Some of you may know that Greenpeace’s first campaign in Australia was in WA. Specifically, in the town of Albany where activists led by Bob Hunter started a local movement that eventually drew national and global attention – resulting in the closure of the last whaling station in the English-speaking world.

In recognition of how far we’ve come, Greenpeace held a “legacy event” in Albany on the 22nd of April this year. In a press conference on the pier where the Rainbow Warrior was docked, Captain Hettie Geenen, Greenpeace Australia Pacific CEO David Ritter, and journalist and author Chris Pash all spoke to the importance of Greenpeace’s legacy in Albany and the enduring need to protect ocean wildlife. A sailor’s choir sang sea shanties for us off the bow of the Warrior, and ex-whalers showed up to share their stories of remorse as well as hope for the future.

The next day we invited supporters to come aboard for a tour of the legendary ship. Fellow Green Guardians Richard and Elaine volunteered for the day to help the event run smoothly. The following words showcase the wonder of this event through their eyes:

“As long-term financial supporters of Greenpeace, we were gobsmacked when Alexis contacted us to help organise the open boats of the Rainbow Warrior in Albany, WA. We both signed up to show visitors around the ship and meet and greet everyone.

To get us prepared for the Open Day, we got the opportunity to tour the Warrior, meet the captain and crew, and enjoy some pizza – a real privilege we acknowledged with a gift of Denmark Shiraz!

Numbers of small boats made excursions across Princess Royal Harbour to get close to the Rainbow Warrior and take pictures – her green hull and white peace dove could be seen for miles in the good weather. Open Day began with queues of excited children and parents eager to get onboard and see the helipad.

It was such a pleasure to be amongst fellow supporters and to listen to crew members from so many different parts of the world talk about their experiences – from getting seasick to launching the inflatables. A campaign day to remember for us and all our visitors.”

Richard and Elaine on holiday in the Pilbara

This year we have had a huge increase in our Creative Confrontation Unit’s capacity. Thanks to your support, we hired three new full-time staff members from other Greenpeace offices around the globe including a former Greenpeace captain! All three have plenty of experience in taking creative actions. Between our Whales Not Woodside and Electrify campaigns, we have put a great deal of effort into holding specific corporations accountable for their responsibility to the environment. 

Holding Woodside to account in Western Australia

We organised a silent protest at Woodside’s AGM in April, inviting local school strikers to learn the ins-and-outs of banner painting (a more complex task than you’d imagine!), and in partnership with local groups in WA, organised a Paddle Out event at Fremantle Beach to rally the community to turn the tide on Woodside! Once we were at sea with the Rainbow Warrior, we also exposed Woodside for leaving toxic oil towers to rot in the ocean, which they have since said they will clean up.

Electrifying our engagement

As part of our Electrify campaign, we have been putting pressure on Australia’s biggest retailers to commit to switching their fleet to 100% electric cars and trucks, powered by wind and solar. Tactics for this so far have included delivering thousands of petition signatures to the head offices of the major supermarkets, and a national week of action flyering and surveying customers at retail stores. The Electrify policy team also held a lobby day at Parliament where volunteers met their local MPs to call for caps on pollution from new cars. The tactics were made possible thanks to our wonderful volunteers from across the country who generously donated their time to challenge Bunnings, Coles, Woolworths and Aldi and lobby for political action.

Keen to get involved in Non-Violent Direct Action with Greenpeace?

One of the great things about NVDA is that it is inclusive. There is a place for everyone at a Greenpeace action, and we’ll always make sure that you are never put too far out of your comfort zone. For example, there will be people needing to be driven somewhere, banners to be painted, and sandwiches to be made. Greenpeace also covers the expenses, fines, and legal fees for our activists!

If you, or someone you know is interested, head to our Volunteers sign up form! We’d love to see our Green Guardians taking part if you are able. 

And as always, thanks to your legacy gift, we will be doing activism in your memory for a long time to come.

It was March this year, during a United Nations General Assembly, that 132 countries voted “yes” for Pacific Climate Justice. 

Specifically, these countries passed a motion proposed by the Vanuatu government, calling on the International Court of Justice to deliver an advisory opinion that confirms the devastating impacts of climate change on human rights..

