Archive for October, 2008
Before you do anything else, watch Coalfinger. I’m just going to babble on about how much fun it was to make it which isn’t nearly as amusing as watching the animation. While you’re at it, share it with your friends because we need to expose the real coalfingers of the world and their carbon cronies and the threat they pose to our climate. Back in the summer when the guys from TellyJuice brought the concept for Coalfinger to us John Hutton was the man who was going to make the decision about whether to build a new coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth. You couldn’t ask for better inspiration for the creation of a coal supervillian. With E.on pushing ahead for a new plant at Kingsnorth that would waste more than half the energy put into it, and another seven in the pipeline behind that, we needed a hero who would expose the greedy coal villains and mobilise people to thwart their efforts. Graverson Green and his smart and sexy side kick were created. My colleagues looked at me with amused disbelief. We ploughed on with the script written by Niall Towl and Simon Fairhead from TellyJuice and along with Jason Attar overseeing the production they were able to pull in Brian Blessed to play the voice of Coalfinger and David Mitchell (C4’s Peep Show) as secret agent Graverson Green.
Along with his dopey sidekick Dr. Anthracite, Coalfinger plans to cover the world in coal-fired power stations and destroy the climate in Operation Browncloud. But the video does carry a very serious message. The government currently backs the plans for a new Kingsnorth despite the fact burning coal is recognised as the single greatest threat to our climate. With coal trying to make a come back in the UK, stopping the forces behind this evil scheme is a mission we all need to turn our most creative energy towards. We’re very grateful to all the extremely talented people who put this together and contributed, but now it is your turn to help spread the word and join our campaign to stop a new generation of coal-fired power plants. And I will try to quell my desire to run off and join the CBeebies, I can probably do more good right where I am. LOS ANGELES (October 16, 2008) – A coalition of California’s leading conservation groups urged voters to cast “no” votes against Propositions 7 and 10 on this November’s ballot. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV), Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and The Sierra Club, which for decades have led the fight to bring clean energy to California, warned that the renewable energy measures were fatally flawed and, if passed, would harm the state’s efforts to create a clean energy economy. LIVINGSTON, MONTANA (October 24, 2008) – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it would reopen public comment on a proposal to remove Endangered Species Act protections from the gray wolf in the Northern Rocky Mountains. The proposal is similar to one that was struck down by a federal judge earlier this year. This new proposal would remove Endangered Species Act protections throughout the region, except for the wolves in the state of Wyoming (where wolves would retain federal protections). Gales have helped a small American dragonfly to make an Atlantic crossing. Greenpeace study argues world’s energy needs can be met without nuclear or fossil fuels.
On deck of the Rainbow warrior, taken during the Warrior’s UK tour. ? Will Rose / Greenpeace. See all Rainbow Warrior tour updates or get them by email.? It’s slightly surreal sitting here in the mess of the Rainbow Warrior, where life is carrying on in all its usual, cosy hustle and bustle. (The crew members are helping themselves to spaghetti and salad as I write, and a couple of people are using the first quiet moment of the day to have a shower.) Just outside is the towering smokestack of Kingsnorth and, around the corner, there’s a small, concrete island owned by E.on which six people - including two of the Kingsnorth Six - have occupied. They’re planning to set up a projector and beam images of climate change impacts onto Kingsnorth’s smokestack. (So far, they’ve been troubled by technical problems - I’ll keep you posted.) In the same way that we warned E.on we were on our way this morning, we also told them this afternoon that the Rainbow Warrior intended to stay here, moored up alongside the coal delivery jetty, through the night. E.on was not best pleased, complaining that we’ve interrupted a delivery from a coal ship. They are, apparently, considering "taking action". We’ll see. In the meantime, standing out on deck you can just about make out the haze from Kingsnorth’s chimney - a subtle, silent reminder of why we’re here. Professor Hansen famously described how ‘every ton of carbon counts,’ how with the Kingsnorth decision the PM has the potential to influence the future of the planet. Today was classic Rainbow Warrior philosophy - from the beginning, this ship has always been about bearing witness, sailing into the frontlines of environmental abuses at critical moments ahead of world changing decisions. Anyway, I’m updating Twitter and Moblog - keep checking for the latest. I’m off to see if there are any left-overs.
