Bishop Hill The Greenpeace ‘archaeologist’
Dec 31, 2014 Greens This is a guest post by Shub Niggurath.
When the Nazca lines fiasco broke, Greenpeace's response was to assure the world it worked with an archaeologist, taking every possible precaution:
@MartaBeatrize The activists worked with an archeologist, and were very careful to protect the Nazca Lines.
— Greenpeace (@Greenpeace) December 10, 2014
@sophiehigman We can assure you that no damage was done and the action was assessed by an experienced archaeologist who was with us.
— Greenpeace (@Greenpeace) December 9, 2014
Questions arose immediately:
@Greenpeace @MartaBeatrize name the archaeologist and their credentials please.
— Roddy Campbell (@Roddy_Campbell) December 24, 2014
So @Greenpeace Me=PhD in Andean archaeology & yrs at an Andean World Heritage site yet I dunno how to not break Nazca. Who's your archaeo?
— Donna Yates (@DrDonnaYates) December 13, 2014
The archaeologist was eventually identified in a New York Times report of the incident. It named Wolfgang Sadik, an 'archaeologist-turned activist' who we were told had 'set aside his studies to work for Greenpeace'. The NYT relied on a Reuters video to relay how Sadik seemed to be directing 'some of the other activists'. It quoted photographer Rodrigo Abd:
“The archaeologist explained where to walk and where not to walk... There was a great concern not to even leave a mark of your shoes on the ground, and if a rock was moved put it back in its place.”
The article further quoted Wolfgang Neubauer of the University of Vienna who informed Sadik was his doctoral candidate and had 'put off his studies to work with Greenpeace.'
This blog will show there's more than what the New York Times let its readers in for. Far from being an archaeologist, Wolfgang Sadik is a committed long-time Greenpeace member and activist, who has conducted several campaigns for the organization including some in leadership positions.
Sadik's recorded Greenpeace activism appears to begin over a decade ago in 2003 when he appeared in Tuwaitha, Iraq near Baghdad as a 'Greenpeace spokesman'. Sadik was part of a 6-member Greenpeace team that measured radiation and radiation sickness at sites where looted material from the Tuwaitha nuclear facilities had made their way.
In 2007, Greenpeace planned for a symbolism-laden stunt at Mount Ararat near Turkey. Sadik was the leader. Battling skepticism within Greenpeace ('too sentimental, too American, not serious enough') Sadik pushed plans for building a boat-shaped 'Noah's ark' structure on the slopes of the mountain to coincide with a G8 summit at Heiligendamm.
In one respect, similarities between the Nazca stunt and Greenpeace's Ark are striking. Sadik the team's 'action coordinator' reasoned:
The Ark was an available and widely-known symbol, so why not use it?
Sadik's ark project was successful in attracting month-long 'international media attention' (Greenpeace criterion for success); he is reported to have said the stunt 'had had the biggest impact of any campaign Greenpeace had ever created in that part of the world'.
In the period afterward, Sadik appears to have shifted to archaeology, working with Wolfgang Neubauer on archaeological excavations in Hallstatt, Austria. A 46-page glitzy pamphlet produced in 2008 highlights his work on the site. It is not clear when he stopped in archaeology.
In February 2011 Sadik surfaced in Fukushima, Japan, once again measuring radiation levels. This time, Der Speigel was laundering Sadik's views as a 'Greenpeace expert' as it warned of a possible reactor meltdown. Sadik was already back with Greenpeace earlier in the year: in January he was in a round-table discussion with host Reinhard Ueberhorst in his capacity as Greenpeace's 'Energy 2010 campaign manager'. Last year Sadik was part of another ark building project 'Arche2020' as 'project coordinator' from Greenpeace Germany.
From the above, it is evident Greenpeace performed little to no archaeological due diligence in planning their Nazca act. Instead of employing external and independent expertise, it went with what was available inside, using wrong advice from an activist member as cover for its actions. These are things one frequently finds Greenpeace criticizing corporations and governments for.
Reader Comments (59)
The built a mock Ark?
Never heard of it before today.
I'm waiting to see them put a sign up on the black stone at Mecca.
He seems to have been involved in 1997:
http://web.archive.org/web/20001203031000/http://www.greenpeace.org/pressreleases/geneng/1997nov21.html
Yet DECC listens to these charlatans.
More embarassing to claim to have had archeological advice and then done a lot of damage.
Way too much leeway has been given to groups like Greenpeace and they've got to learn the hard way that their ideals do not trump those belonging to others.
" they've got to learn the hard way that their ideals do not trump those belonging to others."
6 years in prison should do it
Is anybody surprised at this? Greenpeace is unbelievably bad and against all human progress, hence it is one of the first ports of call for the BBC.
If you paint your jackboots green, you can kick and stamp the crap out of anybody, and anything, and it is ok.
"Sadik, an 'archaeologist-turned activist' who we were told had 'set aside his studies to work for Greenpeace"
Does this mean Sadik is a "would be" archaeologist
It's only a few stones in the desert, right?.............
