Greenpeace activists block unloading of coal in Denmark

Saturday, 06 Dec 2008

AFP reported that Greenpeace activists recently blocked the offloading of coal from a Panama flagged cargo ship docked in Denmark to protest the fuel's destructive effect on the climate.

The organization's Nordic division said that "Activists have blocked a crane used to unload the coal. We are taking this action because burning coal is destroying the climate."

It also said that the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior was sporting a banner urging the Danish government to ‘Quit Coal'."

The Greenpeace action began recently when a number of activists unsuccessfully tried to board the 300 meter Hanjin Imbari in the Baltic Sea as it carried a load of South African coal to the Enstedvaerket coal plant in Aabenraa in southwestern Denmark.

Mr Haaland pointed out that Denmark late next year will host a UN climate change conference, which he described as the most important climate negotiations the world has ever undertaken. He said that "Denmark must take the lead and quit coal. From the moment it is dug up through to its burning and waste, coal has devastating effects on our climate, our environment, our health and our livelihoods."

According to Greenpeace, Denmark a country of just 5.5 million inhabitants is the world's fifth largest importer of coal, importing and burning 8.3 tonnes of the fuel on average every year and causing 19 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.