Why I was arrested for Greenpeace
Home » Magazine » Good, issue 10 » Why I was arrested for GreenpeaceJames Bellamy, a builder from Northland, was one of the protesters who boarded a ship delivering palm kernel expeller to New Zealand. He explains why he was prepared to get arrested for his convictions
When first asked if I wanted to get involved in Greenpeace’s non-violent direct actions, I was sceptical about putting myself on the line. But I went ahead with training in May, never thinking that just five months later I’d board a massive cargo ship and get arrested.
The ship, East Ambition, had sailed from Indonesia carrying palm kernel expeller (PKE) intended for use as cow feed on Fonterra dairy farms around New Zealand. Last year New Zealand imported one-quarter of the world’s production of PKE, a by-product of the palm oil industry, which is responsible for the widespread destruction of rainforests. The emissions footprint of this palm product on the East Ambition alone was equivalent to the annual emissions of 127,000 cars. Not a good look.
By allowing imports of PKE, Fonterra and the government are failing to act in the best interests of the environment and the climate, and are seriously jeopardising New Zealand’s clean, green brand. I felt strongly that I should take action, and that the climate crime being committed was far greater than any crime I was about to carry out.
For me, saving our environment and climate is about more than planting summer veggies in my chaotic garden, about more than scraping the paint on the side of the car as I wheel my bike out of the garage each morning, about more than switching off appliances when I’m not using them. They’re all important, but they’re not enough. Some tough actions are called for.
And so it was that I found myself in a small inflatable boat approaching a huge cargo ship, fear and excitement pulsing through my body. We had to wait on the water for over an hour before attempting to board, and while I was spared seasickness others weren’t so lucky. Thoughts flickered through my mind. How would the crew respond? How long would we be up there?
When we got to the crane wires, the job got dirty. We were soon covered in the marine grease that was slathered on every moving cable and part, making simple tasks like tying a knot slippery and difficult. My job was to set up a ‘hanging womb’—something like a hammock, suspended from the ship’s crane cables. After threeand- a-half hours spent hanging in a harness, repeatedly lifting and lowering myself and the heavy equipment needed to secure the hammock, I was physically exhausted and very pleased to get comfortable in my womb with a view. We had a great view over Mt Maunganui, but it was rather windy.
We came well prepared to stay as long as we could, with plenty of food and water. We were suspended there for nine hours. Dealing with the inevitable ‘calls of nature’ took some advance planning and a bit of dexterity—and we were carrying some suspicious liquid-filled containers when we were finally taken down.
Before the protest action, I was unable to share the plans with anyone—not even my partner. However, she is extremely proud of me now, and the response from friends and family has been amazing. Although most people have thanked me for taking a stand and share my beliefs, not all feedback has been positive. But my actions have certainly stimulated some great discussions.
One important result of the Greenpeace protest is that the companies involved in PKE imports, and the government, were forced to discuss the issue. It’s now under intense scrutiny, both nationally and internationally, and is undermining Fonterra’s credibility. Would signing petitions, writing letters or lobbying my local MP have brought this issue to the fore so rapidly? I doubt it. Sometimes direct action works more quickly and effectively. That said, I wouldn’t automatically support Greenpeace’s every action—they would have to be in line with my moral code.
I believe in freedom of speech and the right to protest. I will continue to take action to bring destructive practices to light, in the hope that both corporations and the government will finally accept that climate change is serious and urgent. Next up is the Climate Camp Aotearoa in Wellington in December. The purpose of this event is to share skills and demonstrate techniques addressing the issue of climate change—some of which may include direct action.