When man, in his infinitesimal and perpetual folly deems that, his own particular intolerant strain of ideology is superior to all else. Then, fear all men who have a God complex and who wish, to visit it upon you. It is time to end the naive belief that this lot are a bunch of altruistic amateurs. Bring an end to tax relief and indirect funding and to realize the likes of Greenpeace are out of control and who have stepped beyond any and all reasonable justification.
He doesn't seem to have ever published anything except for being co-author on a couple of minor papers on Hallstatt, so his archaeological experience would seem to be rather limited.
Rather reminds me of an article by Prof Paul Reiter in testimony to the House of Lords Science Committee. In it he advised that one member of his committee on the UN IPCC was a professed expert in something like 32 different subjects. Seeing as the IPCC is infested with the likes of Greenpeace is didn't surprise me! This Sadik fellow sounds just typical!
Rank hypocrisy and the Green/Left movement go together like rabbet and dado.........
Lying is the least of their crimes. Like most religions or multi-million corporations, they care little for the consequences of their actions!
No doubt their busy executives will make other silly statements about being careful when in Heritage sites whilst flying business class all over.
The hypcrasy of Big Green is only exceeded by the damage they do to people and this planet.
Clearly no conflict of interest if Greenpeace consult their own - er - archaeologist....
Even if Greenpeace had gone to the trouble of employing the services of Howard Carter and Indiana Jones I fail to see any justification for their actions.
Ye gods! Does the arrogance of these imbeciles have no limit?
We are starting to build up quite a dossier on the activities of the activists. Perhaps the time is approaching when this all needs to be pulled together into a nice straightforward pdf and copies sent to Those Who Matter, preferably by Someone Who Matters so they might at least listen to him.
It will all collapse eventually; the question is whether without a push it will be too late.
I studied archaeology for a year at Glasgow under Leslie Alcock. He was the ghost writer for King Arthur's official autobiography. We climbed up a God forsaken lump called Dumyat in a monsoon. At the top, there was an alleged Iron Age hill fort. My arse.
Archaeology is as fictional as climate science.
Arthur's Britain
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Arthurs-Britain-Pelican-Leslie-Alcock/dp/0140213961
Arrogance and Ignorance invariably go hand in hand - Greenpeace is no exception.
Really, is that the best you can do, sweetie-pie?
Or are you perhaps volunteering your services? No? Thought not.
Minx the Merciless has already done a pretty good job of sleuthing of the roles of the IPCC. That would be a good start to ferret out the list of watermelons.
"sexism"
Hoisted by her own petticoats, one word, can paint so accurately the truest picture.
Isn't the Nazca fiasco in fact the perfect metaphor for the world of "renewables" the misbegotten stunt was designed to boost?
Rushing into a scheme without any thought for the consequences - check
Unwillingness to heed advice from those who might be better qualified - check
Blinded by self righteousness - check
Irreparable harm to a precious landscape - check
Complete failure to achieve stated objectives - check
Utterly predictable adverse consequences - check
They behave like IS and Taliban?
As I noted to Shub on twitter Mr. Sadik has been a give with Greenpeace since the mid-90s. He was the spokesperson for an anti GMO campaign that target shipments headed to ADM n Europe.
His career in activism is broader and longer than his career in archaeology. Although his impact in archaeology seems to have been greater.
so the Phd archologist is:
1) not a Phd
2) not an archeologist
3) a rabid leftwinger
these leftists make me think of the catholics in the 20th century (and the muzzers who took over from them)
I have to admit: "si non e vero, e ben trovato" ...
at the greenpeace brainstorming meeting, following the PR disaster:
- "ok, how do we solve this mess ?"
- "we got permission from the Gods themselves !"
- "good point, but our connection with the Gods though pope Franciscus is too recent ...moreover, that is a Roman Catholic link, and not a pagan Incan ..."
- "why not maintain, as Shaggy did, that it wasn't us ?"
- "well, we more or less already admitted it was us !"
- "let's tell them it was done, along the ways of Carter, by archiologists ?"
- "THAT's the way to follow ! ... who knows how to spell the word correctly? ... and we tell them HE was the supervisor !"
have a safe and jolly year end, and a happy New Year to all !
The video of them abseiling down the wailing wall in Jerusalem should also be interesting.
Joking aside, this is typical Greenpeace. While Richard Lindzen disparages Climate Science as only attracting B-grade science students, environmentalists rarely reach those heights.
Seems that the current WWF has more in common with the current WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). Maybe WWE can get its good name back and become the WWF (World Wrestling Federation) again...
ptw
That's twice in the last 24 hours you've had a go at Catholics. You were called out on it yesterday (by Cumbrian Lad?) and now by me.
If you have a problem with us would you mind keeping it to yourself and concentrating on the matter in hand or let's have it out in the open and clear the air. Here or on the Discussion page.
So, Kumaran Naidu asked the Peru govt for 30 days time to identify the Nazca perpetrators from among their '27 subsidiaries'. The entire Greenpeace delegation final attendee list is available on the UNFCCC website. It is highly unlikely Greenpeace took people not on the delegate list, dedicated just for performing the Nazca stunt. Going in as a conference delegate brings many advantages (but if they did you can infer how deep their pockets are). This is pulling the wool over the Peruvian government's eyes.
