3. GREENPEACEGREENPEACE
In 1971, motivated by their vision of a greenIn 1971, motivated by their vision of a green
and peaceful world, a small team of activistsand peaceful world, a small team of activists
set sail from Vancouver, Canada, in an oldset sail from Vancouver, Canada, in an old
fishing boat. These activists, the founders offishing boat. These activists, the founders of
Greenpeace, believed a few individuals couldGreenpeace, believed a few individuals could
make a difference.make a difference.
4. Their mission was to «bear witness» to US
underground nuclear testing at Amchitka, a tiny
island off the West Coast of Alaska, which is one of
the world's most earthquake-prone regions.
Amchitka was the last refuge for 3000 endangered
sea otters, and home to bald eagles, peregrine
falcons and other wildlife.
5.
6. Even though their old boat, wasEven though their old boat, was
intercepted before it got to Amchitka, theintercepted before it got to Amchitka, the
journey sparked a flurry of public interest.journey sparked a flurry of public interest.
The US still detonated the bomb, but theThe US still detonated the bomb, but the
voice of reason had been heard. Nuclearvoice of reason had been heard. Nuclear
testing on Amchitka ended that same year,testing on Amchitka ended that same year,
and the island was later declared a birdand the island was later declared a bird
sanctuary.sanctuary.
7. Today, Greenpeace is an internationalToday, Greenpeace is an international
ecological organization that has 2.8ecological organization that has 2.8
million supporters worldwide, andmillion supporters worldwide, and
national as well as regional offices in 41national as well as regional offices in 41
countries. Its headquarters are based incountries. Its headquarters are based in
Amsterdam, the Netherlands.Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
8. Greenpeace is a non-profit organization andGreenpeace is a non-profit organization and
nongovernmental. It unites people of differentnongovernmental. It unites people of different
colours living in different continents andcolours living in different continents and
speaking different languages. The commonspeaking different languages. The common
mission of this organization is preserving life onmission of this organization is preserving life on
the earth in its full variety.the earth in its full variety.
9. Greenpeace does not accept donations fromGreenpeace does not accept donations from
governments, corporations or political partiesgovernments, corporations or political parties
but relies on contributions from individualbut relies on contributions from individual
supporters and foundation grants. Greenpeacesupporters and foundation grants. Greenpeace
does not support any political party.does not support any political party.
Nevertheless, its
members carry on a
dialogue with all political
forces and struggle for
approving and passing
laws for the welfare of our
environment.
10.
11. As a global organization, Greenpeace focusesAs a global organization, Greenpeace focuses
on the most crucial worldwide threats to ouron the most crucial worldwide threats to our
planet's biodiversity and environment. Itplanet's biodiversity and environment. It
campaigns to stop climate change, save thecampaigns to stop climate change, save the
oceans, stop whaling, say no to geneticoceans, stop whaling, say no to genetic
engineering, stop the nuclear threat, eliminateengineering, stop the nuclear threat, eliminate
toxic chemicals.toxic chemicals.
12. The goal of Greenpeace is to exposeThe goal of Greenpeace is to expose
environmental criminals, and toenvironmental criminals, and to
challenge government and corporationschallenge government and corporations
when they fail to live up to their mandatewhen they fail to live up to their mandate
to safeguard our environment and ourto safeguard our environment and our
future.future.
