Greenpeace sets up second camp on coal plant pylon in Thailand
Map Ta Phut, Thailand, 8 December, 2005- Seven Greenpeace climbers from around the world have set up a second camp on
one of the BLCP coal plant's 60-metre electrical transmission pylons as its protest against the continued construction
of the climate killing coal plant and 18 future plants like it in Thailand entered its second day.
The seven activists have begun decorating the tower with banners relaying messages from cyber activists and miniature
windmills as symbols of renewable energy.
"Neither the Thai Energy Minister nor BLCP management have so far responded to our demands," said Greenpeace Southeast
Asia spokesperson Tara Buakamsri," from the first camp site set up on Tuesday in front of BLCP's main gates. If Prime
Minister Thaksin is genuine about committing to renewable energy then members of his Energy Ministry should come clean
on coal and at the very least meet with us."
Figures from the Thai Ministry of Energy suggests that Thailand has a potential of more than 14,000 MW of renewable
energy, making coal plants like BLCP unnecessary.
Members of the communities affected by Northern Thailand's Mae Moh coal plant have also arrived at the first campsite.
Mr Suphavit Piempongsarn, an advisor to the Thai Environment Ministry and Mr Tirawat Namduang, a member of the Thai
National Economic and Social Advisory Council, are also expected to make visits to the camp.
The first camp outside the not yet completed power plant is not impeding access by workers. This activity is one of a
series of activities taking place around the world as governments struggle to agree to the second stage of the Kyoto
Protocol at the UN climate conference in Montreal. Greenpeace protests against dirty energy have taken place in China,
Germany, the Philippines, and France.
Greenpeace is an independent campaigning organisation that uses non-violent creative confrontation to expose global
environmental problems to drive solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future.