An internet video has emerged showing a British member of the European Parliament congratulating the French for bombing the Rainbow Warrior in 1985.
The Youtube clip of Godfrey Bloom of the United Kingdom Independence Party was filmed at last year's climate change summit in Copenhagen.
In it, the MEP stands in front of current Greenpeace flagshipRainbow Warrior II describing its predecessor as one of the most truly fascist boats since 1945 and then commending the French for sinking it when it was in New Zealand.
Mr Bloom has since said that though he doesn't condone the death of crewman Fernando Pereira in the Rainbow Warrior, "green fascism" has been causing problems for years.
The executive director of Greenpeace New Zealand, Bunny McDiarmid, described the comments as unbelievable, particularly considering Mr Bloom sits on the European Parliament's environment committee.
Steve Sawyer, the Pacific campaign coordinator for Greenpeace at the time of the bombing, says the MEP is not significant or influential in any way on the committee.
