Activists Stop Unloading Timber Ship Agat

Greenpeace activists stop the unloading of cargo ship 'Agat' in the port of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The 'Agat' is carrying cargo of several hundred (32000 tons) giant Azobe tree trunks from Liberia's ancient tropical forests. These forests are destroyed rapidly by (illegal) logging. Six Greenpeace activists who had boarded the 'Agat' remained on board as the ship entered the Netherlands at IJmuiden docks. Four of the activists attached themselves strategically to the crane cables of the fore and main masts: others chained themselves to the logs on the deck. On land, activists occupied the unloading cranes at the Agat’s intended berth. Special police forces were called in to cut the activists loose. With this action Greenpeace wants to stop the import of unsustainable timber. All 14 activists were arrested and have since been released without charge.

In original language:

Activisten Stoppen Lossen Fout Hout Schip Agat

Greenpeace activisten blokkeren het lossen van het schip `Agat' in de Amerikahaven in Amsterdam. Het schip vervoert 32000 ton tropisch hout uit Liberia. De bossen in dit land worden in hoog tempo verwoest door de houtkap-industrie. Greenpeace-schip `MS Esperanza' is betrokken bij deze actie. Het schip 'Agat' wordt bezet door zes actievoeders die zich hebben vastgeketend aan twee loskranen en diverse andere plaatsen op het schip, de cabine van een loskraan op de wal wordt bezet door een aantal van twaalf actievoerders aan wal. Zogenoemde bratra-eenheden (braak- en traangas) van de politie moesten eraan te pas komen om ze met slijpschijven los te maken en van hun hoge posities te halen.
Met haar actie wil de Greenpeace de invoer van `fout hout' voorkomen. Het hout is afkomstig van het bedrijf OTC (Oriental Timber Company), dat ongeveer eenderde van het bos in Liberia in handen heeft. Hout van OTC is niet duurzaam gekapt en daarmee vernietigend voor de oerbossen. Actievoerders hebben de boomstammen rood geverfd met millieu-vriendelijke verf om het hout te kunnen volgen zodra het aan wal is. Alle 14 activisten zijn gearresteerd. Europa is een belangrijk importeur en gebruiker van hout uit oerbossen. De afgelopen weken is in verschillende Europese landen actie gevoerd tegen de invoer van dit hout.

Unique identifier: GP01LSO

Type: Image

Shoot date: 04/03/2002

Locations: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Credit line: © Greenpeace / Ruud Gort

Ranking: ★★★★ (E)

Containers

Shoot:

Action against Tropical Hardwood in Amsterdam

Greenpeace activists stop the unloading of cargo ship 'Agat' in the port of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The 'Agat' is carrying cargo of several hundred (32000 tons) giant Azobe tree trunks from Liberia's ancient tropical forests. These forests are destroyed rapidly by (illegal) logging. Greenpeace vessel the 'Esperanza' is involved in this action. Six Greenpeace activists who had boarded the 'Agat' remained onboard as the ship entered the Netherlands at IJmuiden docks. Four of the activists attached themselves strategically to the crane cables of the fore and main masts: others chained themselves to the logs on the deck. On land, activists occupied the unloading cranes at the Agat’s intended berth. Special police forces were called in to cut the activists loose. Also banners reading: "Europe, stop ancient forest destruction!" were hung up. With this action Greenpeace wants to stop the import of unsustainable timber. The timber comes from OTC (Oriental Timber Company) which owns about a third of the forests in Liberia. Timber of OTC is logged unsustainable and hereby plays an important role in the destruction of the world's ancient forests. Activists have painted the trunks carried by the 'Agat' blood red with eco-friendly paint in order to trace the timber on its journey on shore. All 14 activists were arrested and have since been released without charge.
The actions come in the wake of a series of Greenpeace protests highlighting the illegal and destructive nature of the global timber trade and the role of importing nations around the world in driving this unscrupulous industry. Europe is one of the main importers and users of timber from ancient forests. The past several weeks many protests were held in different countries to address the import of unsustainable wood.

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