includes through the education of our tamariki and to the education sector through many roles across her career, work she continues today as a teacher at Te Aute College. She helped guide her community through the Treaty Settlement process, and her knowledge of traditions, values, and customs, has helped the marae in hosting funerals, weddings, gatherings, and other events for over 20 years. 'The Honourable Sir Mark Cooper KC, High Court Judge, Court of Appeal Judge and President of the Court of Appeal, who was Chairperson of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Building Failure caused by the Canterbury Earthquakes. Sir Mark (Ngāti Mahanga, Waikato-Tainui) chaired 33 public hearings to deliver four reports, all of these under intense time pressure and public scrutiny. The detailed findings and recommendations of those reports helped avoid delay to the Canterbury rebuild and helped provide a resolution to the community. Amongst some of his other work has been his leadership in resource management and local government law, and his work that helped integrate various councils into one North Shore-based Council. I want to thank all of today's recipients, those mentioned here and all others who I trust will be celebrated by their people and their communities, and all the people who have worked with them along the way. 'Ko te amorangi ki mua, ko te hāpai ō ki muri.'
Korea Herald
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Greenpeace activists, banned from leaving S. Korea, attend first trial hearing
Five Greenpeace activists, including the captain of the group's iconic Rainbow Warrior ship, appeared in a Seoul courtroom on Friday for the first hearing related to a protest staged last November during a global plastics summit in Busan. The activists — UK, German and Mexican nationals — have been charged with obstruction of business and unlawful intrusion onto a vessel. The charges stem from a demonstration held off the coast of Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, coinciding with the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution. During the protest, the activists boarded a vessel transporting plastic resin and unfurled a banner that read 'Strong Plastics Treaty,' urging negotiators to push for a binding international agreement to reduce plastic production. Following the hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, the activists held a press conference outside the courthouse, reiterating their call for a robust global treaty to address plastic pollution at its source. All five individuals have been prohibited from leaving South Korea, pending the outcome of the trial.
Korea Herald
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
5 Greenpeace activists, banned from leaving S. Korea, attend first trial hearing
Five Greenpeace activists, including the captain of the group's iconic Rainbow Warrior ship, appeared in a Seoul courtroom on Friday for the first hearing related to a protest staged last November during a global plastics summit in Busan. The activists — UK, German and Mexican nationals — have been charged with obstruction of business and unlawful intrusion onto a vessel. The charges stem from a demonstration held off the coast of Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, coinciding with the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution. During the protest, the activists boarded a vessel transporting plastic resin and unfurled a banner that read 'Strong Plastics Treaty,' urging negotiators to push for a binding international agreement to reduce plastic production. Following the hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, the activists held a press conference outside the courthouse, reiterating their call for a robust global treaty to address plastic pollution at its source. All five individuals have been prohibited from leaving South Korea, pending the outcome of the trial.
Scoop
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Greenpeace Flagship Rainbow Warrior Returns For 40th Anniversary Of French Bombing In Auckland On 10 July
Press Release – Greenpeace In the 40 years since, the Rainbow Warrior has sailed on the front lines of our campaigns around the world to protect nature and promote peace. The iconic Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior will return to Aotearoa this year to mark the 40th anniversary of the bombing of the original Rainbow Warrior at Marsden Wharf in Auckland by French government agents on 10th July 1985. Russel Norman says, 'The Rainbow Warrior's return to Aotearoa comes at a pivotal moment-when the fight to protect our planet's fragile life-support systems has never been as urgent, or more critical. 'Here in Aotearoa, the Luxon Government is waging an all-out war on nature, and on a planetary scale, climate change, ecosystem collapse, and accelerating species extinction pose an existential threat. 'As we remember the bombing and the murder of our crew member, Fernando Pereira, it's important to remember why the French Government was compelled to commit such a cowardly act of violence. 'Our ship was targeted because Greenpeace and the campaign to stop nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific were so effective. We posed a very real threat to the French Government's military programme and colonial power. 'It's also critical to remember that they failed to stop us. They failed to intimidate us, and they failed to silence us. Greenpeace only grew stronger and continued the successful campaign against nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific. 'Forty years later, it's the oil industry that's trying to stop us. This time, not with bombs but with a legal attack that threatens the existence of Greenpeace in the US and beyond. 'But just like in 1985 when the French bombed our ship, now too in 2025, we will not be intimidated, we will not back down, and we will not be silenced. 'We cannot be silenced because we are a movement of people committed to peace and to protecting Earth's ability to sustain life, protecting the blue oceans, the forests and the life we share this planet with,' says Norman. 'In the 40 years since, the Rainbow Warrior has sailed on the front lines of our campaigns around the world to protect nature and promote peace. In the fight to end oil exploration, turn the tide of plastic production, stop the destruction of ancient forests and protect the ocean, the Rainbow Warrior has been there to this day. 'Right now the Rainbow Warrior is preparing to sail through the Tasman Sea to expose the damage being done to ocean life, continuing a decades-long tradition of defending ocean health,' says Norman. This follows the Rainbow Warrior spending six weeks in the Marshall Islands where the original ship carried out Operation Exodus, in which the Greenpeace crew evacuated the people of Rongelap from their home island that had been made uninhabitable by nuclear weapons testing by the US Government. In Auckland this year, several events will be held on and around the ship to mark the anniversary, including open days with tours of the ship for the public.
