PETROBRAS UPDATE: Steve Abel from Greenpeace reports:

Dear Penny,

We all want prosperity for New Zealand.  But deep sea oil drilling is not going to bring us that.

The Government has gone to extraordinary lengths, on behalf of international oil giant Petrobras, to support exploration in our treasured waters.

They have called in the military to try and stop our peaceful protest flotilla.

They claim New Zealand must pursue deep sea oil because it will bring economic benefits.

We say that New Zealand’s future depends not on fossil fuels, but on us capitalizing on our clean, green reputation, on the ingenuity of our people, and on pioneering solutions for a sustainable future.

New Zealander of the year, Paul Callaghan, and economics commentator, Rod Oram, agree.

Royalties from oil and gas are a tiny fraction of the New Zealand economy, representing less than 0.3 per cent of GDP.

Tourism, by contrast, brings in over $20 billion annually to the economy.  A recent report estimated that our clean technology sector could grow to be worth up to NZ$22 billion.

By permitting deep sea oil exploration, the Government risks everything that our economy and our identity are built on.

A large oil spill would devastate our beaches, marine environment, fisheries and international image – just as it did to the coastal communities in the US Gulf of Mexico last year. That disaster has cost $US26 billion and counting (or rising).

When we have so many better options for building a sustainable and prosperous future, deep sea oil is just not worth the risk.

That’s why Greenpeace, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui and our other allies in the flotilla are committed to peacefully expressing our opposition.

And right now your support means a great deal.

Please send a message of support to the flotilla activists here.

Please get involved in the activities happening around the country to remember the anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

Please help us get the message out that deep sea oil drilling is not the answer to our future economic success – it is the exact opposite.

Steve Abel
Climate Campaigner
Greenpeace Aotearoa New Zealand