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Saturday, November 19, 2005
Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior docks in Iloilo
By Lory Ann B. Bilbao
IN WHAT is considered as a very momentous occasion in the campaign for the environment, the Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior finally arrived in Iloilo City.
This Amsterdam, Netherlands-based motor and sailing vessel, considered as the Greenpeace's flagship, docked at the Loboc International Port at 3:45 p.m. Friday.
The Star
Rainbow Warrior became the star of the port of Iloilo Friday just as how she had been before.
Students, teachers, political figures, members of the press, and tourists flocked the port to welcome her.
Students and faculty were given a once in a lifetime chance to board Rainbow Warrior, like the Dalai Llama and the rock band U2 before.
The vessel is equipped with the latest in electronic navigation, sailing, and communications equipment.
Built in 1957 by Cochrane & Sons of Selby, UK and launched July 10, 1989, S/V Rainbow Warrior was loaded with Greenpeace members and volunteers including celebrity volunteer Ala Paredes with 15 foreign crew.
All burned with a passion for cleaner air and water through an environment-friendly source of energy.
This environment warrior is 55.20 meters long and weighs 555 tons. It is 8.54 meters long and 4.6 meters high. Runs at a maximum speed of 12 knots with two engines and consumes 3000 liters a day with a sailing speed at of an average of five to seven knots.
The Rainbow Warrior is the most famous campaign ship of Greenpeace. The vessel's name was inspired by a North American Indian prophecy, which foretells a time when human greed will make the Earth sick, and a mythical band of warriors will descend from a rainbow to save it.
This ship and its name is a replica of the sailing vessel that sunk in 1985 by agents of the French government who wanted to foil Greenpeace campaigns aimed at stopping nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific.
Campaign
Ship Captain Daniel Rozote said Greenpeace is campaigning for renewable energy by demanding that 10 percent of our country's power must come from the sun, the wind, and modern biomass by the year 2010.
Greenpeace is a non-profit organization, with presence in 40 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific. It has 2.8 million supporters worldwide from over 40 national and regional offices worldwide.
Greenpeace has been campaigning against environmental degradation since 1971 when a small boat of volunteers and journalists sailed into Amchitka, an area north of Alaska where the US Government was conducting underground nuclear tests.
"This tradition of 'bearing witness' in a non-violent manner continues today, and our ships are an important part of all our campaign work," said Rozote.
Greenpeace campaigns to stop climate change; Protect the ancient forests; save the oceans; stop whaling; say no to genetic experiments; stop nuclear threat; eliminate toxic chemicals; and encourage sustainable trade.
Tread The Waters
Rainbow Warrior will be at the Loboc Port on Saturday and will sail towards Negros Occidental Sunday.
She will tread the selected areas in the Philippines close to two weeks.
(November 19, 2005 issue)
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