 Picasso
on the beach
Greenpeace
Over a thousand people gathered this weekend on South Beach, Miami to
create a massive 'human art' image in creative protest against the unprecedented
prosecution of Greenpeace by the Bush Administration. Supporters of the
international environmental organization gathered Saturday afternoon in
support of the 'Endangered Forests, Endangered Freedom' campaign, replicating
the 1950s Picasso work of art, of a dove flying past a jailed man.
The event, the largest of its scale to take place in the Miami area, comes
as Greenpeace faces a serious federal indictment in South Florida, following
a protest against the importation of illegal mahogany from the Brazilian
Amazon in April 2002. Activists boarded the timber ship as part of our
on-going campaign to save the world's ancient forests from destructive
logging, work that continues despite the extraordinary prosecution.
The federal government has levelled charges under an obscure 1872 law
originally intended to prevent "sailor-mongering"; a law only
enacted twice since entering into force, most recently in 1890. The indictment
has drawn criticism from many quarters -- from negative ink in the Washington
Times to criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union and Al Gore
-- and accusations that the Bush administration seeks to silence us and
our vocal criticisms of the administration's environmental policies.
"This is a chance for the people of Miami to show their support
for Greenpeace, and to creatively protest the Bush administration's decision
to silence its critics," said Ginger Cassady, Greenpeace campaigner
in Miami. "The hundreds of people gathered here today represent
the desire of people all across the world who are willing to take a stand
for the world's forests and for the right of citizens and Greenpeace alike
to peacefully protest," affirmed Cassady.
Picasso created the image as an appeal for amnesty for Spaniards who
were persecuted under the Franco regime.
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