Greenpeace at the People’s Summit in Downtown Rio

Greenpeace, the largest independent direct-action environmental organization in the world, is having a huge presence at Rio + 20 both literally and figuratively. They brought their Rainbow Warrior ship to Rio and have been vocal about holding world officials to the environmental commitments they have already made and those that should be hashed out this week at the Earth Summit.

“Our aim is to get all banks to say we won’t make loans to oil, coal, gas and deforestation-related activity. We want to shut off the flow of capital. The time is right because the banks are at their most vulnerable in terms of public legitimacy.” – Kumi Naidoo, executive director of Greenpeace (Guardian)

Greenpeace also set up a huge exhibit at Flamengo Park in downtown Rio where the People’s Summit is taking place through June 22 – concurrently with Rio + 20.

“The People’s Summit intends to unite urban, indigenous, religious, ecological and working movements from all over the planet to converge in a clear position,” said a member of the Summit’s organizing committee, Rafael Soares de Oliveira. “We believe that the solutions for the planet lie in the solutions of the people.”