In doing so, the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion (or ICJ AO for short) would clarify the obligations owed by countries to protect the rights of both current  and future generations from climate change.

We know that strong and compelling evidence about the impacts that climate change is already having on communities across the world will play a key role in convincing the court to hand down a decisive and authoritative opinion. That’s why the Rainbow Warrior visited the Pacific earlier this year; to document the human rights impacts of climate change in this region. 

We sailed to Port Vila and Erromango in Vanuatu, then onwards to Tuvalu, followed by Suva, Kioa, and Rabi – all islands in Fiji. We were welcomed into the homes and hearts of countless people who most generously shared their experience of a changing climate and how it has  impacted on their human rights to their homes, their cultures, and their livelihoods. These stories will live on in our hearts, and amplify the strength of our upcoming submission to the International Court of Justice. Read on for some of these stories from the island of Pele – just one of the many places we visited whilst in the Pacific.

A farewell ceremony is a cultural protocol in the Pacific.

We walked with a local healer named Winnie, who recalled  the uses of the medicinal plants that have been lost due to climate change and shared the repercussions of this loss for her children when they fall ill.

We knelt with Sister Lizzie in a Pele graveyard and mourned after we learned that an additional 20 of the village’s ancestral graves had been swallowed by the sea since her last visit to the site which was a day before the twin cyclones Judy and Kevin hit the region in March this year.

Flora Vano, country manager for ActionAid Vanuatu has been helping communities face the dangers of a changing climate. She shared with us how when the twin cyclones came, communication with Erromango was down. Nobody answered her calls, leaving her to wonder if anyone on Erromango had survived at all. It was three days before Flora heard that there were no casualties, thanks to all the hard work that the women had done to fortify their communities beforehand. Watch her story in full with this video.

Women are not only disproportionately impacted by climate change, but are also often the first responders to climate disasters. Flora is advocating for the leadership of Indigenous women to be acknowledged as a powerful treasure in building climate resilience.

The ICJ AO’s potential to safeguard the human rights of frontline communities, current and future generations in the face of climate change, is why this work is of utmost importance to Greenpeace. Our mission to secure a strong Advisory Opinion is also something that we feel will strongly resonate with you, a legacy gift supporter, who has made a generous commitment to protect future generations through a gift in your Will.

A lifetime of support, by Adrian Heyliger, Green Guardian Ambassador

It was around the mid 1970’s when I was listening to a news report on the radio about a group of brave warriors confronting Japanese whalers, placing themselves between the harpoons and whales. 

I was so taken back by the bravery of these men. The fledgling organisation was called Greenpeace. With that name, and the awe-inspiring report – it created a feeling of exhilaration that there was still hope for a harmonious, compassionate world.

Some years later Greenpeace became an international organisation with headquarters in the Netherlands, coincidentally my country of origin. 

Naturally, I joined as a member when the Australian branch started. I was horrified to hear that the French Government was involved in the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior at Auckland in the mid 1980’s.

Twenty years ago I moved to Atherton with my wife Gale. We spend our days growing organic mangoes and are aiming towards self sufficiency. Thousands of parrots inhabit the property, as well as flying foxes, wallabies, and turtles that dwell near a waterfall.

While the Rainbow Warrior was in Cairns this year, Terry and Helena from Greenpeace made the effort to visit our property. They thanked us for years of loyal support, and we shared many stories together over mango smoothies. It was the highlight of our year.

Have you got a story to share? Become a Green Guardians Ambassador today by filling out this form to send us your story!

Whale watching, by Glenn Barry, Green Guardian Ambassador & volunteer

A stunning November dawn silently enveloped our beach in Sydney’s north. The Tasman Sea was having a rest. As compensation, two Humpback Whales happened to be frolicking not too far out to sea. Carefully protected by its massive parent, a young one was learning to jump. Full bodily, the juvenile launched skywards before crashing sideways back into the brine.

With surfable waves hard to find, and the alluring deep beckoning, I turned my  stand-up paddle board seawards and headed for the spouting whales. 

At around 800 metres out there bobbed a line of floats. Beneath the floats a shark net silently hung in wait for unwitting victims. 200 metres further offshore, the two whales were lolling around. Paddling on, I soon would have reached a spot near to but safe for these gentle beings. 

