Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace.
|
Greenpeace exists because this fragile earth deserves a
voice. It needs solutions. It needs change. It needs
action.
|
Southeast Asia is of enormous significance to the future of the
planet earth. The rich natural heritage of the region is worth
protecting in its own right. However, the staggeringly rapid
industrialization and economic growth of the past 30 years has come
at a huge environmental cost. The environmental impacts of the
region also stretch beyond their own national boundaries. Severe
environmental degradation already exists across Southeast Asia.
Apart from the recent Asian financial crisis, pollution and
resources destruction are further intensifying as multinational
companies and industrialized nations target the region for the
expansion of their environmentally destructive operations and
technologies. Reinforcing these problems is the lack of awareness
among the Asian public about environmental destruction and weak
democratic mechanisms to empower communities to influence
decisions. Recognizing the importance of the developmental
potential and threats in these areas, and in order to consolidate
and expand its campaign work in Southeast Asia, Greenpeace is
increasing its activities in the region.
Greenpeace is already active in many part of Asia. Our work in
the region has included stopping hazardous waste imports, opposing
radioactive shipments, campaigning against forest destruction,
lobbying governments on sustainable energy issues and drawing
attention to the dangers of waste incinerations. Often working with
other local groups, Greenpeace has run successful campaigns in
the
|
Greenpeace Southeast Asia's Mission
Statement
" Safeguard environmental rights, Expose and stop
environmental crimes, Advance clean development.
"
|
Philippines, Taiwan, India, and Indonesia. We made a commitment
to develop a presence in Asia in late 80s and early 90s, and first
established an office in Japan (1989) and then China (1997).
Initial investigations were also initiated in SEA, focusing
primarily on Indonesia and Philippines.
Southeast Asia is in a key position
to determine global environmental security. Over the past 30 years,
Greenpeace has successfully campaigned in industrialized countries
to reduce and eliminate environmental pollution and degradation.
However, these efforts and many achievements can easily be reversed
as these same multinational companies export dirty technologies
resulting in environmental degradation in the region. Hence, after
many years of investigations and establishing campaign presence in
key countries, Greenpeace finally succeeded in opening an office in
the region. Greenpeace Southeast Asia was formally established on
March 1, 2000.