Warning that after threats and intimidation of peaceful activists, the situation could escalate further

Extinction Rebellion Netherlands is making an urgent appeal to all international cruise lines to avoid Amsterdam from now on. This is the next step in a campaign in which peaceful protesters blocked locks to prevent access to Amsterdam. These blockades have stirred up the IJmuiden harbour region because hostile crowds associated with lock staff intimidated and sent death threats to the activists, as well as to journalists and the mayor of the region. ‘We will not stop our peaceful campaign. Cruise ships are a disaster for the climate and public health. They are literally killing us,’ says Niels Moek of Extinction Rebellion Netherlands.

Open letter to cruise lines: https://extinctionrebellion.nl/en/to-all-cruise-operators-visiting-amsterdam/

In an open letter to all cruise lines around the world, Extinction Rebellion is calling on them to avoid Amsterdam from now on. Disney cruises has already decided not to visit Amsterdam in response to the demonstrations. Now the others are being asked to follow suit. The climate action group cites a number of reasons for this.

Air pollution deaths
Partly due to the cruise industry’s immense emissions, the world is on the brink of an unprecedented climate disaster. In addition, the cruise industry’s emissions are a public health disaster. According to the Dutch Lung Fund, about 12,000 people die every year from the effects of air pollution[1], for which the cruise industry is partly responsible by emitting huge amounts of nitorgen, fine particles and sulfur. One cruiseship emits the nitrogen of 400,000 cars, the fine particles of 1,000,000 cars and the sulphur of 370,000,000 cars. Apart from a CO2 emission of 84,000 cars.

Finally, the action group points to the fact that peaceful protesters have been intimidated and threatened by right-wing groups associated with the lock employees. This could lead to further escalation. Extinction Rebellion understands that a lack of guidance from governments towards a just and timely transition brings about a lot of uncertainty for workers around cruise ships. However, we despise the cowardly stance of the governments and the cruise lines who hide behind the workers blaming us for these uncertain times.

Dutch climate movement succesful
The Dutch climate movement is one of the most large and successful in the world. For instance, under pressure from massive protests and occupations of their offices, the two largest pension funds decided to dispose of their shares in the fossil industry, totalling about 20 billion. Protests on the A12 motorway in The Hague against fossil fuel subsidies have now seen more than 13,000 people arrested. Recently, following several blockades on the six-lane ring road around Amsterdam, the ING bank in the Netherlands decided to stop funding pure player oil and gas companies.

Sources
[1] https://www.longfonds.nl/nieuws/longfonds-luidt-noodklok-voor-gezonde-lucht

[2] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/may/21/the-worlds-largest-cruise-ship-and-its-supersized-pollution-problem