Unexpectedly, a speeding boat splintered the serenity. Seemingly recklessly, the bouncing craft headed towards the parent and offspring. To evade possible impact, the whales sounded into the depths. They were gone. 

I was crestfallen but decided to linger for a time, just in case the whales re-emerged. Balanced on the board in a near-teetering seat (and with my feet on deck and out of view of predators), I waited.

After a time, I gingerly shifted to standing mode ready for the long paddle back. At that same moment, and little more than fifty metres away, two large tails ever-so-gently poked up. Clearly in view were the sleek tail flukes and the small, set-back dorsal fin so distinctive to Humpbacks.

Undoubtedly aware of my presence, the inquisitive whales hung nearby, silent and motionless, for about two minutes. Then, they just glided off.

Imagine the impact of being able to go back in time to stop offshore drilling at the dawn of the oil age. Today’s climate catastrophes wouldn’t exist! Unfortunately, we cannot go back in time to fix our mistakes, but we can certainly learn from them as we go forward. And the next opportunity for our redemption is to stop deep sea mining.

On the 3rd June this year, Greenpeace volunteers from around the world took part in a Global Day of Action for World Oceans Day, calling on governments to vote against Deep Sea Mining at the International Seabed Authority’s July 2023 meeting in Kingston, Jamaica. Eye-catching neon lights, inflatable sea creatures, and human banners were just some of the creative tactics used to draw attention to this issue.

“If deep sea mining begins in the Pacific Ocean, it could have devastating impacts on millions of people living in the Pacific region. It poses serious threats to their livelihoods and spiritual connection to the ocean by impacting fish populations and sacred ecosystems.” said Rima Sonigara, one of our digital campaigners.

We need the Australian government to show leadership and set an example for other governments on this issue, by calling for a global ban on deep sea mining. We cannot let governments give the green light to greedy, immoral mining companies to destroy the ocean floor for profit. There is far too much at stake for our planet and communities. You can help by signing this petition to get the government to take a strong stand against deep sea mining now.

With many of the ocean’s deepest canyons still remaining a mystery to humankind, we don’t even know the full breadth of the lifeforms that could be destroyed if deep sea mining is given the go ahead, but together, we can stop it from ever happening.

Stretching over 260 kilometres along the west coast of Australia, UNESCO heritage-listed Nyinggulu or Ningaloo Reef (which translates to “deep water” by the Traditional Owners of the land) is the longest-fringing coral reef in the world. 

Considered one of the planet’s largest biologically diverse marine ecosystems and a highway for megafauna, Ningaloo is home to some of the most interesting wildlife in our oceans. So to help us celebrate this World Animal Day, here are 5 fascinating facts you may not know about the wildlife that calls the world’s largest-fringing coral reef home:

Say hello to 6 out of the world’s 7 marine turtles:

A number of Green Turtle hatchlings begin to erupt from a nest site as the sun sets and the temperature drops on a beach near Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia.

Did you know that more than 3,000 species of marine life, including 200 coral, 500 reef fish, 600 crustaceans, and 1,000 marine algae call Ningaloo Reef home sweet home? Not to mention 6 out of the world’s 7 species of marine turtles, 3 of which (the endangered green, loggerhead and critically endangered hawksbill turtle) call the reef their home year-round. This leads to the wonderful phenomenon of approximately 10,000 turtle nests dug each year along the Ningaloo Coast! Egg-cellent.

And the highest density of humpback whales in the Southern Hemisphere:

Aerial shot of humpback whales migrating along the Ningaloo Coastline in Western Australia, taken from a helicopter.

It’s not just the east coast of Australia that sees thousands of humpback whales migrating to our warmer waters each year. The west coast, in particular the Ningaloo Coast actually has the highest density of humpback whales in the Southern Hemisphere during their annual 11,000km migration from Antarctica! Scientists estimate that 30,000 humpback whales visit the Ningaloo Coast each year on their way to their breeding and birthing grounds further north off the Kimberley. It’s one reason why the area is known as a megafauna superhighway! 

Welcome to the home of the whale shark (and plenty of other sharks and rays!):

Whale shark seen during Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior documentation trip off Exmouth, Western Australia.

