Frequently asked questions

Greenpeace Australia was founded in 1977. In 1998, the Australian and Pacific offices teamed up to become Greenpeace Australia Pacific, an environmental force for the region.

Internationally, Greenpeace began in Vancouver, Canada, in 1971, with a courageous group of conservationists protesting against nuclear testing.

In 1969, the US had set off a one-megaton nuclear bomb 1200 metres below the sea near Amchitka, an island off the west coast of Alaska. When a second test (five times the size) was announced, the concerned conservationists formed a group they called Greenpeace. They raised money and chartered a boat. They travelled to the nuclear testing site to bear witness and register their protest. In the new millennium, bearing witness to environmental abuse is at the heart of the Greenpeace mission. You can learn more about our history and founders in the about us section of this website.

I want to learn about the history of Greenpeace.

Visit the 'about us' section of our website for information on our founders, history and achievements.

For more information on our history, read Rex Wyler's article 'Waves of Compassion: The History of Greenpeace" from the Utne Reader.'

To learn more about the founders of Greenpeace, read this light-hearted transcript of a discussion between Jim Bohlen, Bob Hunter, Dorothy Stowe and Dorothy Metcalf.

The following books might also be of interest:

'Warriors of the Rainbow: A Chronicle of the Greenpeace Movement' by Bob Hunter
'Greenpeace III: Journey to the Bomb' by David McTaggart
'The Greenpeace Story' by John May and Michael Brown
Greenpeace Witness: Twenty-Five Years on the Environmental Front Line

How many financial supporters does Greenpeace have?

This number varies but roughly we have around 70,000 generous financial supporters in Australia, who give regularly or on one-off occasions. Around 75% of their donations go to our work in Australia and the Pacific. 25% goes to our international program, helping global environmental issues. Individual supporters are our lifeblood. If you would like to become a financial supporter, please go to our supporter section.

Are contributions to Greenpeace tax deductible?

All donations over $2.00 are tax deductible.

Where do you get your funding from?

Greenpeace is funded by the donations and support of individuals. To guarantee that our independent voice for the environment is never compromised, we don't accept money from governments or corporations.

Our supporters are the financial backbone of our activities. It is thanks to them that we can make a difference. We rely on concerned individuals to support our work. Please consider becoming one of our valuable supporters.

How can I help out on one of Greenpeace's ships?

To apply for a position as a crew member on one of our ships, send a CV to:

Greenpeace Marine Services

Ottho Heldringstraat 5

1066 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands

List any marine certificates you possess, and specify as many skills as you can. Do you speak several languages? Are you a certified diver? Are you a professional cook? A wonderful musician? A photographer, videographer, carpenter, plumber or engineer? Is your passport current and what's your availability?

We are always looking for motivated, skilled and experienced crew but as you can imagine we also receive many applications each day. Please give us as much information as you can, and good luck!

How can I get a job with Greenpeace?

Take a look at our job vacancies.

I'm just a kid, what can I do to help?

Why not get your friends together and organise an event at your school, church or club to raise money for Greenpeace? You could organise a disco, raffle, drawing competition or garage sale. Click here to get started. You could also add a message and a link to our website in your email signature such as "I want to save our forests. You can too (with link to our website)". If you make your message really interesting and change it often, friends will read it and might be inspired to learn more.

How can I open a Greenpeace office in my country?

Opening a new office, or appointing a representative in a country in which we do not have an office, is an organisation-wide decision which has to be agreed upon by our International Board and approved by our International Annual General Meeting. Greenpeace does not subsume existing organisations into its structure. Like every organisation, we have to work within our budget and be strategic about where we open new offices. We are not planning to open any new offices in the near future.

The name "Greenpeace" belongs to the Stichting Greenpeace Council in the Netherlands. Use of the name requires permission and is conditional upon fulfilling a whole range of obligations towards the international organisation.

We hope that you will not find this discouraging, and that you and/or your organisation will continue in its aims to explore environmental issues further. You can get involved with Greenpeace in many ways - even when an office isn't nearby.

How is Greenpeace organised? Who runs Greenpeace?

The Greenpeace organisation consists of Greenpeace International (Stichting Greenpeace Council) in Amsterdam and Greenpeace offices around the world. Greenpeace currently has a presence in 40 countries. Greenpeace national or regional offices are licensed to use the name Greenpeace. Each office is governed by a board which appoints a representative (called a trustee). Trustees meet once a year to agree on the long-term strategy of the organisation, to make necessary changes to governance structure, to set a ceiling on spending for Greenpeace International's budget and to elect the International Board of four members and a chairperson.

Greenpeace International monitors the organisational development of Greenpeace offices, oversees the development and maintenance of our fleet of ships, coordinates planning and implemenation of our global campaigns, and monitors compliance with core policies.

The International Board approves the annual budget of Greenpeace International and its audited accounts. It also appoints and supervises the International Executive Director who, together with senior managers, and consulting widely with national office staff, leads the organisation.Greenpeace does not solicit or accept funding from governments, corporations or political parties. Greenpeace neither seeks nor accepts donations which could compromise its independence, aims, objectives or integrity. Greenpeace relies on the voluntary donations of individual supporters, and on grant support from foundations.

Greenpeace is committed to the principles of non-violence, political independence and internationalism. In exposing threats to the environment and in working to find solutions, Greenpeace has no permanent allies or enemies.

The Chair of Board is currently Ana Toni. Read more about the Board. The Executive Director is currently Kumi Naidoo. Listen to an inspiring interview with Kumi.

Where can I find the address of the Greenpeace office in my country?

Visit our Worldwide Offices page.

Can Greenpeace endorse my product or business?

Greenpeace is an independent organisation which means that we don't accept funding from or align with any governments, businesses or political parties. In keeping with our independence, we don't endorse particular products or businesses, even if your business or product aligns with our values. Our independence means our values are never compromised and it allows us to act without fear of financial reprisal.

I'm a teacher. Does Greenpeace have educational material that I can use?

Unfortunately, we don't have resources specifically designed for class room use. We have some brochures and stickers that we can send you - please call 1800 815 151. We do have other resources that could be useful, including: