Countdown to Kyoto: Over ¼ million people want action taken to save our climate

COUNTDOWN TO KYOTO: OVER ¼ MILLION PEOPLE WANT ACTION TAKEN TO SAVE OUR CLIMATE 21 November 1997 Greenpeace is to present a petition signed by over ¼ million people to Downing Street on Monday 24 November calling for the Prime Minister to take action on climate change and to end new oil exploration off Britain's coast. The petition hand in takes place only one week before the major international climate summit in Kyoto, Japan, where Governments will try to agree emission reduction targets to protects the world's eco-systems from dangerous climate change. It is now accepted by world scientists and politicians that burning fossil fuels including oil is causing climate change and that we must begin reducing our use of them. Yet Governments and industry continue to add to the problem by allowing exploration for more oil in areas like the Atlantic Frontier, west of Scotland. Greenpeace Climate Campaign Director Jane Wildblood said, "Climate change is a global threat. People from across the country have asked for a say in how the problem is tackled. Climate protection should come before oil profits. The Prime Minister should listen to those people who believe that exploring for new oil is madness, and that investment in clean renewable energy like solar electricity is the answer." Among those calling for climate protection are several celebrities including comedians, presenters and members of over 60 bands. Presenters Zoe Ball, Denise Van Outen, comedians Ben Elton, David Baddiel, as well as Kylie Minogue, Damon Albarn from Blur, Jarvis Cocker from Pulp. Bryan Adams, Suede and Radiohead have all signed the petition. A cross party group of nearly 90 MP's have also supported the campaign in some way, including the signing of Early Day Motions calling for the re-direction of fossil fuel subsidies to sustainable energy technologies, like solar. Cynog Dafis, MP for Ceredigon in Wales will accompany the petition to Downing Street. Many of the ¼ million signatures have been collected by local Greenpeace campaign groups throughout the country. The now famous 'pod', the bright yellow survival capsule used by Greenpeace in its occupation of Rockall and BP's Stena Dee oil rig, has also toured over 50 locations, gathering signatures and giving the public the opportunity to look inside and meet some of the activists who lived in it. The pod, accompanied by some of the activists, will be used to transport the petition to Downing Street on Monday. Greenpeace campaign groups from around the country will also be at the hand in. The Greenpeace mobile solar kitchen has also been on tour to gather signatures and demonstrate the viability of solar electricity as a safe, clean and renewable alternative to the burning of fossil fuels. A Greenpeace solar kitchen will also be on display outside the Conference Hall in Kyoto for the duration of the climate summit to show delegates a practical example of a solution to climate change. Notes to Correspondents The petition will be presented at 10.15 am at No 10 Downing Street on Monday 24 November. Accredited press are welcome. Full list of political and celebrity signatories available on request. For Further Information
Contact Greenpeace Press Office on 0171 865 8255/6/7/8