Kudos Michelle for getting your message across without going on a rampage.

I thought the video was great. I posted it on my blog. Thank you for all the hard work you are doing.

The media says the protestors are all "anarchists."
At the same time it says there's no left in this country.
Isn't hegemonic discourse great?

They got in a lot of trouble as a result.

http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/bigstory/archive/2009/09/24/greenpeace-protesters-arraigned.aspx

And what did they do to desecrate the city? They rappelled from a bridge and unfurled a banner. My, my, the "horror."

God bless those beautiful young people. Most cannot afford to take the risks they took. Shame how they're getting harassed.

Good video, but I couldn't help thinking that the environment and climate change, though certainly a pressing concern, has become one of the "safer" political issues to embrace. I would like to hear from some protesters about issues that the Obama administration and world leaders are actually avoiding, such the ongoing wars; the West's dumping of toxic wastes on the Third World, which has destroyed many of those countries' environments already, not in some doomsday future; the lies of the War on Terror and its catalytic event, 9/11; the creeping police-state tactics, visible right there before everyone's eyes in Pittsburgh; the murderous intransigence and aggression of Israel; and many other issues that URGENTLY NEED to be discussed but are studiously avoided, unlike the issue of climate change, which already has the mainstream on board. Finally, one cannot, as this video does, separate the environmental question from the broader context. All these problems are interrelated. War, for example, is just about the very worst thing imaginable for the environment.

How come we can't come to the understanding that the only thing that can make a difference is if we elect people to office who have the consciousness and ability to do what is necessary. Sending messages to those already elected is a waste of time. Sending messages to Democrats or Republicans is a waste of time. Direct Action? What is that? It's finding a few outstanding competent and enlightened people to run for office and then voting for them until they do get in office. Nobody in office cares what you think. Few in office have the courage to do the right thing. If they did the right things they would lose their jobs because not enough voters will vote for anyone of substance... they will only vote for Democrats or Republicans who can pass a beauty contest and who the media tells you is capable of winning. If you can't convince yourself and other citizens to vote for what you want... for sure you will never get elected officials to vote for what you want.

http://www.gpln.com/winbylosing.htm

A one time $50 billion investment into solar thermal power in the Arizona desert would pretty much wean America from fossil fuel use (for electricity and electric vehicles) forever. Yet we spend six TIMES that amount of money EVERY YEAR paying the 3% INTEREST on the Reagan/Bush debt. Basically, we spend $300 billion a year to help Reagan and Bush Jr get reelected (since its been so politically popular the last 30 years to offer Americans public services they don't have to pay for: only their grandchildren have to pay for them...).

And by rejecting the 'socialist' healthcare solutions adopted by every other nation in the G20, we spend an extra TRILLION DOLLARS A YEAR on a corporate healthcare system that bankrupts a million of us a year over ill-health (70% of whom HAD insurance when they got ill).

So, the solution to Global Warming is easily within our reach. But it requires that we reject corporate socialism for public socialism on things like healthcare, energy policy, and WallStreet bailouts. And that we begin making those who benefitted themselves for the Reagan and Bush Jr reelections PAY the debt they would otherwise foist on us (plus $300 billion a year in interest).

Sadly, Americans fell asleep the last 30 years. Its time to wake up and make the changes we must make today. But, clearly, both the solutions, and the money to fund them, are easily obtained: it merely requires the political will to do so.

Center for Constitutional Rights links an article by Bill Quigly
http://www.alternet.org/rights/142828/our_right_to_dissent_is_under_siege:_why_the_protests_in_pittsburgh_are_a_victory_for_free_speechOn

Greenpeace: Listen!

-stop criticizing Sea Shepard Conservation Society
-stop denouncing direct action that gets real results
-your banner drops are cute, but totally ineffective in the real world, but i am sure it makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside
-spend more time doing actions instead of fundraising, which is really what you are, a fundraising organization
-be useful or get out of the way.

thanks.

Thanks, Michelle, for the direct action that made front page of the Pittsburgh press and got good television coverage too. Since the protesters, marchers, etc... could not get anywhere near the actual G-20 meeting, this action a day prior to the actual meeting was well executed and provided maximum press attention... the banner was very photogenic.

Risking arrest for a cause makes you automatically a friend of those fighting for justice and a future for humanity.

We would love to have people such as yourselves join the anti-globalization movement, as economic structures of oppression are at the root of environmental crisis...

Contact us at www.usfoodcrisisgroup.org

We work on sustainable ag, since industrial ag is responsible for up to 20% or more of the carbon footprint of humankind, and only people of the land can sequester carbon in ways that increase community sustainability of small scale farmers, foresters and rural communities,as well as urban producers and consumers as well...