Activists Celebrate Putin's Birthday with Climate Gifts

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, October 7, 2003 (ENS) - Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrated his 51st birthday today in his home city of St. Petersburg, on board a yacht full of friends and acquaintances.

Meanwhile, at Russian embassies around the world, environmentalists delivered birthday gifts and cards to remind Putin that he is not getting any younger, and climate change will not disappear by itself, so he should present the Kyoto climate protocol to Russian legislators for ratification.

Russia's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, which limits the emission of six greenhouse gases by industrialized countries, is all that is required to bring the treaty into force.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is 51 years old today. (Photo courtesy Office of President Putin)

Ambassador Yevgeny Ostrovenko told the Greenpeacers that Russia is still examining the protocol, but Greenpeace charges that Russia is "stalling as they have had three years to examine it already." After exchanging views the activists left "slightly disappointed that the cake was actually accepted, thus scuppering their plans to sample some tasty morsels," Greenpeace said in a statement.

Around the world, and around the clock, Greenpeace activists and volunteers presented Russian embassy officials with giant pens, birthday cakes, and other gifts urging President Putin to sign the treaty.

In Brussels, Greenpeace climate campaigner Steven Guilbeault warned, "Climate change is becoming a reality in many parts of the globe and Russia is no exception. Permafrost, which covers approximately 2/3 of Russian territory, is showing signs of melting. This will damage forests, pipelines, buildings and other infrastructure. Productivity in the agriculture sector could be reduced between 10 to 40 percent. Infectious diseases like West Nile virus and dengue fever are likely to affect more and more Russians in the decades to come."

Other environmental organizations also took part in the worldwide action. On the website of Friends of the Earth Europe, visitors could send President Putin a birthday card urging Russian ratification of the protocol.

A Greenpeace demonstrator stages a birthday gift for President Putin in Paris. (Photo courtesy Greenpeace)

In Ottawa, the Sierra Club of Canada presented a birthday cake to President Putin at the Russian Embassy. “We want Mr. Putin to know we wish him well and remind him how important it is for Russia to ratify the Kyoto Protocol,“ said Elizabeth May, executive director of the Sierra Club of Canada.

“We hope Mr. Putin will follow the lead of Prime Minister Chretein and the leaders of Europe and take responsibility for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The time for negotiations is long passed and now it’s time for action!” said Sierra Club member Andrew Dumbrille.

In Washington, DC, Greenpeace activists displayed a cauldron “boiling” a model of the earth and carried banners in both English and Russian in front of the Russian Embassy, but they did not wait until President Putin's birthday. Instead, they staged the demonstration September 25, two days ahead of the meeting at Camp David between Putin and President George W. Bush.

"Bush will likely continue to bully Russia to walk away from the global warming treaty, but President Putin must stand strong," said Kert Davies, research director at Greenpeace USA.

The Kremlin made no comment on President Putin's climate change birthday gifts.