Ningaloo Reef is fondly known as home of the whale shark, aka the world’s largest known fish, because it is one of the only places in the world where the gentle giants regularly aggregate in large numbers. These docile and distinctively spotted creatures are filter feeders, meaning as the name implies, a whale shark’s diet is rich in plankton and krill.

Meanwhile, we know that there are two types of manta ray in the world (oceanic and reef mantas), but did you also know that Ningaloo Reef is considered to be one of the few places in the world where you can be lucky enough to spot both?! Congregating at Ningaloo Reef year-round, manta rays, like their cousin the whale shark, are also filter feeders and feast on the large amounts of zooplankton found in the area. 

And more than 10% of the world’s dugong population:

Aerial shots of dugongs and dolphins swimming at Ningaloo Reef.

Once thought to be mermaids by early sailors, dugongs (aka “sea cows”) are another species of gentle giants that can be found year-round at Ningaloo Reef. In fact, thanks to the area’s vast seagrass meadows, and a dugong’s hungry herbivorous appetite, Ningaloo Reef is believed to be home to more than 10% of the world’s dugong population. Sadly, like coral reefs, seagrass populations are threatened by the ongoing effects of the climate crisis, through sea level rise, salinity levels and ocean, and is one of the many reasons global dugong populations remain a vulnerable species.

Plus a coral reef that can be seen from space: 

View of the reef documented during Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior’s trip off Exmouth, Western Australia.

Did we mention that Ningaloo Reef is the world’s largest fringing reef? Or that it can be seen from space and is home to over 250 species of coral?! Stretching over 260 kilometres (that’s 226 times the length of the Sydney Harbour Bridge), Ningaloo Reef is believed to represent 50% of coral species in the Indian Ocean. What also makes Ningaloo so special is that coral reefs often don’t grow so close to a landmass, because rain washes silt into the water, making it cloudy and hindering coral growth. However, the arid climate of the Ningaloo Coast helps keep the water mostly clear. This means you can reach the reef simply by swimming from the beach.

…We told you Ningaloo Reef was fascinating!

Ningaloo Reef is an extraordinary place, as is the precious wildlife that calls this place home. Its unique and delicate ecosystem is one that we need to ensure is protected from the devastating impacts of the climate crisis. This World Animal Day, and every day, it is crucial to protect the reef and its biodiversity to ensure the survival of these incredible creatures.

Join our efforts to protect Ningaloo Reef and its wildlife.

This month, we are excited to welcome back the Rainbow Warrior to Aussie shores, as it embarks on a journey up the West Australian coastline to join with local communities and protect our oceans and climate from fossil fuel company Woodside – and its monstrous Burrup Hub gas project. 

Greenpeace has deep connections to Western Australia and its oceans. 

In fact, this journey marks 45 years since Greenpeace Australia Pacific first began back in the 1970s. A time when whaling was the greatest threat to whales and activists put their bodies between the whales and whalers – helping to put an end to commercial whaling in this country.

And now in 2023, as the greatest threat to whales comes from fossil fuel companies driving dangerous climate change, our crew will be sailing the length of WA with a simple message: choose whales not Woodside. 

Excited to dive into more history about the Rainbow Warrior? Of course you are.

Here’s a look back at some of the other times that Greenpeace’s flagship vessel has campaigned in Australian waters:

January 1990

March 1991

The following year, in 1991, Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior returned to Australia to take a stand against fossil fuel giant BHP, who was conducting seismic testing in search of offshore oil at the time.

The ship carried a banner “Whales and Oil don’t mix”.

On this particular occasion, BHP’s ship, the Western Odyssey, was successfully prevented from continuing with its dangerous seismic testing activities thanks to the efforts of the crew.

March 1993

By 1993, Greenpeace’s famous rainbow ship returned once again for a four-month tour around the south and east coasts of Australia.

The tour saw several ports of call along the way, including blockading the entrance of a cargo ship, the Eastern Ruby, into Sydney Harbour which was carrying tropical timber from Malaysia.

Plus a stop into Hobart, where scientists onboard took oil samples and activists occupied a jarosite dumping ship for almost twelve hours.

The trip even saw some special guest appearances onboard – including Paul and Linda McCartney.

