Greenpeace History
In 1971, a small group of concerned environmentalists sailed an aging fishing boat into a nuclear test zone off Amchitka, Alaska, to stop nuclear weapons testing. They called themselves "Greenpeace" and were committed to protecting the environment for future generations. Today Greenpeace campaigners are working tirelessly around the world defending our oceans and ancient forests, promoting clean energy, advocating for healthy alternatives to toxic chemicals and genetically-engineered food, and keeping up the fight against nuclear threats. For more than 30 years, Greenpeace has been the world's most creative voice speaking out on behalf of the Earth, changing the way people view the environment, and saving life-supporting natural resources and precious wildlife.
Peaceful direct action, public education and campaigning remain at the heart
of Greenpeace's work. In addition, we provide scientific research, participate
in international treaty negotiations, launch legislative initiatives, and
develop corporate reform tactics.
Campaigns
Oceans
The world's oceans are no longer a bountiful and limitless source for human
consumption. From the great whales to tiny coral, ocean species have been driven
toward extinction by industrial fishing, commercial whaling, and uncontrolled
ocean pollution. The oceans' ecosystem, a vital part of the Earth's life-support
network, is in serious jeopardy. This is why Greenpeace works to save the last
great whales, stop all overfishing, and halt the dumping of industrial waste
into our oceans.
Ancient Forests
Today percent of the Earth's original ancient forests have been degraded or
destroyed. Only 22 percent remains in areas large enough to support their full
range of native plants and animals. From the Amazon Basin to the Congo Basin,
from the Russian Far East to Papua New Guinea and across North America
industrial logging is the single greatest threat to the planets last remaining
ancient forests. The destruction of these last wondrous ancient forest regions
is driven largely by international market demand often to make disposable
products, such as plywood and paper. Greenpeace works to ban destructive
logging, promote well-managed forest practices, enforce legal protections and
educate consumers.
Clean Energy
Greenhouse gas emissions, caused largely by the burning of fossil fuels, are
wreaking havoc with the Earth's climate; trapping excessive heat in the lower
atmosphere. We have seen temperature records set year after year within the last
two decades. Greenpeace is working to put industrialized and developing nations
on a clean energy path that reduces our reliance on oil, gas, and coal and
promotes renewable energy sources such as the sun, wind, and waves.
Toxic Pollution
Industrial facilities continue to contaminate our air, water, and food with
dangerous toxic chemicals that cause cancer, reproductive disorders, and
impaired mental development. In the U.S., 40 percent of our rivers are too
polluted for swimming and fishing. Chlorine and the myriad of chemicals made
from it pose one of the most serious global health threats. Chlorine gas is
highly poisonous, and chlorine-based compounds are long-living, and can build up
in the tissues of humans and animals. Greenpeace works worldwide for the phase
out of toxic chemicals such as chlorine and promotes clean, healthy, and
economic alternatives.
Genetically-Engineered Food
Genetic engineering (GE) crosses species that could not combine in nature,
thereby creating entirely new forms of life; many of them utterly bizarre.
Doctors and scientists around the world are warning that GE crops may not be
safe for human consumption. Yet, GE ingredients are found in thousands of
unlabeled foods in our supermarkets. Greenpeace supports a consumer's
right-to-know about what is in our food and calls for a ban on the release of GE
organisms into the environment to protect organic crops and sustainable
agriculture.
Nuclear Threats
Greenpeace opposes nuclear energy and nuclear weapons; the starkest threats
to a green and peaceful future. Civil and military nuclear installations have a
sad record of accidents causing dangerous radiation leaks that lead to the
contamination of our soil, air, and water. They produce nuclear waste that, to
this day, cannot be disposed of safely. Greenpeace works to phase out nuclear
power plants and campaigns to prevent a new nuclear arms race.
The Ships
Since our inception, the history and mission of Greenpeace have been encapsulated in the icon of a ship. The Greenpeace fleet of ships includes the Arctic Sunrise, the Esperanza and - the most famous - the Rainbow Warrior.