Your Dose of Good News!

Greenpeace US is celebrating a victory in its fight against a piece of legislation that would have gutted environmental protections. 

The proposal in question would have undermined the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires federal agencies to conduct environmental reviews and consult local communities ahead of any development. In weakening these protections, the legislation would have fast-tracked oil and gas projects in the United States. In doing so, it would have also exacerbated environmental injustices, stifling input from frontline communities that bear the brunt of fossil fuel pollution. 

The deal was proposed in September and was going to be attached to a must-pass funding measure. For two months, Greenpeace worked tirelessly alongside other environmental and community organizations to prevent it from being included in the spending bill. Greenpeace supporters sent more than 100,000 messages to Congress, organizing phone banks and spreading messages on social media. Volunteers also visited their Congressional representatives’ offices, while Greenpeace staff spoke at the Democratic National Convention.

And it worked! The proposal was withdrawn from the spending bill ahead of the vote. This is a victory for all the communities that mobilized to defend public interests against those of Big Oil! We don’t expect this to be the last challenge to critical environmental protections, but even if decision-makers do attempt to pass more fossil-fuel-friendly laws, rest assured that we’ll be ready to act.

The European Parliament has voted in favour of a law that would end the importation of products linked to deforestation and human rights violations. 

Importantly, the Parliament voted on several measures to strengthen the protections of the law. For example, legislators proposed a robust definition of “forest degradation” to account for different types of logging practices. They also approved a broader list of commodities covered by the law to account for rubber and leather. What’s more, the Parliament voted to extend the law to European financial institutions. Essentially, institutions’ investments would be assessed to ensure that they are not supporting projects and companies contributing to deforestation.

The progress made on this legislation is truly a testament to #PeoplePower. In 2020, a record-breaking 1.1 million people made submissions to the EU Public Consultation on Deforestation. Activists also used other channels to send the message, finding creative ways to draw attention to the need for such a law. In October 2020, for instance, Greenpeace Austria projected images of Amazonian wildlife in front of the Karlskirche (a cathedral in Vienna) to protest the fires set in the Amazon rainforest. The action highlighted the role that the European Union plays in this kind of deforestation through its imports of meat and soy.

Now, negotiations between the European Parliament, European Commission, and national governments are underway to finalize a law. Just last month, Greenpeace and more than 140 civil society organizations published an open letter, calling on decision-makers to negotiate a strong piece of legislation. So you can bet that we’ll be watching the talks to ensure they deliver legislation that protects natural ecosystems in a meaningful way.

With roar-ing displays of resistance, Greenpeace Argentina is working hard to save jaguars!

On October 24th, ten Greenpeace activists hung off a bridge over a river in the Argentine Gran Chaco. The Gran Chaco is the second-largest forest in South America, home to a population of jaguars. Activists hung off the bridge for 13 hours, pinning banners to promote the protection of the large cat species. While there used to be 250 jaguars in the Gran Chaco, fewer than 20 are left. Their habitat is threatened by deforestation, driven by the export of cattle and genetically-modified soy.

To survive, each animal needs approximately 40,000 hectares of continuous forest. Greenpeace is asking the Argentine government to end deforestation in Gran Chaco to save the jaguars. As part of this campaign, Greenpeace Argentina has previously used kayaks to display banners and blocked bulldozers operating in the forest by installing locks on the drive levers. Greenpeace Andino also made three (short) documentaries, highlighting the spiritual link between the jaguar and the Indigenous peoples of the Gran Chaco. 

It’s all hands on deck as Greenpeace sails to COP27!

In preparation for the UN climate summit taking place in Egypt later this month, Greenpeace MENA (Middle East and North Africa) is mobilizing for climate justice. On October 20th, a group of youth climate leaders from the Middle East and North Africa arrived in Alexandria, Egypt, aboard the Rainbow Warrior. In the weeks leading up to the conference, they will sail the Greenpeace vessel along Egypt’s coasts, visiting communities impacted by the climate crisis. 

The United for Climate Justice campaign aims to put climate justice high on the agenda at COP27. The goal of the ship tour is to draw attention to the disproportionate impacts of climate change experienced by countries in the Global South. The ship serves as a platform for youth to share their struggles and promote systemic change, as they ask decision-makers to find solutions to climate change that will create a more just world. As part of the campaign, Greenpeace MENA has published a report on the effects of climate change in the Middle East and North Africa. Greenpeace will also host a roundtable discussion in Alexandria with panelists from the Global South to discuss climate justice and how to address it at COP27. 

Keep your eyes peeled for more updates in the coming weeks!

Meet Vanessa, a photographer from Quebec who finds nature to be the most beautiful studio. Last year, Vanessa decided to start using some of her photos to raise funds for nature protection. With images of foxes, forests, and many other natural wonders, she’s raised $339! 

Way to go, Vanessa! 

Do you have an idea for a challenge or fundraiser? You, too, can help protect our oceans, forests, and climate! Check out Greenpeace’s #BECAUSE fundraising campaign for tools and inspiration!