People around the world have taken to the streets to say — in many languages, but one collective voice — “No War” in response to Russian president Vladimir Putin’s unlawful, unprovoked, premeditated invasion of Ukraine.
From Budapest and London to Tokyo and New York, peaceful protests against the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine have been happening virtually daily, on land and at sea, since the unjust attacks began on 24 February. In Russia, thousands have courageously risked arrest by participating in anti-war protests across the country.
From our first act of protest, sailing a ship into a nuclear weapons test zone off the coast of Alaska in September 1971, Greenpeace has opposed war and worked toward a “Green Peace” for people and the planet. Fifty years on from that initial fusing of peace and ecology, we continue to work alongside allies around for a safer, fairer future for all.
While there is no Greenpeace organisation in Ukraine, Greenpeace activists in neighboring countries have taken action alongside fellow civil society and humanitarian organizations operating in the region to support humanitarian efforts. Already up to 2.5 million Ukranians have fled the country in what’s been reported as the fastest-growing refugee crisis since World War II.
Here are just some of the ways Greenpeace organisations have joined the humanitarian efforts supporting Ukraine:
Greenpeace Slovakia is partnering with a humanitarian organization called People In Need, and has already delivered more than 5 tons of supplies to the Ukrainian side of the border.
Greenpeace Romania brought tents to two international bus stations where refugees are coming from Moldova, with volunteers greeting them with hot tea, snacks, power, water, first aid, translation support and information.
Peace Not Oil
While watching in horror at the violent tragedy unfolding, the world is becoming increasingly aware of the reality recently articulated by Ukraine’s representative on the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): “Human-induced climate change and the war on Ukraine have the same roots : fossil fuels and our dependence on them.”
Whether it has been dockworkers across Europe refusing to unload Russian oil or sporting organizations cutting ties with Gazprom, it is undeniable that more and more people are aware that we need to break ties to fossil fuels in order to build a safe and secure future for people and the planet.
In solidarity with those under threat from fossil-fueled climate chaos and militarism, Greenpeace activists have continued non-violent direct actions to call for a just transition to renewable energy.
Greenpeace activists in Germany demonstrated on 7 March in the port of Bremen against oil imports from Russia, which help finance the Russian government’s war in Ukraine. The activists painted “Peace – Not Oil” in two-metre letters on the side of the 40,000-ton tanker Seasprat, which delivers processed oil from the Russian Baltic port of Primorsk.
Among the other non-violent acts of resistance around the world, Greenpeace Spain activists in kayaks protested an oil tanker in Vizcaya on 10 March. Elsewhere, Greenpeace France activists protested against the arrival of an LNG carrier from Yamal, one of the largest gas sites in Russia, on 5 March.
The war in Ukraine is another jarring reminder that we must break our addiction to fossil fuels in order to build a safe and sustainable future for people and the planet. Until we can leave climate-wrecking fossil fuels behind us, world leaders like Putin who value power over people and the greedy fossil fuel oligarchs who benefit from the status quo will be emboldened to initiate conflicts with tragic consequences. It is Putin and these oligarchs, and not the Russian people, who are behind the violence unfolding now.
As part of a stand against Putin’s monied support system, Greenpeace Aotearoa joined a peace flotilla on 10 March that converged on the luxury coastal retreat of a Russian oligarch. It is just another of the creative acts of peaceful resistance that will continue to take place until the world gets what is demanding: Peace.
The international community must do everything in its power, especially accelerating a transition away from fossil fuels, to bring this war to a fast and peaceful end. This message was poignantly displayed in Budapest’s Heroes’ Square on 9 March in a demonstration organized by Greenpeace Hungary where thousands of people formed a huge peace sign to protest against the invasion of Ukraine and to express their compassion for the innocent victims of the war.
As is so often the case in times of conflict, it is the peaceful acts of solidarity and resistance of everyday people around the world that will light the way toward a just and sustainable future for all.
Discussion
NO WAR FOR PALESTINE
No War !!!!!!!
Hello, thank you for your articles and the support you provide for Ukraine now. You are doing incredible work! I'm writing to you to ask if you could have any influence/solutions for the following situation. There are two animal shelters and one zoo in the Kyiv region, Ukraine, on the territory occupied by the Russian army. The situation in all the three places is very much critical. There is no possibility to get to those places to take the animals and the stuff away, or to bring food and fuel for generators to heat the premises. The only solution now is to organize "green" corridors especially for those places. Could you have any influence on the Greenpeace Russia and on the Russian side of this war? Could you have any other solutions in this situation? You are welcome to find the addresses of the places and some details on their current situation below. 1. The dog shelter in Borodyanka. The address is 24 Studentska St., the village of Nove Zalissia, Borodianka district, Kyiv region, Ukraine. There are 450 dogs closed in caged without food, water, and heating for over 2 weeks already. The personnel left on Mar 3rd. No one can get there because the Russians are shooting and shelling all the time. 2. A zoo in Demydov, Kyiv region. The address is: 79 Verbova St., the village of Demydov, Vyshgorod district, Kyiv region. The situation is the same: lots of animals are there, the personnel is there but they lack food and have no heating, as the village is occupied by the Russians who don't let anyone in or out of there. Some animals are dead already because of killing themselves as a result of bombing and shelling, or because of lack of food and cold. 3. The animal shelter Sirius in the village of Fedorivka, Vyshgorod district, Kyiv region. They have food enough for three days, and no fuel for their generator, which means no heating for animals. There are over 3,000 dogs and cats there. There are many people in Europe, USA, and Canada who are ready to take or adopt the dogs from the shelters. Many people are ready to go there and help as soon as it is safe to do so. My question is whether you can influence the Russian side to provide "green" corridors, or could contact any organization that could do that, or could have any other solution in this situation. Thank you in advance for your kind consideration.
The US, EU and NATO made grave mistakes when they let Putin conquer and start war in Georgia in 2008 and declare independence of the two Georgian regions in Abkhazia and Samachablo. What did the US, EU and NATO do? Absolutely nothing! Merkel and Obama expressed concerns and closed the case. Therefore, Georgia’s 2008 invasion was Putin’s test run for bigger wars and military adventures. 100% Obamas and Merkel’s fault! The US, EU and NATO leadership completely failed. Then what did Putin do? In 2014 attacked and took over Crimea at first and then Eastern Ukraine, where the Russian forces directly and indirectly engaged in warfare against the Ukrainian state. What did the US, EU and NATO do? Absolutely nothing! Forced Poroshenko to accept horrible Minsk treaties and did hit Russia with the bare minimum of sanctions that did not amount to anything… This further motivated Putin to solve his political goals of restoring the Russian Empire through military means and bloodshed. Therefore, now we have this global disaster at hand and Putin did dare to start another war and conquest of Ukraine to enslave its people and change their future, limit their freedoms and turn Ukraine into the Russian subservient state. Now we have this bloodshed, war crimes and terror… Whose fault is it? It is Putin’s fault as much as it is the US, EU and NATO leadership’s fault who kept ignoring the international bully and turned blind eye on the atrocities committed in Georgia and Ukraine for the past 15 years!
Ryska folket har det svårt när deras Pappa Putin säger ifrån att de inte får klaga på hans hemska krig mot demokratiska människor i Ukraina