In
1971, motivated by their vision of a green
and peaceful world, a small team of activists
set sail from Vancouver, Canada, in an
old fishing boat. These activists, the
founders of Greenpeace, believed a few
individuals could make a difference.
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.Even
though their old boat, the Phyllis Cormack,
was intercepted before it got to Amchitka,
the journey sparked a flurry of public
interest.
The US still detonated the bomb, but the
voice of reason had been heard. Nuclear
testing on Amchitka ended that same year,
and the island was later declared a bird
sanctuary.
Today, Greenpeace is an international
organisation that prioritises global environmental
campaigns. Based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands,
Greenpeace has 2.8 million supporters
worldwide, and national as well as regional
offices in 41 countries.
Greenpeace
International Information
and resources on Greenpeace world wide.
Current campaigns on climate, toxics,
nuclear, oceans, genetic engineering
Earth Planet |
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