September 2000

In 2000, the Rainbow Warrior returned to Sydney Harbour to help commemorate the Green Olympics, an idea inspired by Greenpeace to ensure commitments to green deeds during the Games – including energy and water conservation, and protection of the natural environment through initiatives including a solar-powered community for athletes to sleep and eat.

July 2000

Australia welcomed the Rainbow Warrior back to Sydney Harbour in 2005, during its climate tour against coal, where the crew onboard peacefully disrupted the loading of coal in the world’s largest coal port and demanded a switch to renewable energy.

July 2015

Ten years later, the Rainbow Warrior set sail towards one of the seventh wonders of the natural world during its six-week Save the Reef campaign.

The ship traveled up the east coast to raise awareness for the protection of the Great Barrier Reef, and was involved in several peaceful actions to protest against the transportation and usage of dirty fossil fuel, coal.

The tour also coincided with the 30th anniversary of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior by the French government on the 10th of July 1985.

November 2018

The last time the Rainbow Warrior visited Australian waters was back in 2018, during its Making Oil History tour, to draw attention to the threats posed by dangerous oil drilling in the Great Australian Bight.

The Warrior was stationed in Sydney for a day to meet with supporters, before departing on a voyage along the East Coast to Melbourne, South Australia, and Western Australia, where it helped launch a number of reports and conducted important scientific research to document the unsung beauty of the Bight.

By 2021, fossil fuel giants BP, Chevron, and Equinor, had all announced they will be abandoning their plans for offshore drilling in the Bight – a historic win for people and the planet. 

Does news about the climate crisis seem to take a particularly heavy toll on your mental health? Then hi, welcome! You’re not alone. In fact, you actually join a not-so-exclusive club of almost half of all Australians.

According to a recent national poll conducted by the Climate Council, more than half (51%) of Aussies are “very worried” or “fairly worried” about climate change and extreme weather events in Australia.

It probably means that you or your loved ones have been directly impacted by climate change-fuelled disaster(s) in the past, or, like most other climate activists or climate-alarmed folk, you’re an empath who feels things deeply. IYKYK.

So if you’re reading this (firstly) kudos to you, fellow empath, for being exactly who you are! We think you are amazing. Have you tried harnessing that superpower into positive change for our planet yet? If not, here are eight steps to get you started:

Step One: Empower yourself

Let go of what you cannot control and take charge of what you can. Take a break and find activities that ground you again.

Segregating waste, utilising more public transport, reducing the use of single-use plastics in your life, installing a solar power grid at home, carrying out rainwater harvesting, and growing your own garden or just one indoor plant (bonus points if you can harvest some tasty fruits, herbs, or veggies!) are all ways to play your part – and bring you back to nature at the same time. Win-win!

Step Two: Get (and stay) inspired
Even superheroes need to refuel from time to time. So don’t forget to tailor your feed to include funny animal videos (trust us), and positive news stories and content. Some other great follows over on the ‘Gram include @jessharwoodart @sarah_lazarovic @futureearth and @gogreensavegreen

As far as podcasts go, “turn your climate anxiety into climate action”- the tagline of Greenpeace podcast Heaps Better says it all. Listen to learn more about how we can all become better planet savers!

And if inspirational, life-changing stories (with a happy ending) are what you need, head over to A Slight Change of Plans, a podcast by Dr. Maya Shankar. Dr. Shankar’s guests talk about the crossroads they faced in life and how they overcame them to come out better and brighter at the end of the tunnel.

Step Three: Connect IRL with other superheroes

Climate March in 2019 on Gadigal land, Sydney

Not all superheroes wear capes. And you’re likely to find a fellow hero for climate action right next to you at your next local climate rally, you can join your nearest Greenpeace Volunteer Hub, or even head to a local book club that is an ideal space to read and discuss new ideas with like-minded friends.

Whether it be rallying, reading cli-fi or self-help books, connecting and discussing your thoughts with others is a great way to declutter your thoughts and ease your mind.

Step Four: Talk it out with loved ones
Climate anxiety is real, and sometimes it can become a very heavy weight to bear – even for the strongest of superheroes. Never be afraid to reach out to trusted loved ones (or medical professional) when you need some extra support. 

Step Five: Help empower your elected representatives
Pick up the phone (or jump into your emails if you’d prefer) and give your elected representatives or candidates a (superhero) earful about the changes you want to see.

