Ave atque vale Rainbow Warrior

I remember first meeting the Rainbow Warrior during my first year working for Greenpeace six years ago. I will forever be grateful to have been given that rare chance to go on board as a volunteer blogger during its Asia Clean Energy Tour of 2005.

A wise man once said: “endings are mere beginnings that are looked at the opposite direction." Today Greenpeace stand on the crossroads in eager anticipation of its new vessel as it tearfully gives the well deserved retirement for its flagship, that has carried out daring campaigns and inspiring actions that have pave the way to making our collective aspiration of a green and peaceful future a step closer to its realization.

Bon Voyage Rainbow Warrior, thanks for the memories

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May the light shine...

From the Greenpeace Philippines blog

A little more than a dozen candles flicker in the dark wheelhouse of the Rainbow Warrior.

An anti-climatic ending for the Turn the Tide Tour of Southeast Asia that rallied, thousands into action for the past 3 months or so, but nevertheless, the candles stand as a testimony to the life of the few who chose to stand up, to bear witness and to offer up their lives, limbs and liberty for what we believe is the greater good of the planet.

The candles flicker for the life of one whose youth, has been stolen so that real, lasting and meaningful change would be ushered in. The candles shine for Crizel Jane Valencia, a very brave six year old girl from Mabalacat, Pampanga in the Philippines. Read more>>>

Anchors aweigh!

From the Greenpeace Philippines blog

Yesterday, the Rainbow Warrior has set its course towards the Philippines after wrapping up our the first leg of its Turn the Tide Tour of Southeast Asia early October. The tour, which aims to call on governments to Turn the Tide of dirty development to pave the way for a green and peaceful future, kicked off in Bangkok on September 17.

In Thailand, the Warrior called on the Thai Government to prioritize and support investments which will help put Thailand on a green development pathway, by technological leapfrogging with bold policy innovations and a new solidarity across social classes and generations. While in Thailand the ship travelled from Nakhon Si Thamarrat, Surathani, Koh Samui, Chumphon and Prachuab Kirikhan to promote a common vision of green development as well as to stand in solidarity with the grassroots and the people’s movement that are working in Thailand for the cause of environmental preservation.

While Indonesia is a different story, which started with high hopes that our peaceful campaigning ship would be able to support the Indonesian president's stated aims of ending deforestation in Indonesia. It ended with the Rainbow Warrior being denied vital supplies and being ordered – and escorted – out of Indonesian waters and well into international waters by two navy vessels, in breach of international maritime law.

We can only say that it seems very possible that there are some things that short-sighted political and economic interests did not want us – or you – to see, and that Indonesia's government capitulated to these vested interests.

After stopping for maintenance and supplies in Singapore the Rainbow Warrior is heading North-East towards the Philippines where it will join the clamour for an Energy [R]evolution, in the Philippines a country that has been labelled as among the most vulnerable and least prepared countries when it comes to coping with the impacts of climate change, there we hope to turn the tide by getting President Noynoy Aquino; to live up to the people’s aspirations of change by taking action against the greatest threat that mankind faces today ---climate change.

Read more>>>