“Greenpeace has consistently opposed the Japanese government’s plans to discharge radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear station into the Pacific Ocean.

“Since its inception, Greenpeace has proudly campaigned against nuclear weapons and nuclear power. The decision by the Japanese government disregards scientific evidence, as well as the deep concerns raised by our Pacific Island neighbours, many of whom are still grappling with the consequences of nuclear testing on their lands.

“The legacy of the Fukushima disaster shows that nuclear energy is no solution to the climate crisis. We must move as quickly as possible towards clean, renewable energy sources and to end the expansion and subsidisation of the fossil fuel industry.”

—ENDS—

Follow Greenpeace Australia Pacific’s Climate Justice Ship Tour

“The deep sea mining industry was getting ready to plunge its mechanical teeth into the ocean floor, but their bet backfired as they have seriously underestimated the importance of science and equity over a merely speculative and profit-driven venture. The cracks are appearing in what has to date been a fortress for industry interests as a result of increasing public awareness and mobilisation. It’s clear that most governments do not want their legacy to be green lighting ocean destruction”, said Greenpeace International Oceans campaigner Louisa Casson.

The decisions adopted by the ISA Council on 21 July effectively mean that a majority of countries — including Brazil, Costa Rica, Chile, Vanuatu, Germany and Switzerland — did not yield to pressure from the industry — supported by nations such as Norway and Mexico — to fast-track rules for deep sea mining. Industry frontrunner The Metals Company saw its share price plummet as markets reacted to the news.[1]  However, the ISA still failed to close a legal loophole for companies to start mining next year. 

At the ISA Assembly this week, pro-mining nations reacted by attempting to silence the growing resistance to deep sea mining in the very place it’s up for negotiation: As of Friday morning, China is still opposing a proposal from Latin American, Pacific and European governments to make space for debate. Such attempts at restricting opposition to deep sea mining went beyond the negotiating table, as the ISA Secretariat, frequently accused of being too close to the industry, restricted journalists and clamped down on peaceful protest during the meetings. 

“Investors looking at what happened in the past week will only see a desperate industry trying to maintain the illusion it has any future. If deep sea mining was truly as sustainable as miners claim and their hearts were truly invested in helping the climate crisis, why block dissent? It’s become clear during these weeks that irresponsibly pressing ahead to mine the deep sea in the middle of a climate crisis is not only reckless but politically toxic. The world is fighting back against deep sea mining – there’s a big fight ahead, but the fight is on,” Casson continued. 

The world is waking up to the significance of the threat from deep sea mining. The calls of Indigenous Peoples are being joined by people across the world: 37 financial institutions, over 750 scientists and the fishing industry have also called for a halt. 

“In the Pacific, the ocean is dear to us. It informs our lives and who we are as a people. The spectre of deep-sea mining raises many concerns that remind us of the legacies our region has felt from other colonial extractive industries and the barbarous nuclear testing era. We call on world leaders to be better stewards of our ocean by joining the call for a moratorium,” said Joey Tau, Campaigner with the Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) based in Suva, Fiji. 

Greenpeace believes that the way to stop this industry is through a moratorium that focuses on putting protection in place and that requires more governments to speak up to safeguard the ocean. 

“The decision to spend such an astonishing amount of money on these weapons of war represents a staggering misstep, and is not in Australia’s national interest. This is the wrong decision at the wrong time for the wrong reasons.

“Imagine how far those billions of dollars could go in stopping climate pollution, restoring our precious ecosystems, or in supporting public health, education and welfare? While these umpteen billions are being spent on nuclear submarines, survivors of climate change are still homeless in Australian towns; our precious wildlife faces extinction for want of adequate funding, and our energy system needs investment to secure the clean energy transformation at emergency speed and scale.

“These billions could go towards households, to help everyday Australians electrify their homes, building a safer place for our children and reducing our energy bills – instead of overseas arms manufacturers. 

