NO CRUISING, NO CRUISE CONFERENCES
14.03.2025
⬆️ CLIA cruise week got a cheeky welcome in Rotterdam.
The three day CLIA Cruise Week got an unexpected welcome to Rotterdam from angry residents and performers who are tired of breathing its pollutants. The event states it ‘will bring together the cruise industry’s most senior cruise line leaders, policymakers, business partners and suppliers to discuss the future of the industry’ – residents would prefer the industry to cruise off and do something worthwhile instead.
THEre is no future for polluting tourism
From the moment CLIA Cruiseweek festively opened, a group of thirty members of Extinction Rebellion NL entered the exhibition hall. The rebels hung a large banner with “You Are Not Welcome Here”. They also threw handfuls of black confetti over the exhibition stands of the various cruise companies. At the same time, a second group occupied the stairs of the building on the Koopgoot. Passers-by were invited to show their dissatisfaction with the cruise industry by sticking their bare bums through a hole in a protest sign with the text: “Cruise My Ass”.
⬆️ Y Fronts? Why not? After all the cruise industry is a load of old pants.
“Isn’t it crazy that small businesses will only be allowed into the city in an emission-free van from next year, while these extremely dirty ships steam straight into the city centre?” stated Pim de Vleeschhouwer. “And then the municipality also subsidises operators!”
A cruise ship emits on average twice as much CO2 per kilometre per person than an airplane. In addition, cruise ships cause extremely high emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx). These harmful substances can cause respiratory problems and lung cancer. The conference will focus on the “sustainability” of the industry by switching to LNG fuel. Although less CO2 is emitted when burning LNG, much more methane is released. This certainly does not make LNG greener, and may even be more harmful.
⬆️ Sustainable Cruises? There is no such thing.
Ocean Rebellion stands with Extinction Rebellion NL and demands that the municipality of Rotterdam must be honest about the damage caused by cruise ships. ‘The municipality of Rotterdam refuses to put the health of its citizens first, which is why it is necessary that we rise up and ban cruises from Rotterdam.’ According to De Vleeschhouwer.
Rotterdam must close its cruise terminal now.
Photos by @apple.makes.photos