Greenpeace facts for kids
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| Type | NGO |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1971 Vancouver, Canada |
| Headquarters | Amsterdam, Netherlands (international) |
| Key people | Kumi Naidoo, Executive Director |
| Area served | Worldwide |
| Focus | Environmentalism, peace |
| Method | Direct action, lobbying, research, innovation |
| Volunteers | 15,000 |
| Website | www.greenpeace.org www.greenpeace.mobi |
Greenpeace is an international non-governmental organisation working for the protection and conservation of the environment. It was set up in Vancouver, Canada in 1971 and now has regional and national offices in 46 countries.
Greenpeace received international attention during the 1980s when the French intelligence agency bombed the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior in the Auckland Harbour, killing one individual. In the following years, Greenpeace evolved into one of the largest environmental organizations in the world. Greenpeace is known for its direct actions and has been described as the most visible environmental organization in the world. The organization has raised environmental issues to public knowledge, and influenced both the private and the public sector.
Priorities and campaigns
On its official website, Greenpeace defines its mission as the following:
Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organization that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace by:
Greenpeace International
- Catalysing an energy revolution to address the number one threat facing our planet: climate change.
- Defending our oceans by challenging wasteful and destructive fishing, and creating a global network of marine reserves.
- Protecting the world’s remaining ancient forests which are depended on by many animals, plants and people.
- Working for disarmament and peace by reducing dependence on finite resources and calling for the elimination of all nuclear weapons.
- Creating a toxin free future with safer alternatives to hazardous chemicals in today's products and manufacturing.
- Campaigning for sustainable agriculture by encouraging socially and ecologically responsible farming practices.
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All Greenpeace actions are based on a common set of values and should therefore be: nonviolent, non-partisan, independent and international.
Ships
Since Greenpeace was founded, seagoing ships have played a vital role in its campaigns. The group has three ocean-going ships, the Esperanza, Arctic Sunrise and Rainbow Warrior III.
Funding
Greenpeace receives its funding exclusively from individual supporters and foundations. Greenpeace screens all major donations in order to ensure it does not receive unwanted donations. The organization does not accept money from governments, political parties or corporations in order to avoid their influence. Donations from foundations which are funded by political parties or receive most of their funding from governments are also rejected.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Location of Amchitka island in Alaska.
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The nuclear device that sparked the creation of Greenpeace being lowered into its firing hole for Cannikin.
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MV Esperanza, a former fire-fighter owned by the Russian Navy, was relaunched by Greenpeace in 2002
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The governance and management structure of Greenpeace.
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Greenpeace Climate March 2015 in Madrid
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Greenpeace's ship MV Arctic Sunrise in the harbour of Helsinki.
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Greenpeace's second Rainbow Warrior ship arrives in Bali for the 2007 UN climate conference.
See also
In Spanish: Greenpeace para niños