The Rainbow Warrior coming through London’s Thames Barrier on Friday afternoon. ? Will Rose / Greenpeace. See all Rainbow Warrior tour updates or get them by email.? Pete’s blog
Having been up since 3.40am the previous day, I slept through the night time antics with the projector and the injunction delivery. Now we are at anchor just upriver from Tilbury. A quieter day of tidying ship and cleaning away equipment. Dark clouds are gathering and a sudden squall blows in. We are keeling over at an angle to the anchor chains. Icy sleet stings our hands and faces as we bring the inflatables alongside to secure them. But it’s warm in the bridge, where we listen to London VTS (Vessel Traffic Service) over the radio. There is a half hourly broadcast telling us: "There is a 50-metre exclusion zone around Tilbury power station for all vessels". Hmmm, I wonder why? Mike’s blog
At one o’clock in the morning, a note with a round red rubber stamp
An easterly wind was freshening, blowing up the Medway, up the Thames. I dropped the anchor when we reached Yantlet and went to bed - exhausted. But the wind stayed up. We
Then at six am, I lifted the deadlight from my porthole one last time
Before you do anything else, watch Coalfinger. I’m just going to babble on about how much fun it was to make it which isn’t nearly as amusing as watching the animation. While you’re at it, share it with your friends because we need to expose the real coalfingers of the world and their carbon cronies and the threat they pose to our climate. Back in the summer when the guys from TellyJuice brought the concept for Coalfinger to us John Hutton was the man who was going to make the decision about whether to build a new coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth. You couldn’t ask for better inspiration for the creation of a coal supervillian. With E.on pushing ahead for a new plant at Kingsnorth that would waste more than half the energy put into it, and another seven in the pipeline behind that, we needed a hero who would expose the greedy coal villains and mobilise people to thwart their efforts. Graverson Green and his smart and sexy side kick were created. My colleagues looked at me with amused disbelief. We ploughed on with the script written by Niall Towl and Simon Fairhead from TellyJuice and along with Jason Attar overseeing the production they were able to pull in Brian Blessed to play the voice of Coalfinger and David Mitchell (C4’s Peep Show) as secret agent Graverson Green.
Along with his dopey sidekick Dr. Anthracite, Coalfinger plans to cover the world in coal-fired power stations and destroy the climate in Operation Browncloud. But the video does carry a very serious message. The government currently backs the plans for a new Kingsnorth despite the fact burning coal is recognised as the single greatest threat to our climate. With coal trying to make a come back in the UK, stopping the forces behind this evil scheme is a mission we all need to turn our most creative energy towards. We’re very grateful to all the extremely talented people who put this together and contributed, but now it is your turn to help spread the word and join our campaign to stop a new generation of coal-fired power plants. And I will try to quell my desire to run off and join the CBeebies, I can probably do more good right where I am. Today’s top green stories from websites around the world
The Rainbow Warrior coming through London’s Thames Barrier on Friday afternoon. ? Will Rose / Greenpeace. See all Rainbow Warrior tour updates or get them by email.? Pete’s blog
Having been up since 3.40am the previous day, I slept through the night time antics with the projector and the injunction delivery. Now we are at anchor just upriver from Tilbury. A quieter day of tidying ship and cleaning away equipment. Dark clouds are gathering and a sudden squall blows in. We are keeling over at an angle to the anchor chains. Icy sleet stings our hands and faces as we bring the inflatables alongside to secure them. But it’s warm in the bridge, where we listen to London VTS (Vessel Traffic Service) over the radio. There is a half hourly broadcast telling us: "There is a 50-metre exclusion zone around Tilbury power station for all vessels". Hmmm, I wonder why? Mike’s blog
At one o’clock in the morning, a note with a round red rubber stamp
An easterly wind was freshening, blowing up the Medway, up the Thames. I dropped the anchor when we reached Yantlet and went to bed - exhausted. But the wind stayed up. We
Then at six am, I lifted the deadlight from my porthole one last time |
Pete is a volunteer deckhand on the Rainbow Warrior. He wrote this on Thursday, the day after 
Mike is the Captain of the Rainbow Warrior. Here’s an extract of his post to