Step Six: Just be in nature from time to time

Go for a walk, head to the beach (or even your local pool!) or take a hike over the weekend, spend your next free afternoon in an observatory park or local conservation centre – or even just drink your morning tea or coffee outside next time!

Disconnecting from your screen is one of the quickest ways for any nature-loved like yourself to unwind from the busy world we all live in. 

Step Seven: Listen and learn from the Traditional Custodians of the land
As Waanyi nation member and award-winning author, Alexis Wright once said, “We say we have been here since time immemorial, and we understand that our resilience is intrinsically linked with the stories that tell of the ongoing, regenerative cycles of the world in which we live.”

Taking positive action to help heal our planet, cannot be done without being an ally (year-round) to the Traditional Custodians of the land.

Whether that means spending time to learn about and take care of the Country you are living on, or using your voice (and privilege) to fight for change, take the time to listen and learn from First Nations people. 

Step Eight: Join our community

Volunteers onboard the iconic Greenpeace ship the Rainbow Warrior during the first leg of its Making Oil History tour to draw attention to the threat posed by oil drilling to the Great Australian Bight in 2018.

We believe in the power (or should we say superpower) of many. And the strength of our work depends on the thousands of people who put their beliefs into action.

So why not get involved and join our crew to help give our planet the voice it deserves. Our team of volunteers help make the impossible, possible!

Greenpeace is no stranger to rainbows. Synonymous with breaking boundaries and fearless campaigning, they’ve been our emblem of hope and diversity on all of our ships since we began back in 1971. We even named our flagship the Rainbow Warrior.

So as we continue to party our way through WorldPride, and wave our rainbow flags to celebrate our LGBTQIA+ crew and supporters from across the world, we thought, why should our wildlife miss out on all the fun?!

Here are just a few of our favourite queer creatures:

Penguins 

Monogamous romance is alive and well within penguin colonies, and many penguin species (including Adelie, King, and African penguins) have been observed by scientists over decades spreading same-sex love and courtship.

Elephants

Both African and Asian elephants have been found to cultivate loving same-sex partnerships with one another, in and outside the bedroom.

Elephants will affectionately interact with their partners by touching mouths (aka kissing),  intertwining trunks, and grooming each other.

We’re not crying, you’re crying! 

Dolphins

As fabulous as they are flamboyant, bisexuality is commonly observed amongst both male and female bottlenose dolphins.

In fact, it’s thought that all male bottlenose dolphins are bisexual!

Albatross 

Much like penguins, albatross are largely monogamous and are even well-known to loudly celebrate when reuniting with their life partner following a long absence. Stop it!

And much else like penguins, same-sex female partnerships are a common occurrence. In fact, one study of Laysan albatross in Oahu, Hawaii, showed that one-third of lifelong pairs were female same-sex couples.

Gorillas

Some of our closest living relatives, human beings share 98% of our DNA with gorillas. So it should be a surprise to exactly no one that homosexuality has been observed amongst all three gorilla subspecies; the western lowland gorilla, the eastern lowland gorilla, and the mountain gorilla. Love is love!

Seahorses 

Not only have seahorses been defying gender roles through male pregnancies and embryo incubation in a pouch located on their tail, but they are also not as monogamous (or straight!) as once thought either.

Recent studies have indicated that seahorses will engage in same-sex courtships, and spend the rest of their day flirting with many other potential partners.

The biggest flirt was the Australian seahorse – in case you were wondering.

Clownfish

Did you know all clownfish are actually born male? And in a school (one male, one female and juvenile males) when the dominant female dies, the dominant male will take its place and become female, and a juvenile male will move up the ranks to become the dominant male.

Finding Nemo 3, anyone?

Nudibranch

Last, but certainly not least, is the nudibranch, a tiny marine mollusc found in tropical waters like the Great Barrier Reef.

Fondly known as the ‘butterflies of the sea’, if their bright colours weren’t #worldpride enough for you, what if we told you they simply defy constraints of gender altogether?

Yup! Nudibranchs are hermaphrodites, meaning each is both male and female at the same time. During mating, they will simultaneously adopt ‘male roles’ as sperm donors, and ‘female roles’ as sperm recipients.