JeepinIan
10-30-2003, 11:13 AM
It would be nice if these dipshits would just sink their own boat!
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Stay away, activists told (http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/7137934.htm)
Posted on Thu, Oct. 30, 2003
PORT OF MIAMI-DADE
Stay away, activists told
The Coast Guard hikes security around a freighter carrying wood and tells Greenpeace to steer clear.
By CURTIS MORGAN
cmorgan@herald.com
Already banned from mooring its vessel at the Port of Miami-Dade, Greenpeace was issued a second and very specific warning from the Coast Guard: Stay away from a freighter that docked Wednesday morning.
The reason: The freighter Tourcoing was carrying wood, and the environmental group landed in legal trouble last year when activists boarded a ship they contended was importing illegal mahogany from the Brazilian rain forest.
Customs inspectors were conducting a ''routine'' examination of the Tourcoing's cargo and papers but as of late Wednesday, no violations, or protected wood, had been found, said spokesman Zachary Mann. Information about where the ship came from and the type of wood it carried was not available Wednesday.
The warning, faxed to Greenpeace just after midnight Tuesday by the Coast Guard, said the activists -- famous for boarding or confronting ships -- posed potential threats to commerce, safety and navigation. The group's vessel, Esperanza, has been anchored off Miami since Monday after port officials denied a request to dock, calling the group ``an undue security risk.''
Lt. Tony Russell said the Coast Guard put a sea marshal team aboard the Tourcoing and established a 50-yard ''security zone'' around the ship, similar to ones imposed around cruise ships.
''Obviously, we have to be concerned with the presence of Greenpeace and their past actions,'' he said.
Greenpeace said the security-risk allegations are intended as punishment for an April 2002 protest that led to unprecedented federal criminal charges against the group.
Two activists, carrying a banner that said, ''President Bush: Stop Illegal Logging,'' climbed aboard a commercial ship purportedly carrying mahogany illegally exported from the Amazon. The activists and four associates pleaded no contest and were sentenced to time served.
But the U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami persuaded a grand jury to indict the group for the same activity this past summer. A trial has been tentatively set for December.
Rose Young, Greenpeace's deputy campaign director, said the warnings made it difficult for the group to get supporters and crew on and off the ship but also was helping the group promote its campaign to change U.S. laws to close import loopholes.
''They would not be doing this if Greenpeace hadn't put the spotlight on the whole trade in illegal mahogany,'' she said.
__________________________________________________ _
Stay away, activists told (http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/7137934.htm)
Posted on Thu, Oct. 30, 2003
PORT OF MIAMI-DADE
Stay away, activists told
The Coast Guard hikes security around a freighter carrying wood and tells Greenpeace to steer clear.
By CURTIS MORGAN
cmorgan@herald.com
Already banned from mooring its vessel at the Port of Miami-Dade, Greenpeace was issued a second and very specific warning from the Coast Guard: Stay away from a freighter that docked Wednesday morning.
The reason: The freighter Tourcoing was carrying wood, and the environmental group landed in legal trouble last year when activists boarded a ship they contended was importing illegal mahogany from the Brazilian rain forest.
Customs inspectors were conducting a ''routine'' examination of the Tourcoing's cargo and papers but as of late Wednesday, no violations, or protected wood, had been found, said spokesman Zachary Mann. Information about where the ship came from and the type of wood it carried was not available Wednesday.
The warning, faxed to Greenpeace just after midnight Tuesday by the Coast Guard, said the activists -- famous for boarding or confronting ships -- posed potential threats to commerce, safety and navigation. The group's vessel, Esperanza, has been anchored off Miami since Monday after port officials denied a request to dock, calling the group ``an undue security risk.''
Lt. Tony Russell said the Coast Guard put a sea marshal team aboard the Tourcoing and established a 50-yard ''security zone'' around the ship, similar to ones imposed around cruise ships.
''Obviously, we have to be concerned with the presence of Greenpeace and their past actions,'' he said.
Greenpeace said the security-risk allegations are intended as punishment for an April 2002 protest that led to unprecedented federal criminal charges against the group.
Two activists, carrying a banner that said, ''President Bush: Stop Illegal Logging,'' climbed aboard a commercial ship purportedly carrying mahogany illegally exported from the Amazon. The activists and four associates pleaded no contest and were sentenced to time served.
But the U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami persuaded a grand jury to indict the group for the same activity this past summer. A trial has been tentatively set for December.
Rose Young, Greenpeace's deputy campaign director, said the warnings made it difficult for the group to get supporters and crew on and off the ship but also was helping the group promote its campaign to change U.S. laws to close import loopholes.
''They would not be doing this if Greenpeace hadn't put the spotlight on the whole trade in illegal mahogany,'' she said.