16 June 2010

Waveland.

June 15th 1997. Three members of Greenpeace colonise Rockall and declare a new global state, Waveland. Here’s the text of the original press release, taken from: http://archive.greenpeace.org/majordomo/index-press-releases/1997/msg00182.html

(Maybe June 15th would be a good date to start the race? Hmmmm).

WORLD HAS ANOTHER COUNTRY: SUN RISES ON NEW FLAG AS GREENPEACE 
DECLARES A NEW GLOBAL STATE FROM ROCKALL


ROCKALL, June 15, 1997 At dawn this morning the sun rose on a
new country. Greenpeace, the  environmental organisation which
seized Rockall last week, has rejected complete British
sovereignty over the rock and declared a new  global state
called Waveland.

The declaration, which comes on day six of the Rockall
occupation, initiates a new nation state with Rockall as its
first capital. The flag of the Global State of Waveland was
raised on the rock by the three Greenpeace activists Peter,
Meike and Al who are living there in  a Solar Survival Capsule.
Peter said, "We reject the governance of a  country which
permits new oil exploration despite professed concern
 for the climate. Waveland is a new kind of country designed to
protect  the global commons rather than to exploit it. We hope
this is the start of a peaceful revolution. Waveland expresses
every person's right to oust destructive governance and replace
it with a new one, to  put the climate before profits from oil."

The declaration issued this morning says that "present power
and past  use of nature confers a proportionate responsibility
to act in its (the environment's) defence and restitution; and
that whenever any form of economy becomes destructive to these
ends, it is the right of  the people to alter or abolish it, and
to institute new government."

Citizenship of Waveland was immediately offered to anyone
prepared to  take the pledge: "Without violence and by bearing
witness, to defend  nature, to protect the global commons, to
reform industrialism, and to  secure peace, believing in action,
rather than words."  Stressing that Greenpeace did not want to
own Rockall, Deputy Executive Director of the organisation Chris
Rose said, "Four nations  want the oil around Rockall, we do not
recognise their right to develop it. We have told Tony Blair
that we don't want Rockall itself  but that the oil should be
set aside for the common good. We are borrowing it until it is
freed from the threat of development." 

Declaration of the new country is the latest move in
Greenpeace's climate campaign to protect the Atlantic Frontier
from oil exploration. The organisation argues that at a time
when the world has to begin the phase out of fossil fuels and
the phase in of renewable energy sources to preserve the
climate, encouraging new oil development is senseless and a
danger to both the atmosphere and the  ocean.

The three first citizens of Waveland, those living on Rockall,
called  on everyone who share the ideals of protection rather
than exploitation to become citizens. 

With its one flat ledge less than 70 feet above sea level and
only around 14 by 8 feet wide, Rockall is the world's smallest
and most vulnerable capital city. Speaking from new capital,
Greenpeace activist Peter said, "There is another way to manage
the earth's resources: it is for the common good; Waveland gives
people who share  that conviction a means of demonstrating it
and of joining the campaign to achieve it. For these purposes,
we no longer recognise the jurisdiction of the British
Government, or any other Government over this territory and we
call on our citizens to support our commitment to its
protection."

Notes to correspondents:

1) People applying for citizenship can call 0800 269 065 or
visit the  Greenpeace internet site at
http://www/greenpeace.org.uk. 

2) Formal contact with other Governments and administrative
matters will be dealt with in due course.

3) Waveland's aims, principles, purposes and basic policies are
set out in the Declaration which draws on the US Declaration of
Independence, Agenda 21 and other documents. Waveland follows a
long political tradition of establishing campaigning countries.

4) Rockall is the first capital of Waveland but it may move in
future.

5) Waveland is a new kind of country, it rejects the Sovereign
right of other countries to abuse nature and the global commons,
not the overall sovereignty of nation states. 

For further information please contact the Greenpeace Press
Office on  0171-865 8255/6/7/8