Rainbow Warrior sets sail for Clyde at COP
GREENPEACE campaigners are planning to defy police and sail their iconic ship up the River Clyde today outside the COP26 venue at the SEC.
The Rainbow Warrior left Liverpool on Saturday heading for the Clyde to deliver a statement form young climate campaigners on board to the world leaders gathering in Glasgow for the summit.
Greenpeace said it contacted Clydeport for permission to sail up the Clyde and berth outside the SEC but was told “as per the Notice to Mariners, the Rainbow Warrior cannot sail down the River Clyde and this area is now controlled by the Scottish Police”.
But the environmental organisation is now on a collision course with the Scottish Police.
Greenpeace said: “The captain has decided to ignore the warnings from the port authority and will continue the ship’s journey, as the activists’ message and presence at COP26 is fundamental to its success.”
The Rainbow Warrior is Greenpeace’s famous ship that sails the world promoting conservation and highlighting practices that are harmful to the environment.
Greenpeace plans to meet up at the venue with other campaigners already in Glasgow for COP26.
There are four activists on board from countries and communities severely impacted by climate change who will deliver the message “stop failing us”.
Farzana Faruk Jhumu, 22, from Bangladesh, said: “If they think they can hold a climate summit that will decide our future without us present, they’ve got another thing coming.
“People from the most affected areas have been ignored for long enough.
“We’re here to be heard, not cause trouble, and my friends and I are sailing to the climate summit whether they like it or not.
“Our message, our voice, our presence is too important for us to turn back now.”
Jakapita Kandanga, 24, from Namibia, said: “We’re tired of not being listened to and we’re tired of being ignored. Despite this, we have travelled long distances to be here, and some of us during our final exams, because we need a seat at the table during these climate talks.
“We are from the most affected areas and you cannot discuss and decide on our futures without us being present. We’ve been denounced as ‘hooligans’ by our own ‘leaders’ for speaking up for climate justice long enough. Our voices will be heard at COP26.”
The River Clyde outside the SEC is under control of the police and strict security measures are in place with officers patrolling on police boats.
The Rainbow Warrior will need to sail up the west coast of England and Scotland before heading into the Firth of Clyde at Greenock and along past Helensburgh and Port Glasgow.