When people become Greenpeace supporters, they become direct participants in what the late United Nations Secretary-General U Thant called, "World War III: The battle to save the Earth from environmental ruin."

Founded in British Columbia in 1971 to oppose atomic bomb testing at Amchitka Island in Alaska, Greenpeace is now firmly established in fifteen nations. Millions of individuals support our work which allows us to place ourselves between whales and harpoons; halt the dumping of nuclear wastes and toxic chemicals; confront the seal slaughter; and free entangled dolphins from drift nets; and challenge the right of the Nuclear Navies to endanger the environment through their increasing presence in the high seas.

We are ecologists, actively working to protect a fragile world. Ecology teaches us that humanity is not the centre of life on the planet; that all forms of life enable our "existence" and that we must learn to respect them as we respect ourselves. The tremendous beauty of ecological thought is that it shows us an understanding of, and an appreciation for, life itself&emdash;an understanding and appreciation that is imperative to the continuance of life.

Life can be saved by non-violent confrontations and by what the Quakers call "bearing witness". A person bearing witness must accept responsibility for being aware of an injustice. That person may then choose to do something or stand by, but may not turn away in ignorance. The GREENPEACE ethic is not only to bear witness to atrocities against life: it is to take direct action to prevent them. Direct, non-violent action. We obstruct a wrong without offering personal violence to its perpetrators. Our greatest strength is life itself, and the commitment to direct our own lives to protect others.

WHY DIRECT ACTION?

Our best known tactic is direct, non-violent action: Highspeed, inflatable craft interfering with whaling operations; voyages into the ice floes of seal slaughter; manoeuvering zodiacs beneath suspended barrels of radioactive wastes, preventing release into the ocean; plugging the discharge pipes of illegal polluters; scaling smokestacks of air polluters; occupying the testing grounds of nuclear weapons explosions; protesting the presence of nuclear navies throughout the world.

The main purpose of such tactics is to stop the destruction to the environment immediately, even if for a short time, to show that it can be done and that there are people willing to do so; and to draw public attention to the critical environmental issues, so that the full weight of public opinion can be brought to bear on decision makers. Ten years ago, few people were aware that modern whaling had virtually eliminated many species of great whales. Greenpeace direct actions played an important role by attuning millions of people to their plight. Today, the odds in favour of the whales have dramatically improved, although many hazards remain.

Although Greenpeace direct action is the most easily recognized, it is but one of the many tactics upon which we depend. While Greenpeace activists operate in public view, investigators document the financiers behind an illegal whaling operation; or which governments are planning the exploitation of Antarctica, or which entities are responsible for the pollution of waterways. Meticulously prepared and researched briefs are presented in courts and to governments, where we actively press for modification of their positions on ecological matters. We participate in United Nations conferences and townhall meetings; produce documentary films; and lecture in schools, so that future generations will understand their environmental legacy to successive generations.

Greenpeace is an international organisation dedicated to preserving our Earth and all the life it supports. We act as caretakers, working to protect and nurture a fragile world. We believe that our planet does not exist to merely support humanity, but rather all forms of life must live together respectfully to enable us all to exist.

Greenpeace has demonstrated that life can be protected by "bearing witness" Bearing witness is a process of completely non-violent direct confrontation. We learn of the existence of an injustice and then act as on-site consciences for the perpetrators of the injustice. We directly and non-violently challenge the continued occurrence of practices threatening our Earth.

How does Greenpeace work?

Our first direct challenge happened in 1971 in Amchitka Island, Alaska, to oppose an atomic bomb test. Since this time, Greenpeace has grown and become established in diverse countries all over the world including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, England, Ireland, the United States, the U.S.S.R., Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Italy, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sweden, West Germany, Switzerland, Argentina, Costa Rica and Norway. Millions of people from all over the world support our non-violent actions. We place ourselves between whales and their harpooners, halt the dumping of nuclear and toxic waste, confront seal hunters and killers of dolphins, and challenge the introduction of radioactive substances to our environment.