“This deal risks turning Australia into a nuclear dumping ground and putting us on a path to a proliferation of nuclear technology and waste in our region. Generations to come will be forced to live with – and clean up – the mess.

“Why has there been no serious public consultation about the decision to have nuclear powered submarines? The Australian public holds deep concerns about nuclear power, and with good reason. Just last month, half the country stopped when a highly radioactive device the size of a tic tac somehow fell off a truck in Western Australia. Why should the Australian public have confidence that we can handle the nuclear waste of eight submarines when one small radioactive capsule couldn’t be safely contained and managed?”

—ENDS—

Since the emergence of the civil use of nuclear power to meet the energy needs of growing populations, nuclear waste and how we dispose of it has become a big issue – especially for environmentalists.

For a period of time, some countries disposed of their nuclear waste by simply dumping it in the ocean. After going overboard, the waste was out of sight, and out of mind. 

But not for long…

From 1978  Greenpeace activists around the world were engaged in campaigns against the dumping of nuclear waste into our planet’s oceans. And they were documenting it for the world to see.

In 1982, photographer Pierre Gleizes immortalised several moments as Greenpeace activists, aboard inflatable boats, protested against the dumping of barrels full of nuclear waste in the Atlantic Ocean by putting themselves between the toxic cargo and the ocean.

Then in 1993, the goal Greenpeace had been hoping for came to fruition, thanks to the work of our brave activists. A Greenpeace ship documented a Russian Navy vessel pumping radioactive waste into the Sea of Japan. The Greenpeace crew sent the evidence to international media outlets, and Japanese television stations came to the scene to record footage that was used around the globe.

After being exposed, Russia copped criticism from Japan, America, and some other countries who all pressured them to stop the dumping, to which they agreed.

In 1996, three years after this outrage against Russia, countries around the world came together at the London Dumping Convention to create the London Protocol. An agreement between 37 countries to ban the dumping at sea of radioactive and industrial waste.

Though this battle has been won, Greenpeace will continue to fight against the use of nuclear energy. Disasters like Chernobyl and Fukushima have demonstrated the dangers of nuclear power, while renewables are safe, clean, and provide sustainable opportunities for employment and the economy.

Thanks to supporters like you, we can continue to push our green energy campaigns like REenergise, to help make Australia a country sustained by renewables without any need for nuclear energy.

Although men got most of the headlines for early Greenpeace campaigns, many strong and visionary women helped bring Greenpeace to life from the beginning. While Greenpeace’s first campaign trip aboard the Phyllis Cormak in 1971 consisted of a crew full of men, many women were instrumental in organising the voyage.

In celebrating 50 years of Greenpeace, we’re taking this opportunity to celebrate the lives of some amazing women who were involved in Greenpeace’s first campaign trip to Alaska in protest of U.S. nuclear weapons testing.

Dorothy Stowe was the first president of her local civic employees union in Rhode Island in the United States. She spent her wedding night at a civil rights dinner, campaigned against nuclear weapons, and immigrated to Canada with her husband Irving in protest against the US-Vietnam war. She helped launch the first Greenpeace campaign, and hosted early Greenpeace meetings in her home. Always serving food (and sometimes tea and cookies!) Dorothy infused the radical politics of the day with a calm sense of family and community.

Marie Bohlen was a nature illustrator involved with American environmental organisation Sierra Club. After moving to Vancouver with her husband and son, they met the Stowes and co-founded the Don’t Make A Wave Committee, which would later become Greenpeace.  

Marie Bohlen and Dorothy Stowe.

In February 1970, while discussing how to stop US nuclear bomb tests in Alaska, Marie proposed the idea of sailing a boat up to the test site and confronting the bomb. This, of course, became the first Greenpeace campaign. Since the voyage had been her idea, Marie intended to go on the boat. But in the end, she decided to remain in Vancouver and work with Dorothy Stowe and the others. Thus, the Phyllis Cormack – the first Greenpeace boat – carried only men.

