Published: July 19, 2008 09:48 am            

Greenpeace denied entry into NM balloon fiesta

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta attracts hundreds of pilots from around the world each year, but Greenpeace apparently will not be among those showing off their hot air balloons this fall.

The international environmental group had planned to participate in the fiesta with its Earth balloon, which reads "Stop Global Warming, Save the Climate," but fiesta officials denied the application.

"All around the world, including here in New Mexico, Greenpeace is working to raise public awareness about global warming. It's a shame that the fiesta's board of directors made a unilateral decision to exclude Greenpeace's educational balloon," said Kristin Wheeler, the group's field organizer in New Mexico.

Greenpeace argued that the decision was "discriminatory" and that the fiesta has allowed other balloons with political messages.

Paul Smith, executive director of the fiesta, said Thursday the decision was not about the balloon's message but rather that the group missed the May 31 deadline for submitting an application to participate in this October's event.

While fiesta officials have made exceptions in the past, Smith said the board decided not to in this case.

About 600 balloons are registered for the fiesta, and Smith said many factors go into deciding how many pilots to invite, including space on the field and the shrinking availability of landing sites due to development on the northern end of Albuquerque.

Wheeler said Greenpeace officials thought registration was open longer so the fiesta could fill more spots. The group submitted its application in June.

The group's executive director sent a letter to fiesta officials last month and another letter is being prepared this week in hopes of getting them to reconsider the decision.

Wheeler said Greenpeace also has approached the American Civil Liberties Union, Gov. Bill Richardson's office and the office of Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez in an effort to have the balloon fly during the fiesta.

"We went through all of the steps. ... The intention was to follow the rules and launch from the field," Wheeler said, explaining that the hundreds of people who attend the early morning launches from balloon fiesta park would be able to see the balloon up close and ask questions about its message.

Wheeler said Greenpeace had all of the logistics worked out for flying the new balloon at this year's fiesta. The group has been flying another balloon with the same message at events around the world, including the G8 Summit in Denver, Colo., in 1997.

        

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