Greenpeace
**History and Origins:**
– Greenpeace was founded in response to the U.S. nuclear test plans in Amchitka, Alaska.
– The first protest was organized by the Dont Make a Wave Committee.
– The initial crew of the protest ship, Greenpeace, included activists and journalists.
– The protest voyage in 1971 marked the official beginning of Greenpeace.
– The organization evolved from the Dont Make a Wave Committee to the Greenpeace Foundation.
– Concerns over a planned U.S. nuclear test in Amchitka sparked the formation of Greenpeace.
– The initial protest involved blocking the Peace Arch Border Crossing and sailing to Amchitka.
– The Dont Make a Wave Committee was established in 1970 to protest the nuclear test.
– The first Greenpeace ship, originally named Phyllis Cormack, was chartered for the protest.
– The crew faced opposition from the U.S. Coast Guard but garnered public support for their cause.
**Funding and Organizational Development:**
– Greenpeace does not accept funding from governments, corporations, or political parties.
– The organization relies on individual supporters and foundation grants for financial support.
– It has a general consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
– Greenpeace is a founding member of the INGO Accountability Charter.
– The organization’s funding model emphasizes independence and transparency.
– Greenpeace transitioned from protesters to environmentalists.
– Independent Greenpeace groups emerged globally in the mid-1970s.
– Disputes over fundraising led to a split in the movement.
– David McTaggart helped form Greenpeace International in 1979.
– Some groups remained independent from Greenpeace International.
**Activism and Campaigns:**
– Greenpeace uses direct action, advocacy, research, and ecotage to achieve environmental goals.
– The organization is known for its nonviolent direct actions.
– It has raised awareness of environmental issues globally.
– Greenpeace has influenced both the private and public sectors.
– The organization has faced legal actions for its direct actions, including fines and suspended sentences.
– Greenpeace’s mission includes non-violent confrontation to address global environmental issues.
– Goals involve preventing the Earth from warming beyond 1.5°.
– Emphasis on protecting biodiversity and promoting renewable energy.
– Advocacy for slowing hyper-consumption and living sustainably.
– Support for peace, global disarmament, and non-violence.
**Criticism and Legal Actions:**
– Greenpeace has faced criticism for its campaigns, including opposition to genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
– More than 100 Nobel laureates have urged Greenpeace to end its anti-GMO campaign.
– Legal actions have been taken against Greenpeace activists for their direct actions.
– The organization has been accused of damaging the Nazca Lines, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
– Criticism has highlighted the challenges and controversies surrounding Greenpeace’s activism.
**Organizational Structure and Governance:**
– Greenpeace International is based in Amsterdam with 25 regional offices.
– Each regional office operates autonomously under Greenpeace International.
– Greenpeace has 2,400 staff and 15,000 volunteers globally.
– Regional executive directors are elected by regional boards.
– Greenpeace International’s board sets the movement’s direction.
– Greenpeace International oversees global operations.
– The executive director is elected by the board members.
– Current interim director is Mads Flarup Christensen.
– Regional offices have autonomy but collaborate with Greenpeace International.
– Annual General Meeting discusses strategic issues and principles.
Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning network, founded in Canada in 1971 by a group of environmental activists. Greenpeace states its goal is to "ensure the ability of the Earth to nurture life in all its diversity" and focuses its campaigning on worldwide issues such as climate change, deforestation, overfishing, commercial whaling, genetic engineering, anti-war and anti-nuclear issues. It uses direct action, advocacy, research, and ecotage to achieve its goals.
 Logo of Greenpeace | |
 Global map of Greenpeace office locations | |
| Formation | 1969 – 1972 (see article) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
|---|---|
| Type | International NGO |
| Purpose | Environmentalism, peace |
| Headquarters | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
Region served | Worldwide |
Executive Director | Mads Christensen |
Main organ | Board of directors, elected by the Annual General Meeting |
Budget | € 103.735 million (2022) |
Staff | 3,476 (2022) |
Volunteers | 34,365+ (2022) |
| Website | greenpeace.org |
Formerly called | Don't Make a Wave Committee (1969–1972) |
The network comprises 26 independent national/regional organisations in over 55 countries across Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia, Australia and the Pacific, as well as a coordinating body, Greenpeace International, based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
The global network does not accept funding from governments, corporations, or political parties, relying on three million individual supporters and foundation grants. Greenpeace has a general consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and is a founding member of the INGO Accountability Charter, an international non-governmental organization that intends to foster accountability and transparency of non-governmental organizations.
Greenpeace is known for its nonviolent direct actions and has been described as one of the most visible environmental organizations in the world. It has raised environmental issues to public knowledge, and influenced both the private and the public sector. The organization has received criticism; it was the subject of an open letter from more than 100 Nobel laureates urging Greenpeace to end its campaign against genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The organization's direct actions have sparked legal actions against Greenpeace activists, such as fines and suspended sentences for destroying a test plot of genetically modified wheat and, according to the Peruvian Government, damaging the Nazca Lines, a UN World Heritage site.