The British Columbia Voice of Women, led by Deeno Birmingham, played a key role in that first campaign, raising funds and petitioning the Canadian government to support the protest. Deeno drafted her husband, Dave Birmingham, to serve as engineer on the Phyllis Cormack. Lille d’Easum, a director of the Voice of Women, wrote the first Greenpeace technical report, a study of radiation effects.

Dorothy Metcalfe was a reporter when she met her husband, Ben Metcalfe, also working in journalism. During the first Greenpeace campaign she converted her home into a radio room, relaying radio reports from Ben – who was onboard the Phyllis Cormack –  to the world’s media. When the US delayed the test, and the crew contemplated safe harbour in Kodiak, Alaska, Dorothy encouraged them to push on toward the Aleutian Islands. 

Dorothy lobbied Canadian Members of Parliament, which resulted in three motions urging the US to cancel the test. She called Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau’s office, insisting he travel to Washington to confront the Americans. Through the media she sent a message “From the wives and families of the men on board the Greenpeace. Our men are risking their lives… for the benefit of all mankind.” 

From left to right: Dorothy Stowe, Rex Weyler, and Dorothy Metcalfe in 2004.

Zoe Hunter was a member of the UK Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, when she met Bob Hunter in London in 1962. She introduced him to the pacifist work of Bertrand Russell and took him on the 1963 peace march to the Aldermaston nuclear facility. They married and had two children. Zoe worked with Dorothy Stowe and Dorothy Metcalfe to provision the first two Greenpeace ships. 

This article has been adapted from The women who founded Greenpeace by Rex Wyler.

Greenpeace relies on a wide network of both donors and volunteers to carry out our campaigns. Without donors, Greenpeace would not be able to run any of our environmental campaigns, as we do not accept money from governments or corporations. This is why we are so grateful to all our Green Guardians, as Gifts in Wills support 10% of our campaigns. Our volunteers also form an integral part of our force, assisting in internal Greenpeace projects.

Gillian is one of those supporters who has gone the extra mile and volunteered for Greenpeace during her newfound freetime. Gillian discovered Greenpeace in her early 20’s, during the days of French Nuclear Testing in the South Pacific.

“I attended an anti-nuclear protest in Sydney and Greenpeace was very active at the rally. Greenpeace was a voice of clarity and sanity at that time. I developed great respect for the organisation because of its independence, ethics and realism.”

It was during this time that Gillian realised how beautiful and how fragile our planet is, and she cites this as the reason she supports Greenpeace today.

“Witnessing the build up of plastic pollution in the ocean, life-threatening air pollution, the rapid growth in threatened species around the world, and the overriding scientific proof of a warming planet have all led me here.”

Fearful for the future of our planet, and deeply frustrated with Australia’s lack of action on climate change, Gillian decided she had to do something about this.

“Having recently retired, It became unthinkable not to become involved. I started looking for opportunities to do something. I trawled the internet and found Greenpeace asking for volunteers and that is how I became involved.”

“I really love volunteering at Greenpeace – the team is amazing and makes you so welcome from day one. It was so exciting to get my very own Greenpeace email address. As I am a relatively new volunteer at Greenpeace, I am still learning so much. I guess one thing I feel not so much proud about, but really honoured to have been a marshall at the 2019 Climate Strike. I brought my partner with me and we had an amazing day surrounded by wonderful people both young and old(er). It was a day filled with hope.”

“Joining with other like-minded people means you are not alone and that you can contribute to a respected and effective environmental group.”

Gillian says one of the influences over her decision to support Greenpeace was her son, who is living in a world very different to what she experienced as a young person. She says even growing up in the Cold War era does not compare. Greta Thunberg is also a big inspiration to her, a young woman turning her fear into anger, and anger into action.

“The Morrison Government’s decision to effectively support the use of the most destructive weapons ever known to humanity, goes against the clear wishes of the majority of Australians and provides yet another example of how out of touch this government is,” Greenpeace Australia Pacific Head of Research and Investigations, Dr Nikola Casule said.