Non-violent direct action is just one of our tactics. We also organise and mobilise communities to demonstrate concern over local issues. Our investigators document the scientific, financial and political proofs necessary to publicise environmental problems. Carefully researched briefs are presented to courts, the press and governments to support our campaigns for changes in public and private policies. We participate in meetings from United Nations conferences to town hall gatherings, produce documentary films and lecture in schools to educate everyone about our environmental legacy.

Why does Greenpeace exist?

Greenpeace believes our Earth is in trouble. People have abused and exploited our planet for too long. Many changes need to be made and we cannot afford to delay in making them. We also believe in the power of human potential. We are convinced these changes are possible. People are already learning to respect our Earth and its inhabitants. Greenpeace is working to ensure that this attitude continues to grow.

Greenpeace does not work for monetary profit. We receive no corporate or government financial support from anywhere in the world. A large part of our work is done by our supporters, interested people like yourselves who give generously of their time and money. It would not be possible for Greenpeace to continue without this support.

We actively campaign in diverse areas. However, the campaigns are all bound together by our desire to preserve our beautiful Earth for generations to come.

ACHIEVEMENTS

On-going Campaigns

OCEAN ECOLOGY

Since its beginning, Greenpeace has campaigned to preserve our marine environment. We have worked to stop the slaughter of baby harp seals. We are working to stop all whaling, even so-called "scientific" whaling. We have exposed lethal fishing practices which kill dolphins and small whales. We are studying threats to the seven threatened species of sea turtles and trying to find ways to ensure their future safety. We are researching fisheries management world-wide to discover ways to combat problems of overfishing and destructive fishing methods. Our work to protect our marine environment and its inhabitants will continue to be of major importance.

ANTARCTICA

The goal of this Greenpeace campaign is to have Antarctica declared a "World Park" internationally to prevent further exploitation of its fragile wilderness. To make this goal a reality we have established the first permanent, non-government sponsored base in Antarctica, staffed by Greenpeace campaigners the year round. We have also lobbied from within and and without the Antarctic Treaty system to ensure that, in fact the Treaty protects the wilderness. Antarctica plays a vital role in the world's ecosystem and we need to respect the continent rather than exploit it.

TOXICS

Only now is the public beginning to understand the toxic results of the ignorant and careless technologies of our modern age. Our environment is polluted on land and sea by incinerating toxic wastes, in air and water by pulp and paper production, by dumping heavy metals and by the use of pesticides.

Greenpeace is campaigning for a reduction of toxic wastes at their source by the use of safer technologies. We endorse the development and use of products compatible with the environment. With care and respect we can stop the abuse and pollution of our precious resources.

NUCLEAR

Our nuclear campaign is divided into two parts - civil nuclear and disarmament. Civil nuclear includes uranium mining, the re-processing and disposal of radioactive wastes and our nuclear-free future campaigns. Disarmament covers our nuclear-free seas and weapons testing campaigns. We are concerned about the presence of toxic radioactive substances in our environment for which there is no safe method of disposal. All the uranium currently mined in Australia ends up as someone elses radioactive hazard. We are also very concerned about the existence of nuclear weapons on our planet. Their presence on land and at sea put us at constant risk of horrific destruction. One accident on a warship berthed in Sydney Harbour could kill hundreds of thousands of people and permanently corrupt our environment. Greenpeace believes these risks are too great and we need to stop all parts of the nuclear cycle before it is too late.

ATMOSPHERE

The damage we are doing to our atmosphere has become a major problem for all people in our world. Our concern is three-fold. The ozone layer has depleted, which will result in dangerous UV-B rays reaching the Earth's surface. The greenhouse effect may cause a total global warming process. Finally, acid rain is causing our lakes, rivers and forests to die. Each of these is directly caused by human interference, either through pollution or ignorance. Greenpeace is working to influence national energy policies towards greater energy conservation and efficiency, and away from fossil (and nuclear) fuels to reduce air pollution at source. The effects of our carelessness and greed are too great to ignore.

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