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AMSTERDAM - More than 60 activists from across Europe who are volunteering with Greenpeace Netherlands are blocking a mega-ship arriving in the Netherlands with 60 million kilos of soy from Brazil to demand a strong new EU law against deforestation. Since 12 noon local time, activists have been blocking the lock gates that the 225-meter-long Crimson Ace has to pass through to enter the port of Amsterdam. The Netherlands is the gateway to Europe for importing products such as palm oil, meat and soy for animal feed, which are often linked to nature destruction and human rights abuses.
“There is draft EU law on the table that could end Europe's complicity in nature destruction, but it is nowhere near strong enough. Hundreds of ships carrying soy for animal feed, meat and palm oil call at our ports every year. Europeans may not drive the bulldozers, but through this trade, Europe is responsible for the clear-cutting of Borneo and the fires of Brazil. We will lift this blockade when Minister van der Wal and other EU ministers publicly announce that they will ratify the draft law protecting nature from European consumption,” said Andy Palmen, Director of Greenpeace Netherlands.
Action in IJmuiden
Volunteers from 16 countries (15 European countries and Brazil) and indigenous leaders from Brazil take part in the peaceful protest at the Sea Gate in IJmuiden. Climbers are blocking the lock gates and have hung up a banner reading 'EU: Stop nature destruction now'. Activists sail on the water with banners in their own language. Large inflatable cubes with the message "Protect Nature" and the names of more than ten thousand people from six different countries who support the protest are floating on the water in front of the lock gates. Indigenous leaders join the protest aboard the Beluga II, Greenpeace's 33-metre sailing ship, with a banner between the masts reading "EU: Stop nature destruction now".
Alberto Terena, indigenous leader of the Terena People's Council in Mato Grosso do Sul state, said: “We have been evicted from our land and our rivers have been poisoned to make room for agribusiness expansion. Europe is partly responsible for the destruction of our homeland. But this legislation can help stop future destruction. We call on ministers to seize this opportunity, not only to ensure the rights of indigenous peoples, but also for the future of the planet. The feed production for your livestock and the imported beef should no longer cause us suffering.”
Andy Palmen, Director of Greenpeace Netherlands: “The megaship Crimson Ace is part of a broken food system linked to the destruction of nature. The vast majority of all soybeans disappear into the feeding troughs of our cows, pigs and chickens. Nature is being destroyed for industrial meat production, while we really need nature to keep the earth livable.”
A new EU law
Greenpeace is calling for a robust new EU law to ensure products that could be linked to nature degradation and human rights abuses can be traced back to where they were made. The law must also protect ecosystems other than forests — like the diverse Cerrado savannah in Brazil, which is disappearing as soy production expands. The law must also apply to all raw materials and products that endanger nature and adequately protect internationally recognized human rights, including the legal protection of indigenous peoples' land.
Environment ministers from the 27 EU countries will meet on June 28 to discuss the draft law to combat deforestation. Greenpeace Netherlands is taking action today to ensure EU ministers take a strong position on improving the law.
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Photos: Greenpeace