“The Morrison Government’s failure to support a ban on nuclear weapons is a slap in the face to the victims of nuclear weapons testing in Australia and across the Pacific, where vast swathes of land were rendered uninhabitable by radiation levels that remain higher than Chernobyl or Fukushima to this day.” [2]

“Nobody wins a nuclear war. The only way we can be truly free of the threat of nuclear war is to consign these weapons to the dustbin of history.”

Greenpeace has a long history of campaigning against nuclear weapons dating back to 1970, where the organisation was first set up to protest against US nuclear weapons testing in Amchitka, Alaska.

“Nuclear weapons are a perennial threat: almost 80 years after the first tests, their toxic legacy remains, putting all forms of life at risk of debilitating illness and death and making once pristine environments toxic wastelands. 

“Greenpeace was born out of the vital need to protect the world from the scourge of nuclear weapons and in the 50 years since we have learnt even more about their lethal impacts at every stage of the nuclear fuel cycle.”

Notes

[1] https://www.greenpeace.org.au/blog/poll-australians-attitudes-towards-nuclear-weapons/#.WcBlRLIjHRY 

[2] https://www.livescience.com/65949-marshall-islands-more-radioactivity-chernobyl.html#:~:text=Some%20of%20the%20Marshall%20Islands,islands%2C%20a%20new%20study%20finds. 

Download photos and videos of Greenpeace’s anti-nuclear demonstrations and the aftermath of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior here

https://media.greenpeace.org/Share/0kq1ifh136rv3pvi4l6my4g7txvs00t0

Greenpeace and nuclear weapons

After testing ceased at Amchitka, Greenpeace shifted its focus to French nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific, a region that had already been devastated by widespread nuclear weapons testing. Subsequently, in1985 Greenpeace’s flagship vessel The Rainbow Warrior was bombed by French forces while anchored in the Port of Auckland, New Zealand, resulting in the death of Portuguese freelancer photographer Fernando Pereira.

What the UN treaty will do

The treaty will comprehensively ban nuclear weapons and related activity. It will be illegal for parties to undertake any activities related to nuclear weapons. It bans the use, development, testing, production, manufacturing, acquiring, possession, stockpiling, transferring, receiving, threatening to use, stationing, installation, or deployment of nuclear weapons.

How is it different to the Nuclear Non-proliferation treaty?

The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) of 1968 contains only partial prohibitions, and nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties prohibit nuclear weapons only within certain geographical regions. The Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty is an addition, and recognises the importance of full implementation of the NPT.

Contact

Greenpeace Australia Pacific Communications Campaigner, Martin Zavan

0424 295 422

martin.zavan@greenpeace.org

During Steve’s tenure at the head of the Council, global wind installations grew from 74GW to 539GW and became one of
the world’s most important energy sources. He contributed significantly to the development of the wind industry in places such as India, China, Brazil and South Africa. He was a prominent speaker in public and private forums, and wrote innumerable articles, blogs and position papers.

He previously served in leadership positions at Greenpeace for nearly three decades. At both the Global Wind Energy Council and at Greenpeace, Sawyer was driven by a fierce love of nature and the sea forged in his childhood in New England, which he often described as most happily spent “messing about with boats.”

He studied philosophy at Haverford College (fellow alum Dave Barry wagged that its motto was “We’ve never heard of you either”) where he was steeped in the classics. But his reading of Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson, Edward Abbey, and Saul Alinsky pulled him toward the rising environmental movement. From Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings he drew lifelong inspiration for seemingly hopeless causes, and the faith that a small group of principled and courageous under-dogs could, against all odds, change the world.

He was by his own admission a card-carrying hippy when a Greenpeace canvasser knocked on his door looking for a donation. Steve volunteered instead. He went door to door in the Boston area as a Greenpeace canvasser himself, before joining the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior in January 1980 to campaign against the transport and discharge into the ocean of radioactive wastes.

