FAQ

Greenpeace was formed in Vancouver in 1971, when a group of anti-war protesters took non-violent, direct action against U.S. nuclear weapons testing on Amchitka, a volcanic island in the Aleutian Islands, west of Alaska. They chartered a fishing vessel, renamed her Greenpeace and sailed off to the prohibited zone. Click here to learn more about our history.

Many talented folks contributed to the creation of Greenpeace. Bill Darnell coined the name when someone flashed him a peace sign and he said, “Let’s make that a green peace!” Bob Hunter created the concept of reaching the public consciousness through dramatic opposition to environmental crimes. Jim Bohlen, Paul Cote and Ben Metcalf led the first direct action in 1971, when they sailed to Amchitka in an effort to stop nuclear weapons testing with their presence. David McTaggart convinced half a dozen loosely connected groups to put aside their differences and join in a single worldwide organization, creating Greenpeace International in 1979.

Greenpeace consists of Greenpeace International in Amsterdam and more than 40 Greenpeace offices around the world. Greenpeace national and regional offices are licensed to use the name Greenpeace. Each office is governed by a board, which appoints a trustee. Trustees meet once a year to agree on the long-term strategy of the organization, make necessary changes to governance structure, set a ceiling on Greenpeace International’s spending and elect the international board of four members and a chairperson.

Greenpeace International monitors the organizational development, oversees of our fleet of ships, coordinates planning and implementation 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 appoints and supervises the international executive director who, along with senior managers, consults widely with national office staff and leads the organization.

The chair of the Greenpeace International board is Brazilian Ana Toni. The executive director of Greenpeace International is South African activist Kumi Naidoo. In Canada, the board of directors is made up of Sue Birge (chair), Glen Brown, Meriko Kubota, Brigid Rowan, James Sullivan and Beverley Thorpe. The executive director of Greenpeace Canada is Joanna Kerr. The board determines the priorities and annual budget. Day-to-day management is the responsibility of the executive director.

Greenpeace has consultative status with the United Nations and has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Greenpeace has a presence in over 40 countries. Click here for the Greenpeace International website, where you can link to other Greenpeace office websites throughout the world. Greenpeace Canada has offices in Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal.

There are more than 2.9 million Greenpeace financial supporters worldwide, and more than 89,000 in Canada. Financial supporters are anyone who has made a financial contribution to Greenpeace in the past 18 months. There are also millions of people around the world who take action with us every day as volunteers and non financial supporters.

To maintain independence, Greenpeace does not accept money from corporations, governments or political parties. Greenpeace relies on donations from individual supporters, and on grants from foundations. Greenpeace does not accept donations that could compromise its independence, objectives or integrity.

Our books are audited every year and we publish an annual review so you can see how much money we’re given and how it’s spent. The review is available online. Please call supporter services at 1-800-320-7183 or email .

Greenpeace is a non-partisan organization and has no affiliation with any political party. Greenpeace does not solicit or accept funding from governments or political parties.

The head office in Toronto is heated by a closed loop geo thermal HVAC system with an ERV (energy recovery unit) which means that for heating and cooling, no fossil fuel is consumed, less energy is needed and no carbon monoxide gases are released. Throughout the office there are motion sensor lights and energy efficient windows. Reclaimed wood has been used for the board room and wheelchair ramp. All wood doors and shelving are FSA certified. This was done in partnership with the landlord, the Toronto Steelworkers Building Association, for making this possible. All GPC buildings, wherever it is available, use 100% renewable bullfrog energy.

In Canada, we are working to:

• • Stop climate change
• • Stop the tar sands
• • End the nuclear threat
• • Save the Boreal Forest
• • Save the Great Bear Rainforest
• • Save Redlist fish
• • Eliminate the threat of GMO food

Many of these campaigns, and additional ones, are happening on a global scale. Throughout the world, we’re working to:

• • Stop climate change
• • Defend our seas
• • Protect ancient forests
• • Demand peace and disarmament
• • Say no to genetic engineering
• • Eliminate toxic chemicals
• • End the nuclear threat
• • Encourage sustainable trade

Greenpeace campaigns involved a number of elements:

• Communications: We are in regular contact with the media and our supporters through press releases, electronic newsletters and our website.

• Direct action: Direct action can take many forms — scaling the roof of Parliament, locking down Redlist seafood in grocery stores, occupying sites in the tar sands. Greenpeace engages in peaceful direct action to draw the world’s attention to environmental issues.

• Markets: Greenpeace takes its campaigns directly to corporations’ customers and shareholders, putting pressure on companies to change harmful practices.

• The fleet: Greenpeace maintains a fleet of three ships to monitor international agreements, protest environmental degradation and prevent destruction of marine life and resources. Greenpeace also has three river sailing vessels, a helicopter, a Cessna plane and a hot air balloon.

• Political lobbying: Greenpeace attends virtually every international environmental convention and has consultative status with the United Nations. We frequently meet with governments to lobby on issues of environmental policy.

• Public education and engagement: On the street, on the Internet, over the phone and through the mail, we engage the public in our campaigns. We also circulate petitions and host seminars and other events.

• Scientific research: The Greenpeace Research Laboratories form the Science Unit of Greenpeace International. Based at the University of Exeter in the U.K., the laboratories provide scientific advice and analytical support to Greenpeace offices worldwide. Greenpeace also commissions independent scientific research.

Greenpeace employs various strategies to reach its goals. Along with research, education, lobbying industry and government, attendance and participation in various international forums, there are times when, due to the urgency of the issues, we engage in peaceful direct action or civil disobedience. The immediate objective of our actions is to bring the issue to the forefront. We believe many of our campaigns would not have been won had we not engaged in such activities.

Greenpeace has contributed to many positive environmental changes in Canada and around the world. Click here for a comprehensive list of successes.

To apply for a position as a crewmember on one of our ships, send a detailed cover letter and a CV to:

Greenpeace Marine Services
Ottho Heldringstraat 5
1066 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands

All employment opportunities in Canada are posted on our website. Click here to see what’s available now.

Greenpeace has regular opportunities for volunteers in Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City. If you don’t live in one of these cities, you can still sign up for updates as we often take action in different parts of the country and may need your help. Click here to learn more about our volunteer program.

http://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/About-us/E-news/Unsubscribe/

No. There have been car ads placed on Kijiji and other online classified sites by people using the Greenpeace name fraudulently. They claim to have just started working at Greenpeace or recently promoted. None of these people soliciting your money work for Greenpeace. We have notified local Police and were informed the ads are a common type of fraud where the names of trusted organizations are used to scam unsuspecting people out of money. We have been advised there is no way to investigate these crimes and pursue the offenders. We urge individuals to exercise caution when buying products at online marketplaces.