GREENPEACE'S SOLAR SOLUTION TOUR HITS THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND SHOW
London, 29 May 97 1997
On Thursday 5th of June and Saturday 7th of June at the South of England Show, Greenpeace will be exhibiting an interactive display demonstrating the power of solar electricity. Greenpeace is taking its fully functioning solar electric kitchen on tour this summer to show that solar power works in the UK and is a key part of the solution to the problem of climate change.
The kitchen uses an array of 24 solar panels to generate electricity, which powers a range of ordinary appliances including a washing machine and hob. Household chores have never been such fun. In a series of demonstrations throughout the day, visitors will be able to experience first hand, solar electricity being generated.
In addition to the demonstrations, local campaigners will be showing videos detailing the progress of Greenpeace's campaign to halt oil expansion on the Atlantic Frontier.
The Atlantic Frontier is a pristine deep sea area to the West of the Shetland Isles. It is here that the Government is licensing massive new oil fields that will expand oil production well into the 21st century. Such an expansion has huge implications for our ability to control the rate of climate change.
During the last two hundred years human activities have resulted in emissions of greenhouse gases, mainly from the burning of oil, coal and gas. As a result the Earth's temperature is rising and the climate is changing.
At the South of England Show, as at all stops on the tour this summer, Greenpeace will be will be collecting signatures for a international petition running from now until November. Already 6,000 people have signed up to the petition which calls on Tony Blair as Prime Minister to prevent climate change by stopping new oil exploration in the Atlantic Frontier and investing in clean energy such as solar electricity. Throughout the summer, Greenpeace will be collecting many thousands more signatures, both here and abroad, from people who want the UK government to take action on climate change.
The signatures will be delivered to the Prime Minister before he leaves to attend an international climate meeting in December.
The meeting, in Kyoto, Japan, will be an opportunity for the world's leaders to take the first step towards limiting greenhouse gases and stopping climate change.
Campaigner Brenda Ramsey said, " We intend to show the Prime Minister the huge amount of public support that exists in the South of England for a phase out of fossil fuels and a switch to renewable power sources like solar electricity."
Notes for correspondents
The Greenpeace Solar Electric Kitchen will be located at The South of England Show, The Showground, Ardingly, Haywards Heath, West Sussex.
The Greenpeace ship `MV Greenpeace' is currently in Atlantic Frontier waters monitoring oil company activity.
Twenty-four panels installed on a house will meet 50% of an average family's electricity needs over a year, thus avoiding the emission of approximately 40 tonnes of carbon dioxide during the thirty year lifetime of the system.
Photographers & crews welcome, first solar activity at 10.30am
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Greenpeace Press Office on +00-44-(0)171 865 8255/6/7/8 or 0171 359 4837