Sawyer’s story and that of the Rainbow Warrior would be entwined throughout Greenpeace’s early days. He lent his maritime knowledge to a refit in Stonington, Maine, blasting rust and painting, and later to converting her to sail to prepare for a crossing of the Pacific Ocean. It was there that the ship took on a mercy mission from which Steve would draw a lifelong sense of pride, relocating the inhabitants of the Rongelap atoll, poisoned by fallout from US atmospheric nuclear weapons tests.

Steve and the crew relocated the entire community and all their worldly belongings, whose requests for relocation had been denied by the US Government, despite rising incidences of cancer and birth defects. The event was seared into Sawyer’s heart and imagination.

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It was aboard that same ship that he and the crew were celebrating his 29th Birthday in New Zealand when two limpet mines, later revealed to have been planted by the French Secret Service, sent the ship to the bottom of the harbour, taking the life of photographer Fernando Pereira. It was an act of state terrorism in reaction to Greenpeace protests against nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific, a cause that Sawyer had spearheaded. The attack backfired badly, propelling the cause of the Pacific Islanders victimized by testing into the limelight, and driving massive growth at Greenpeace as donations and expressions of support poured in.

Sawyer’s handling of the aftermath, and the successful suit of the French Government for damages, further propelled his own reputation as a leader and in 1988 he was named Executive Director of Greenpeace International.

Greenpeace had some of its greatest triumphs in the years Sawyer was at the helm – from the declaration of Antarctica as off-limits to gas and oil exploration, to the Montreal Protocol limiting ozone-depleting gasses to an end to radioactive waste dumping at sea worldwide. He also led Greenpeace to begin campaigning in earnest against climate change long before most of the environmental movement understood the threat. According to insiders, his tenure marked the coming of age of an organization that had once prided itself on its rag-tag mystic hippiedom.

In 2001 Sawyer shifted his focus exclusively to the existential threat of climate change. Through his work at Greenpeace and the Wind Energy Council he became a familiar figure at the annual UN climate talks and fought fiercely to awaken governments and corporations to the dangers of rising temperatures. He had a scholarly understanding of the science, an activist’s anger at inaction, and a strategist’s eye for where to apply pressure or introduce solutions.

He is survived by his wife Kelly, his daughter, Layla, and his son, Sam.

As we were reflecting on all of the incredible rallies, protests and actions from our people-powered movement over the past few years, we  happened upon a heartwarming trend: we have a sizeable number of furry friends in our ranks!

From Dachshunds to Dalmatians, pups of all sizes and breeds having been showing up, tails wagging, to remind us that it doesn’t matter how loud your bark, but that you bark at all that counts. For your bark is just one among many!

Naturally, we wanted to celebrate our canine crew and their #PupPower by creating a curated selection of Greenpeace puptivists from over the years.

Photo credit: Chris Grodotzki / Greenpeace

Dreaming of a winter wonderland, this polar pooch  told Shell to keep their paws and drills off the Arctic!

Photo credit: Greenpeace / Christian Åslund

This Sami puptivist showed us that size is inconsequential when defending the Arctic from Oil Exploration. The floofier the better!

Photo Credit: Greenpeace / Tim Aubry

This Good Boy could be on the next cover of Vogue with that irresistible, over-the-shoulder pout. Instead, he put his modelling skills to work to tell Shell to back off. “Woof” indeed!

Photo credit: Pierre Gleizes / Greenpeace

“Merci beaucoup” to this colourful canine, leading the charge to tell Nuclear to go fetch! *oui oui, woof woof*

Photo credit: Amy Scaife / Greenpeace

This guy takes Park Pride very seriously. Don’t let him catch you littering in his local green-space, cause he’s got his eyes, nose and ears on you. #caninecleanup

Photo credit: Amy Scaife / Greenpeace

That raised eyebrow says “Excuse me, is this yours??” (we’re looking at you Coca Cola)

Photo credit: Amanda J. Mason / Greenpeace

Raise your paws in app-paws for this Politically Active Pupper #wheatensagainstwalls

Photo credit: Mankica Kranjec / Greenpeace

You must be barking mad if this doggo can’t convince you to Break Free from polluting fossil fuels

Photo credit: Zsuzsi Dorgo

This little sausage roll showed us that it’s not the size of your bark, but how you use it that’s important. Howl for Civil Rights anyone?

