Clean energy now!: Greenpeace activists occupy coal power plant in Turkey
Canakkale, Turkey. 29 August 2005 - Greenpeace activists today scaled the cooling tower at state-owned 'Can' coal-fired
power station (1) in protest at the Turkish Government's continuing obsession with fossil fuel energy sources despite
their proven role in causing the global threat of climate change. This action is part of the Greenpeace 'Mediterranean
Energy Tour' to urge governments to immediately act to stop climate change by switching to renewable energy and energy
efficiency measures in the region.
As nine climbers unfurled their message that coal causes climate disaster, at the entrance to the plant a further ten
volunteers demonstrated that renewable energy solutions are ready and able to prevent climate change.
"Climate change is now the single biggest threat facing our planet. The Canakkale region where the coal power plant is
located has the best wind potential of anywhere in Turkey. Renewable energy solutions already exist in the
Mediterranean, but governments seem to continuing their dependence on dangerous fossil fuels," said Greenpeace
International energy campaigner Jim Footner.
The Greenpeace vessel 'Anna' launched its visit to Turkey on Saturday and will sail to Lebanon, Israel and Egypt to
raise the urgency of dangerous climate change in the Mediterranean region and to highlight the importance of public,
political and the power sector engagement with this global crisis.
Renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, have a huge role to play in combating climate change. Wind energy is
one of the fastest growing sectors in the world. "There is enough renewable energy potential to meet the entire
electricity needs in the region with more to spare. But this potential will continue to be wasted unless governments end
their addiction to fossil fuels and start seriously addressing the obstacles that stand in the way of a clean energy
future," added Footner.
"Our vision for the future is a common region based on a hundred percent of renewable energy", he concluded.
Greenpeace is an independent, campaigning organisation, which uses non-violent, creative confrontation to expose global
environmental problems, and to force solutions essential to a green and peaceful future.
Notes to Editors:
1. 'Can' coal fired power station is a 320MW plant operated by the state utility using lignite coal that began operating
in 2003.