Newsflash: Greenpeace International has violated a code-of-conduct that it and ten other non-government organizations (NGOs) signed just 22-days ago. I am shocked and awed.
The much touted Accountability Charter states that the NGO signatories “will take all possible steps to ensure that there are no links with organizations, or persons involved in illegal or unethical practices.” Nice words. But for the 39,129 citizens of the sovereign Caribbean Island Federation of Saint Kitts and
According to government press statements and news reports, on June 20, 2006, a Greenpeace vessel, the MV Artic Sunrise, violated the Federation’s territorial waters, illegally offloaded passengers and defied law enforcement officials by refusing to accompany them to police headquarters. Ten members of the invasion force were arrested; six of them spent the night in jail awaiting cash from Greenpeace to pay their fines. The captain and crew of the mother ship apparently abandoned their comrades and sailed off in the direction of
The apparent objective of the Greenpeace expeditionary force was to disrupt a meeting of the International Whaling Commission hosted by St. Kitts. Their defense lawyer told the local magistrate that the activists had not intended to cause trouble on the island – only to engage in non-violent protest. Federation officials had a different opinion; they issued a National Security release charging that Greenpeace had violated and showed total disregard and disrespect for the Government “in utter contempt of its sovereign status.” The Federation’s release also noted that the Greenpeace vessel’s illegal maneuvers had threatened the marine environment, “jeopardizing the barrier reef which protects the Eastern Atlantic Coastline of St. Kitts and
Greenpeace International and the other Accountability Charter signatories claim the reason they signed the Charter was, “to promote further values of transparency and accountability that we stand for, and commit our NGOs to respecting its provisions.” The Charter states that its signers “seek to advance international and national laws that promote human rights, ecosystem protection, sustainable development and other public goods.”
Unless someone can make a compelling argument that violating national sovereignty, obstructing law enforcement authorities and jeopardizing a fragile eco-system are not outright violations of the commitments made by those who signed the Accountability Charter, it seems to me that Greenpeace International has two options in the wake of the St. Kitts affair: either condemn the actions of the captain and crew of the MV Artic Sunrise, or publicly jump ship from the Accountability Charter. When Greenpeace wired money to pay the fines that were levied against the St. Kitts invaders, it may have clarified its true intentions. Only time will tell.
What is clear is that Greenpeace picks some really nice places to invade. Perhaps it’s their way of recruiting new rainbow warriors. Join our merry band of sea scoundrels. Explore the beaches of picturesque islands. Drink your fill of Mai Tai’s. Have a whale of a good time.
While the attempted invasion of St. Kitts may not make the history books, this long-time observer of activist group shenanigans is shocked that it took Greenpeace nearly a month to depart from its Charter commitments. I expected a more rapid departure.
And, I am awed by the actions taken by the government of
With over three decades in the communications business, Nick Nichols specializes in crisis management and risk communications. He teaches graduate-level crisis management at the
This article first appeared at http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/NickNichols/2006/06/28/203047.html
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