Photo credit: Júlia Mente / Greenpeace

Ruff for rainforest preservation! #dogsagainstdeforestation

Photo credit: Greenpeace / Genevieve French

The only POSitive from the NEG was seeing this power-ful pupper raising her “ruff” for renewables (and the fact that you all got this dirty power plan thrown out!) #ruffruffforrenewables #savesolar

Photo credit: Jonne Sippola / Greenpeace

This border collie is part of a very different border, helping to paw a red line against railroads to the Arctic #paintthetownred

Photo credit: Greenpeace

What’s better than an adorable pup?? How about an even more adorable PAP! All you supermarkets producing #pointlessplastic better listen up to this conscious canine.

Photo credit: Bence Jardany / Greenpeace

Look at this Husky do the hustle for a legislated plastic bag ban in Hungary! The idea of a bag-ban makes us want to boogie too… #prancingwiththestars

Photo credit: Greenpeace

Read it and weep, Oreo. This doggo wants you to keep your paws off palm oil. #dropdirtypalmoil

Photo credit: Sarah Pannell / Greenpeace

Surf’s up for this little guy! Surfboard in paw, and ready to take on Big Oil in the Fight for the Great Australian Bight. Bow-wow Big Oil…bow-wow.

So there you have it! Our round up of environmentally conscious canines from around the world, getting their paws dirty and making their barks heard in the fight for a cleaner, greener planet. Pet Activists of the World, we howl in your honour *awoooo*

These bills will silence environmental warriors such as Greenpeace,and many other groups who help hold our government to account.

Those of us who speak out, advocate, donate and protest will be silenced by these three new laws.

I have always believed that the voice of the people was heeded by our leaders. But more and more I am shocked and disillusioned at the blatant arrogance of so many of our politicians.

Our government and corporations continually break international laws and conventions so they can frack, poison and destroy nature and animal habitats for their own financial gains.

I have worked as a journalist throughout my life. I still do, as I currently publish a monthly free community newspaper. I started as a cadet journalist in Australia at age 17 at ACP. We were taught ethics, that the rule of law, the principles of leadership, and that honesty, decency and a fair go, were tenets of the Australian way of life. And if called out, under freedom of the press, justice would prevail.

Under these new proposed laws, I would be punished, not lauded.

To even consider privatising the ABC shows how far our government is prepared to go to silence open and honest debate and exposure in our media.

Of course, there is a need to address ‘covert’ foreign influence in our democratic system, but rushing through overreaching laws will not address these issues. Targeting international advocacy groups will not address foreign interference in our democracy, even under the guise of “Security”.

Penalising small charities, the media, and everyday people who stand up to protect our way of life is not how we expect our government to act.

Activist groups such as Greenpeace who have worked around the world on nuclear disarmament, climate change, and clean oceans for over 40 years will be silenced. Journalists who uncover crimes against humanity such as those in refugee camps and war zones will be silenced. The knitting nanas who advocate on coal seam gas will be silenced.

And why?  Apparently so the government doesn’t have to deal with us, so it can continue to exploit coal and gas reserves. We, the community, didn’t benefit from the mineral boom yet we are now seeing higher energy prices and the destruction of our environment for short term political thinking.

Climate change is the single greatest threat to all of us the world over. And it’s urgent.

The major political parties must consider these serious impacts on civil society instead of rushing through badly written laws under the false rationale of curbing foreign influence.

We do not want corporations or foreign entities buying influence in our political system. Rather, laws should be written better to address the specific issues and not capture innocent local groups and make collateral damage of our local advocacy organisations.

We are living in disappointing times. For the first time in my life I am ashamed to say . . . I am, we are, Australian.

Di Morrissey.