GREENPEACE

WHAT IS A Pressure group?

• Group of people who share a common interest
• Try to persuade people to change
• (according to their interest or concern)
• Specifically target government policies
• (they have the power to make change happen)

greenpeace-QUICK FACTS

• Formed: 1969-1972, Vancouver,BC,Canada
• Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO)
• Headquarters: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
• Yearly budget: 237 million Euros (2011)
• Staff: 2400 Volunteers: 15,000

HISTORY

• Evolved from a nuclear protest in 1970s, Vancouver,BC
• Formerly named the Don't Make a Wake Committee
• First direct action was taken against nuclear testing in Alaska
• Money was raised (benefit concert) and a boat was sailed there
• Generated widespread compassion for their protest

GREENPEACE'S GOALS

• Greenpeace targets environmental issues
• "to ensure the ability of the Earth to nurture
• life in all it's diversity" as stated by them

Specific goals of greenpeace

• Jumpstart an energy revolution-tackle climate change
• Protect oceans: stop destructive fishing&marine reserves
• Work for peace: eliminate nuclear weapons
• Toxin free future: alternatives to hazardous chemicals
• Protect forests&promote sustainable farming practices

HOW they reach goals

• Greenpeace is well known for direct action
• They act directly on matters which are harmful
• Many activists have been arrested or killed
• "Act to provoke those with the power to make change happen"
• Action Greenpeace takes is not always legal, but never violent

WHY DIRECT ACTION?

• It stops destruction of the environment, even for a short time
• Shows that it IS possible&there are people willing to do it
• Such action draws attention to critical issues which enables
• full weight of public opinion to be brought onto decision makers
• E.G. people willing to be harpooned in the place of whales

GREENPEACE CHANGING THE WORLD

• Greenpeace has changed the world with direct action
• People have risked imprisonment and even their lives
• So much of the environment has been saved due to them
• Next few slides will give examples of direct action taken
• or that will be taken on harmful events to the environment

April/May 1995

• Shell's idea of dumping old oil platform into ocean caused outrage
• Took direct action&were pitted (against UK government&Shell)
• Dramatic videos (activists being attacked w/water cannons) brought shock
• Protests supporting Greenpeace (against Shell) broke out across Europe
• Public pressure proved too much for Shell&caused a win for Greenpeace&ocean

Recent event-tar sands

• Hold a tar-like substance, turned into oil through complex process
• This pollutes the river, the air&turns farmland into wasteland
• Fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada
• Communities nearby have reported rare cancers&other diseases
• People make good money, but are bored with their lives (alcohol etc)

Direct action being taken

• Alberta wants to expand the tar sand even more with 2 pipelines
• Gov'ts of Alberta&Canada neglect commitments to cut C02 emissions
• GP will draw attention to forgotten commitments&demand change
• Discuss investment risks of tar sands w/shareholders in oil companies
• Connect with landowners&people affected by tar sands& support them

why is greenpeace important?

• They take action when no one else does
• Have shown people that they can make a change
• Even just making a sign and protesting locally can help
• They have shown the importance of the environment
• They work internationally, not just in one region