Latest news with #Greenpeace
Washington Post
22 minutes ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Interpol takes U.S.-Canadian anti-whaling ‘eco-pirate' off most-wanted list
Interpol has removed an international alert for a U.S.-Canadian anti-whaling activist sought by Japan for more than a decade. In an emailed statement Wednesday, Interpol confirmed the lifting of the 'red notice' against Paul Watson, who is 74 and a former head of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Watson, who has been an active and outspoken anti-whaling activist for decades, was a founder of Greenpeace but was expelled eight years later for what it called his violent actions (Watson said he took a club from a man attacking baby seals). He went on to establish the organization that would become the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which, in the 1970s and 1980s, used tactics included sinking several ships.
South China Morning Post
5 hours ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Citing research, Hong Kong tourism chief rejects reusable cups at Kai Tak Sports Park
Hong Kong authorities have pushed back against a call to use reusable plastic containers at Kai Tak Sports Park, saying such non-biodegradable products will 'undermine' efforts to promote carbon reduction and resource recycling. In reply to a lawmaker's question on Wednesday, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said that research by the park's operator comparing local and overseas practices showed that using reusable plastic containers in Hong Kong would generate more carbon emissions and consume more resources. On the same day, environmental NGO Greenpeace Hong Kong urged the sports park to consider using reusable plastic cups for the coming Hong Kong Football Festival and called on Law to refer to other global sports organisations, such as the English Premier League, in which 65 per cent of clubs used reusable cups. It also called on the bureau to take the lead in piloting and subsidising a reusable cup system during the National Games to be held in the city in November, making it the first carbon-neutral edition of the games. However, Law did not consider using reusable plastic containers a good idea. 'As reusable plastic containers are not biodegradable, they do not support the plastic-free initiative and undermine Kai Tak Sports Park's efforts in promoting carbon reduction and resource circulation,' Law said.
Local France
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Local France
Protest group calls for 'total blockade of France' in September
The prime minister's €40 billion cost-cutting budget proposals have drawn plenty of criticism from politicians, unions and members of the public, with some unions already floating the idea of demonstrations in the autumn. But a previously unknown online group has issued a call for a complete blockade of the country from September 10th, which appears to be rapidly gaining traction. The collection Mobilisation10septembre (demo September 10th) describe themselves as 20 "apolitical" people who are outraged over the budget proposals. Advertisement "We said to ourselves that we couldn't let this pass," one of the activists, who refused to give his name, told French media . "So we launched this appeal. It's not just a classic demonstration, but a real blockade." He added: "Across the country, care workers, students, low-wage workers, Yellow Vests etc, have started to organise locally." The group has shared no details of its exact plans for September 10th, saying only that the date had been picked because it's the time when everyone has returned to work or school after the summer holidays. Protest in France usually takes the form of either strikes called by unions or street demonstrations organised by political parties or established campaigning organisations such as Greenpeace. However the 'yellow vest' protests of 2018 and 2019 also began online and did not have an organised leadership or any affiliation with political parties. The unnamed activist told Le Parisien newspaper that the movement is "a call for disobedience, boycott and solidarity". "The movement doesn't depend on any party or organisation. It's a ras-le-bol général [a sense of being generally fed-up or angry]. "If people from all walks of life identify with it, it's precisely because the attacks in the budget affect everyone." Debates in parliament on the budget are due to take place in September and October, and it's possible that the prime minister could be toppled over the issue if he loses a vote of no confidence. You can find the latest details on all planned strikes and protests in France in our strike section here .
Irish Independent
12 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Italian court says climate activists' case against energy company can go ahead
©Associated Press Italy's highest court has ruled that a lawsuit brought by climate activists against Italian energy company Eni and its government shareholders can go ahead, in what Greenpeace said was a victory for efforts to pursue climate justice in Italy. In an ordinance released on Monday, the Court of Cassation rejected the company's motions to dismiss the lawsuit on jurisdictional grounds and ordered the case to be heard on its merits by a Rome tribunal. Register for free to read this story Register and create a profile to get access to our free stories. You'll also unlock more free stories each week.
Scoop
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Greenpeace Vandals Must Lose Charitable Status
Federated Farmers is renewing its call for Greenpeace to be stripped of its charitable status immediately, following the extreme activist group's latest illegal publicity stunt. "Greenpeace need to be held accountable for their repeated illegal activity and the spread of harmful misinformation," Southland Federated Farmers president Jason Herrick says. "How can they be recognised as a charity when they're breaking all kinds of laws trespassing on private property, vandalising public property, and intimidating the community? "Last night's vandalism of the world-famous trout statue in Gore reinforces why these activists need to lose their status as a charity. I think it's a total abuse of charitable status." Herrick says Greenpeace's vandalism of the statue and welcome sign is a shameless attempt to divide the small rural community and spread anti-farming propaganda. "These activists are total cowards who are slinking around in the shadows vandalising property under the cover of darkness," Herrick says. "There's a reason they've done this at night. They knew it was dodgy behaviour - and that they'd never get away with it in Gore during daylight hours. "We're a tight-knit community down here in Southland. Farming plays a huge role in not only our local economy, but in our social fabric too. "There's no way we're going to put up with this nonsense. Greenpeace should hang their heads in shame." In April, Federated Farmers called for the Government to immediately strip Greenpeace of its charitable status after the group's illegal occupation of Port Taranaki. Charitable status in New Zealand is intended to support organisations that advance public benefit through education, relief of poverty, and other recognised charitable purposes. Under the Charities Act, organisations must operate for the public good and not primarily serve political or advocacy purposes. Herrick says he sees Greenpeace's ongoing illegal activity as clear evidence that it no longer meets these criteria for charitable status. "There are plenty of amazing, honest charities doing fantastic work out there - but Greenpeace is not one of them. "It's become little more than an extreme activist group that's disrupting legitimate businesses and spreading harmful misinformation - repeatedly and deliberately." Federated Farmers lodged a formal complaint with Charities Services in April, requesting a formal inquiry into Greenpeace's conduct and eligibility for charitable status. A copy was also sent to Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Hon Louise Upston and Minister of Internal Affairs Hon Brooke van Velden. The complaint focuses on Greenpeace's repeated involvement in premeditated unlawful protest activity. That includes the 2024 protest at Fonterra's Te Rapa dairy factory where seven individuals were arrested, and last year's occupation of Straterra's Wellington office, where five were arrested during a staged lockdown. "We urge Charities Services to act decisively on our existing complaint and strip Greenpeace of its charitable status quickly," Herrick says. "I can't see any way they meet the requirements for registration under the Charities Act 2005. "Hardworking Kiwi taxpayers should not be forced to subsidise their illegal attacks and extremist political agendas through tax breaks for their donors. "Law-breaking groups cannot hide behind charitable privileges while threatening livelihoods with misinformation about farming." Herrick says it's not just Greenpeace that needs to be held accountable for how it's operating as a charity. "I think Charities Services and the Government need to be held accountable too and answer some tough, but fair, questions about how this rort of the rules is being allowed to continue. "There is absolutely no way Greenpeace should be allowed to constantly break the law and still be recognised as a charity."
