Greenpeace activists spotted demonstrating on Länsiväylä motorway

Greenpeace demonstrators dressed as orang-utans emerged in several places along the Länsiväylä motorway west of Helsinki on Wednesday morning, protesting the use of tropical palm oil in Neste's new diesel fuel.
      The protesters, carrying banners, were seen at least on the light traffic route after the junction of Haukilahti in Espoo, as well as in Helsinki’s district of Ruoholahti at the end of the motorway. One orange-clad demonstrator was also spotted on the bridge crossing the Ring Road II in Espoo.
      The Espoo Police Department recorded several calls relating to the demonstrators, and went to discuss with the activists. The demonstrations were peaceful and did not disrupt the busy morning traffic.
     
The environmental activists have held several demonstrations expressing disapproval of Neste’s use of palm oil as a raw material for diesel fuel.
      A few weeks ago Greenpeace demonstrators placed locks on the nozzles of the fuel pumps at Neste stations dispensing the new Green-diesel fuel, putting them temporarily out of service.
      In addition to Finns, even Swedish and German activists have been detected among the protesters.
     
At the same time, MP Heidi Hautala (Greens) is acting as the Chair of the Neste Oil Supervisory Board. While saying that the company should make efforts in order to stop using palm oil, she claims that Neste Oil has always been a forerunner in environmental and climate matters.
      On the other hand, Hautala expressed sympathy for the views of Greenpeace, saying that she has always been an advocate of nonviolent civic action.
      Greenpeace opposes the use of palm oil as a raw material for fuel, because the increase in demand for palm oil will encourage the establishment of oil palm plantations in land reclaimed from rain forests.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Neste filling station closed by anti-palm oil demonstration (8.5.2008)
  Partners of Finnish companies accused of felling rain forests in Indonesia (7.5.2008)
  The two faces of tropical palm oil (5.2.2008)
  Neste Oil believes certification will remove obstacles to use of palm oil in bio-diesel production (10.12.2007)
  Greenpeace: Neste palm oil-based biodiesel not so green (31.10.2007)

Links:
  Renewable energy in Finland (Wikipedia)
  Greenpeace