Greenpeace

Greenpeace in the United States

Greenpeace in Environmental Law

An international organization founded in 1971 to protest nuclear testing. Since then, it has expanded its mission to include fighting for marine mammals and dealing with other environmental concerns, such as toxic waste reduction and protection of tropical forests. Greenpeace bases its tactics on the Quaker philosophy of “standing in harm’s way”; it uses nonviolent resistance to accomplish its goals, as well as lobbying for legislation and educating the public.

The first incident involving Greenpeace took place in the Pacific Ocean, where Greenpeace members sailed small boats into a testing site to stop the nuclear tests. Later, in 1985, French agents blew up a Greenpeace ship called the Rainbow Warrior, killing a Greenpeace photographer. This event created a storm of public outrage and resulted in a sharp growth in membership for the organization.

Though Greenpeace is now known primarily for its Save the Whales campaign, that program came about when members encountered whales during their primary mission of nuclear protest and became fascinated with them. Other marine life such as sea lions and dolphins soon came to their attention as well, and protecting them merged with Greenpeace’s original goals.

One Greenpeace member, Paul Watson, led other members to destroy a whaling ship. Because the action did not comply with the nonviolent notion of the organization, they were asked to leave. Watson founded the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in 1977, a radical environmental group that considers sabotage a legitimate weapon.

Greenpeace has two separate divisions: Greenpeace USA and Greenpeace Action. The latter runs numerous campaigns, research studies, and education. Examples of a few of the campaigns include the Ocean Ecology Campaign, to strengthen protection for marine mammals and other inhabitants of the ocean; the Toxics Campaign, to stress reduction of toxic waste and encourage recycling and pollution prevention; and the Atmospheric and Energy Campaign, to stop production of chlorofluorocarbons, decrease air pollution and greenhouse gases [see global warming], and reduce use of fossil fuels in favor of renewable energy sources.
Based on “Environment and the Law. A Dictionary”.


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