Greenpeace now 'just another bloated corporation'?

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

by former Rainbow Warrior captain John Castel.

Where did it all go wrong with Greenpeace? For, make no mistake, the effectiveness of what was once the world's leading environmental organisation - with the power to bend governments and force corporations to bend to its will - has been in freefall over many years, in direct relation to an inner moral decline.

Today, while Greenpeace is an environmental organisation, it is not an ecological one. While it started out as an expression of people power, it has eschewed internal democracy with fervour. (This is the little seed of decay that has eaten out the heart of the organisation.) As the world's ecological situation gets increasingly desperate and in need of the hope, possibilities and radical suggestions Greenpeace might once have given, the group is now utterly moribund.
Greenpeace was revivified from the UK in 1978 with the purchase of the Rainbow Warrior. A couple of wonderfully productive years saw the organisation expand in northern Europe. I was lucky enough to be there, and it was a fantastic time. One essential fact about Greenpeace then was that it was both idealistic and practical.
Idealism was awash in the world at the time, and there is nothing like being at sea to sort out practicality. Ships bind people together, and loyal, tight, competent teamwork immediately set Greenpeace apart as a campaigning group. By chance the people who came together in London in 1977-78 were the rich brew necessary to kick things off in the right direction. It was the kind of successful mix planning never seems to achieve, but chance does.

By 1980 David McTaggart (a generation older than we others and the undisputed leader at that stage) felt strong enough to persuade the Canadian and US Greenpeace end their internecine strife and sign in to Greenpeace International (GPI). The body "owns" the name Greenpeace and holds copyright power over the independent national entities, who in turn fund GPI.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/environment/article318919.ece

[demobrit]

1. And C.N.D have gone the same way

Excellent editorial a must read

[shance]

2. It's inevitable with groups that go nationwide....they are infiltrated

and it's typically a gradual takeover like any other. Its done through bringing in individuals who intentionally who diminish the effectiveness and water down the activism. Most often done specifically through anti-environmental business interests. Same thing that has happened to Sierra Club, and on another level the Democratic and Republican parties.

Organizations can only stay healthy and focused WHEN MEMBERS ARE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS. The more participation and involvement from ALL members, the healthier the organization. Period.

When the authority and power is rested from the members, or the members become apathetic, the power and impact of the organization will eventually die. Can it be brought back, probably, but again, only through the involvement and commitment of members so they may Democratically monitor the well-being and direction of the organization.

[pacifictiger]

3. Greenpeace

has been more about publicity and generating revenue than being genuine active environmental stewards for a very long time. I realized this about 15 years ago when my cousin relayed a story - he tried and tried to get greenpeace to shine a light on the rampant and wanton chemical polution discharged into the ocean from nickel mines in the pacific. They chose not to respond to his pleas at all because at that time the biggest publicity and contribution funding to be gained for their organization was from the 'save the whale' mantra.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

6. focus on "save the whale" was good not bad

even if other issues were pushed aside

[HEyHEY]

4. They've been a scam for years

[NNadir]

5. You've got that right. They basically do doublespeak.

[eridani]

7. I've stuck with local evironmental organizations only--

--for at least the last 20 years. Wondering if I should start applying the same policy to my feminist groups.