Check out the fantastic news from Greenpeace New Zealand about The Rainbow Warrior. As you all know Lucy starred in the 1992 movie "The Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior" which was about the French terrorist attack on the first Rainbow Warrior.
"Rainbow Warrior" was the name of a real-life Greenpeace vessel, which embarked upon a worldwide pro-ecological mission in the early 1980s. While docked in New Zealand in 1985, the Rainbow Warrior was destroyed by a bomb, and a crew member was killed by French agents. Lucy Lawless plays the role of Jane Redmund, a crew member of the Rainbow Warrior.
A bit of trivia: Jane Redmond was the fictional character but the role was based on Bunny McDiarmid, a crewmember of the Rainbow Warrior. Bunny is now still in Greenpeace but is the Executive Director of Greenpeace New Zealand.
FROM: GREENPEACE NEW ZEALAND
I have some very exciting news - the brand new Rainbow Warrior is on its way to Aotearoa!
It will be here in early January next year and I would like to invite you to come aboard for a free tour. And tell everyone you know to come too!
The Rainbow Warrior has a special place in the hearts of New Zealanders and has been the heart and soul of Greenpeace’s global campaigning for over 30 years. She’s been raided, battered, shot at and bombed but the spirit of the Warrior has never been stronger.
The new Rainbow Warrior is our first purpose-built ship. It was funded entirely by donations from Greenpeace supporters. She is at the very cutting edge of clean technology and one of the most environmentally friendly modern ships ever built. We’re very proud of her and very excited because this will be her first visit to New Zealand.
After being sunk by French Government agents in Auckland the first ship was laid to rest in Matauri Bay. I was a young deckhand at the time and for me it was a tragic day because the blast sunk the ship we called home and caused the death of a friend and crew member Fernando Pereira who was killed in the blast.
But it was also the beginning of something huge and together we showed the world that you can’t sink a Rainbow. New Zealand declared itself nuclear free and French testing in the Pacific was eventually stopped.
The second Rainbow Warrior soon picked up the baton and led from the front for over 21 years campaigning for peace and justice the world over before having to be retired. Now the new Rainbow Warrior is leading our campaign for a cleaner, smarter, more innovative future at a time when the world needs a Warrior more than ever. Her history here means the Warrior has a strong connection to New Zealand and this feels to us like it’s a homecoming and a visit to her spiritual home.
Please register here to be the first to hear about where and when the Warrior will visit a port near you - and forward this email to your friends and family.
We want to share her with as many people as possible!
Thank you for your support,
Bunny McDiarmid
Executive director
Greenpeace New Zealand