Greenpeace won't explain why they are being so reticent. They are usually more brash about their encounters with the law. It almost always gives them more opportunities to be the little guy being crushed by 'the law', 'the govt', 'big corporations', 'Russia' and so forth. Why not do the same here?
Greenpeace also hired aircraft to take pictures of their banners using false identities (!). Reminds me of 9/11.
@shub: "Greenpeace won't explain why they are being so reticent. They are usually more brash about their encounters with the law."
There's saying in caving, if you get into serious trouble, stop digging and wait for the Rescue Team. I sincerely hope that this time Greenpiss have dug themselves into a hole that neither themselves, or any potential green blob rescuers are going to get them out of.
Building an Ark on Mount Ararat?
I thought the whole point of the thing was it started in low country and wound up on Ararat.
These guys really are clueless.
Does Greenpeace really care if a would be archaeologist and a few activists spend some months in an overcrowded unsanitary Peruvian jail. There are no doubt plenty more activists waiting in the wings for their all inclusive 2 weeks in the sun followed by a 6 month spell in a typical BKK Hilton somewhere.
mike no i like and stick to nasty snarking thank you.
(i must hv learnt that somehow, last century, by a "minority" that felt they were the establishment then)
whent they w ere caught out after adolf hitler fell for all their non existing noblesse, they quickly became "leftwing" dint they. or green (which roughly translates to leftwing+idiot+pedo)
If they had cared to ask, Greenpeace would have found out that special footwear (as well as approval) is needed to visit the Nazca lines. Video from the BBC (taken, one presumes, by Greenpeace themselves) clearly show they are NOT wearing the simple footwear used to avoid damage to the surface.
(I found it using Google, Nazca lines footwear, so it is not exactly secret.)
If they had cared to ask, Greenpeace would have found out that special footwear (as well as approval) is needed to visit the Nazca lines. Video from the BBC (taken, one presumes, by Greenpeace themselves) clearly show they are NOT wearing the simple footwear used to avoid damage to the surface.
(I found it using Google, Nazca lines footwear, so it is not exactly secret.)
Sorry about the double post - I had a message on screen after submission that the post had not yet been created and thought I had to confirm again. Feel free to remove the replicate and this message.
@Martyn: "There are no doubt plenty more activists waiting in the wings "
So true; my late Dad spent the last year of WWII on an RN Cruiser in the Pacific. He went on to work in the electronics industry and his counterpart in Japan was an ex-Kamikaze pilot who never got a chance to fly the 'divine wind' because by the time he'd 'graduated', the Japanese air force had run out of planes.
Only Google search but important
http://scholar.google.com.au/scholar?as_q=&as_epq=&as_oq=andes+andean+nazca&as_eq=&as_occt=any&as_sauthors=W+Sadik&as_publication=&as_ylo=&as_yhi=&btnG=&hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5
An Mock Ark, what a great idea. Maybe he'll sail it down to the Antarctic
on a mock scientific expedition. It worked for Chris Tunney, publicity wise.
Hired gun, yep.
Expert archaeologist, nope.
Security ought to be stepped up at Stonehenge and other world heritage sites to keep them safe from Greenpeace activists.
In my day he'd have been called a dropout, so that should read
College dropout working as a paid activist (aka troublemaker) for greenpeace
I think it is completely irrelevant whether they did or didn't have an archaeologist with them and what kind of a person it was. They were supposed to get a permission for what they were planning to do and follow all rules associated with visiting the site. Breaking into a bank's safe can't be excused by taking a financial expert along with you.
"He went on to work in the electronics industry and his counterpart in Japan was an ex-Kamikaze pilot who never got a chance to fly"
From circumstantial evidence I thought they all became taxi-drivers in Tokyo.
Irreparable harm to a precious landscape - check. (Paul)
That's the bit I find very very sad.
The self righteous, lying, noxious morons at Greenpeace think that they have have the right to desecrate a precious world heritage to make their point.
Green Peace are no better than the Taliban who blew up the world heritage listed Buddhist monuments in Afghanistan.
A view from Peru, by a Canadian based Peruvian journalist:
http://www.vancouverobserver.com/opinion/greenpeaces-publicity-stunt-ruins-un-climate-convention-peru
"Anger turned to outrage when Peruvians discovered that the activists had not only illegally entered the site, but also seriously damaged it. The area next to the Hummingbird’s peak, where the activists placed the banner, has been permanently affected.
The environmental demonstration in the Nazca lines is a great example of how an ill-conceived publicity stunt can quickly tarnish an environmental organization’s reputation, while at the same time taking all the attention away from its message.
Peruvians, 92 per cent of whom don’t even know what the UN climate talks taking place in the country are about, have been bombarded with news stories on Greenpeace’s stunt in the past few days.
The coverage of the actual meetings has been, by contrast, scarce. For a country that is estimated to be the third most vulnerable nation to climate change impacts in the world, that is particularly concerning."
Some excellent photos in this report, including their night time climb up to the desert plain. It seems they have also upset fellow travellers on the global warming train.
Bamiyan, oh Bamiyan says 'Dangit, we didn't want to attract their attention back here'.
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