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Joining Greenpeace

Joining Greenpeace

Greenpeace are an organisation standing for positive change through action, defending the natural world and promoting peace. They investigate and confront environmental abuse by both corporations and governments all over the world. They are a non-violent charitable organisation whose aim is to ensure the earth has the ability to nurture life in all its diversity, and they rely on the voluntary contributions or grants from foundations to enable them to continue their work. The birth of the Greenpeace Movement as it is known today took place in 1977, with four members and £800, working from a borrowed office in Whitehall. Today, they have established offices throughout the world where they continue to organise their protests and monitor ongoing events. Their London contact address is: Greenpeace Ltd, Canonbury Villas London N1 2PN. Registered in London no 1314381, VAT registration no 625951426

Greenpeace's history goes back to 1971 when several anti-war protestors decided to take non-violent direct action against US nuclear weapons testing on Amchitka Island, Alaska. These protestors chartered a dilapidated fishing boat, the Phyllis Cormack, renamed her Greenpeace and sailed into the prohibited zone. In 1972, the US government stopped these tests and encouraged by this victory, Greenpeace moved on to challenge the French atmospheric nuclear testing taking place at Moruroa in the South Pacific. This time they sailed a yacht, The Vega, donated by a Canadian businessman, to disrupt these tests. Unfortunately, some crew of the Vega were attacked and injured by French navy commandos on their second trip to Moruroa, however photographic evidence of this attack increased international opposition to French nuclear testing, and in 1974 France announced to the UN General Assembly that all future nuclear tests would be conducted underground - a further victory for Greenpeace.

Throughout the seventies, eighties, nineties and into the 21st century, Greenpeace have been actively involved in many protests, and one of their biggest triumphs was to halt commercial whaling. Their fleet of ships grew and in 1978 an old fishing trawler, the Sir Will Hardy, was renamed Rainbow Warrior and it challenged both the Norwegian and Icelandic whalers. In 1982, Spain joined the list of countries abandoning whaling and also in this year, the International Whaling Commission voted to end commercial whaling in three years time. A tremendous success for the Greenpeace Movement when in 1986 a Word Moratorium on commercial whaling came into force.

The Rainbow Warrior became one of Greenpeace's most famous vessels, challenging many international projects which affected the environment until its untimely sinking in 1985, when it was blown up by French Secret Service Agents in Auckland Harbour. Unfortunately during this incident one member of the Greenpeace team, photographer Fernando Pereira, drowned.

Another well know vessel in the Greenpeace fleet is The Beluga which joined in 1985. This ship was considerably altered and was transformed into an international action and laboratory ship, monitoring pollution in the rivers, estuaries, harbours and coastal waters of Europe.

Greenpeace have been involved in many protests, and their achievements include stopping the slaughter of seal pups, the dumping of nuclear waste, stopping ocean incineration of toxic waste, setting up a Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, an end to large scale driftnet fishing on the high seas, and of course their first campaign to ban all nuclear weapons testing. They are also actively involved in trying to end the illegal and destructive logging of the world's oldest forests, as well as defending the world's oceans aiming for global marine reserves.

One of the current Greenpeace protests is regarding a third runway at London's Heathrow Airport; recently several thousand people formed the word "NO" in a large demonstration held at Sipson. This is a clear message to the government that if they are serious about tackling climate change, a negative response is the only realistic answer to the aviation industry's plans for airport expansion.

If you wish to receive regular news of current and forthcoming Greenpeace activities, there is a newsletter available and all you need to do is sign up on the relevant page of the Greenpeace website. Greenpeace are currently extremely active in promoting clean, efficient and renewable energy sources to try and eliminate climate change.

Greenpeace would not be able to continue their good works without funds donated by their supporters and if you are not already a Greenpeace supporter and would like to make a donation, please visit the Greenpeace website or send a cheque to our office address above. It is possible to organise regular monthly payments but Greenpeace are also very happy to accept one off donations, as everything is appreciated and needed to enable Greenpeace to maintain their campaigns to look after our world, not just for us but for future generations.

Joining Greenpeace »