Greenpeace protest foiled

Greenpeace protest foiled

The Arctic Sunrise sails past Nusa Dua beach as a fisherman
casts out his line. However, the boat's crew of Greenpeace
activists was barred on Thursday by locals from making a protest
statement by tossing a three-headed ogoh-ogoh monster effigy into
the sea.

The local Pecalang, or village security men, contended that
the ogoh-ogoh could only be thrown into the sea once a year --
before the day of silence or nyepi celebration.

Greenpeace had planned the oddly intriguing protest as part of
its campaign against the United States, Australia and Canada, who
they dubbed the "filthy three". They alleged that those countries
were blocking sustainable development efforts.

Greenpeace actually had clearance from the Bali police, but
due to the Pecalang objection, which apparently overruled the
police, they turned their ship back to Benoa harbor. -- JP