(Photo: Screenshot/Greenpeace Spain Video)
Nov 17, 2014
Greenpeace activists were wounded Saturday in what appears to be the deliberate ramming of their boats by Spanish Navy vessels during a non-violent direct action against oil drilling in the Canary Islands.
The incident was captured on film by Greenpeace Spain (warning: contents may be disturbing):
Protesta de Greenpeace plataforma Rowan Renaissance contra las prospecciones de Repsol en CanariasArrollados por decir NO a las prospecciones. Firma y súmate a la campaña: https://bit.ly/1rr8Y3G A primera hora de la mañana ...
The Greenpeace activists were staging a peaceful protest against the oil ship Rowan Renaissance, owned by the company Repsol, which has been given the greenlight by Spain to drill for oil in the Fuerteventura and Lanzarote islands, located off the coast of Morocco. Island residents and international environmental organizations have vigorously opposed the oil exploration.
Activists approached the Rowan Renaissance via small boats when they were repeatedly rammed by a Spanish Navy dinghy. Matilda Brunetti, a 23-year-old Italian, can be heard in the video screaming as her leg is broken and she is knocked into the water. Brunetti was transported via a navy helicopter to a hospital and is in "good condition," according to Greenpeace. At least one other protester was treated for cuts. Greenpeace said the incident is "another reminder of the lengths governments will go to protect the oil industry from peaceful protesters."
Meanwhile, Greenpeace's Arctic Sunrise ship, which launched the smaller boats, held the drilling location before the drilling ship arrived. "It maintained the occupation, despite pressure from the authorities," says Greenpeace. The Arctic Sunrise remains "in the vicinity but outside the exclusion zone," the Guardianreported Monday.
This was the first protest launched by the Arctic Sunrise after it was held last year for over 300 days by Russia following a protest against drilling in the Arctic. Two people taking part in the Canary Islands protest were among the 30 activists and journalists detained by Russia.
No one is coming to save us. Join with us.
The world is a pretty dark place right now. Economic inequality off the charts. The climate emergency. Supreme Court corruption in the U.S. and corporate capture worldwide. Democracy in many nations coming apart at the seams. Fascism threatens. It’s enough to make you wish for some powerful being to come along and save us. But the truth is this: no heroes are coming to save us. The only path to real and progressive change is when well-informed, well-intentioned people—fed up with being kicked around by the rich, the powerful, and the wicked—get organized and fight for the better world we all deserve. That’s why we created Common Dreams. We cover the issues that corporate media never will and lift up voices others would rather keep silent. But this people-powered media model can only survive with the support of readers like you. Can you join with us and donate right now to Common Dreams’ Mid-Year Campaign? |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Sarah Lazare
Sarah Lazare was a staff writer for Common Dreams from 2013-2016. She is currently web editor and reporter for In These Times.
Greenpeace activists were wounded Saturday in what appears to be the deliberate ramming of their boats by Spanish Navy vessels during a non-violent direct action against oil drilling in the Canary Islands.
The incident was captured on film by Greenpeace Spain (warning: contents may be disturbing):
Protesta de Greenpeace plataforma Rowan Renaissance contra las prospecciones de Repsol en CanariasArrollados por decir NO a las prospecciones. Firma y súmate a la campaña: https://bit.ly/1rr8Y3G A primera hora de la mañana ...
The Greenpeace activists were staging a peaceful protest against the oil ship Rowan Renaissance, owned by the company Repsol, which has been given the greenlight by Spain to drill for oil in the Fuerteventura and Lanzarote islands, located off the coast of Morocco. Island residents and international environmental organizations have vigorously opposed the oil exploration.
Activists approached the Rowan Renaissance via small boats when they were repeatedly rammed by a Spanish Navy dinghy. Matilda Brunetti, a 23-year-old Italian, can be heard in the video screaming as her leg is broken and she is knocked into the water. Brunetti was transported via a navy helicopter to a hospital and is in "good condition," according to Greenpeace. At least one other protester was treated for cuts. Greenpeace said the incident is "another reminder of the lengths governments will go to protect the oil industry from peaceful protesters."
Meanwhile, Greenpeace's Arctic Sunrise ship, which launched the smaller boats, held the drilling location before the drilling ship arrived. "It maintained the occupation, despite pressure from the authorities," says Greenpeace. The Arctic Sunrise remains "in the vicinity but outside the exclusion zone," the Guardianreported Monday.
This was the first protest launched by the Arctic Sunrise after it was held last year for over 300 days by Russia following a protest against drilling in the Arctic. Two people taking part in the Canary Islands protest were among the 30 activists and journalists detained by Russia.
Sarah Lazare
Sarah Lazare was a staff writer for Common Dreams from 2013-2016. She is currently web editor and reporter for In These Times.
Greenpeace activists were wounded Saturday in what appears to be the deliberate ramming of their boats by Spanish Navy vessels during a non-violent direct action against oil drilling in the Canary Islands.
The incident was captured on film by Greenpeace Spain (warning: contents may be disturbing):
Protesta de Greenpeace plataforma Rowan Renaissance contra las prospecciones de Repsol en CanariasArrollados por decir NO a las prospecciones. Firma y súmate a la campaña: https://bit.ly/1rr8Y3G A primera hora de la mañana ...
The Greenpeace activists were staging a peaceful protest against the oil ship Rowan Renaissance, owned by the company Repsol, which has been given the greenlight by Spain to drill for oil in the Fuerteventura and Lanzarote islands, located off the coast of Morocco. Island residents and international environmental organizations have vigorously opposed the oil exploration.
Activists approached the Rowan Renaissance via small boats when they were repeatedly rammed by a Spanish Navy dinghy. Matilda Brunetti, a 23-year-old Italian, can be heard in the video screaming as her leg is broken and she is knocked into the water. Brunetti was transported via a navy helicopter to a hospital and is in "good condition," according to Greenpeace. At least one other protester was treated for cuts. Greenpeace said the incident is "another reminder of the lengths governments will go to protect the oil industry from peaceful protesters."
Meanwhile, Greenpeace's Arctic Sunrise ship, which launched the smaller boats, held the drilling location before the drilling ship arrived. "It maintained the occupation, despite pressure from the authorities," says Greenpeace. The Arctic Sunrise remains "in the vicinity but outside the exclusion zone," the Guardianreported Monday.
This was the first protest launched by the Arctic Sunrise after it was held last year for over 300 days by Russia following a protest against drilling in the Arctic. Two people taking part in the Canary Islands protest were among the 30 activists and journalists detained by Russia.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.