Greenpeace + Clean Energy = Mess

By Samantha Abernethy in News on Apr 23, 2009 4:00PM

Yesterday was Earth Day, so to demonstrate the need for more clean energy, some people from Greenpeace attached 16-foot mini stationary windmills to the railing on the west side of the Michigan Avenue bridge. They were put up around 9:00 a.m., and they were taken down by 11:00 a.m. because the organization did not have a city permit. Also, CDOT spokesperson Brian Steele said that the windmills were a danger to pedestrians and to the movable bridge's delicate weight balance. (Uh, just how delicate? Should we be worried?)

Greenpeace was ticketed for the action. The manner in which the mini-windmills were attached to the bridge caused some scratching of the decorative railing. Greenpeace must pay for the repairs in addition to a number of other fines.

The group was cited with violating the ban on erecting structures on the public way, with possible fines between $50 and $500, and violating the ban on placing commercial advertising in the public way, with fines between $200 and $1,000. The windmills had small "Greenpeace" logos on their hubs that apparently led to the advertising ban citation.

Greenpeace is being punished for breaking the law--and rightfully so--but what about the recent dead goat incident? Police treated that as a prank and therefore did not perform any investigation. Unlike a bunch of symbolic sticks, a dead goat is a) gross, b) a health hazard, and c) a waste of food. [Ed's note: Not to mention the fact that "curses" aren't real. - M.G.]