Green Peace

We interviewed Andra Zommers from Greenpeace. The questions we asked were as follows:

1) What is Greenpeace?

2) How is Greenpeace run/structured?

3) Why did you get involved in the environment? (Your motivation)

4) Why Greenpeace?

5) In your opinion, where is the greatest concern?

6) Is there any Spiritual emphasis Greenpeace has or that you personally have?

7) What is Greenpeace's vision for the future?

8) What gives you hope?

Taken from www.greenpeace.ca: "Greenpeace is an independently funded organization that works to protect the environment. We challenge government and industry to halt harmful practices by negotiating solutions, conducting scientific research, introducing clean alternatives, carrying out peaceful acts of civil disobedience and educating and engaging the public. Greenpeace seeks to:

* Protect biodiversity in all its forms;

* Prevent pollution of the earth's oceans, land, air and fresh water;

* End all nuclear threats;

* Promote peace, global disarmament and non-violence."

It is a global campaigning organization founded in 1971 and contains offices in 27 countries worldwide. They place a high emphasis on non-violent confrontational methods in the hope to raise education and awareness. This is often the motivation behind protests. They do this through lobbying, campaigns, boycotts, discussions and interviews. Their focus audience is the consumer. They hope to inform the consumer to change economic stance to support only companies concerned with the environment. Theoretically, the change in money flow should affect large companies approaches to the environment.

Greenpeace is independently run in each country. Greenpeace Canada contains 7 board of director members (Peter Bleyer, Varda Burstyn, John Doherty (chair), John Foster, Karen Wristen) that determine priorities and the annual budget. The Executive Director, Peter Tabuns, handles day-to-day management. It is run solely on public donations and does not accept company of government funding in order to stay independent. Most of the money stays local. Their head office is located at 1726 Commercial Drive in Vancouver.

Andra credits her motivation towards the environment largely to the location of her upbringing. The claims that the in-your-face beauty of British Columbia, with its mountains, lakes, rivers, forests and ocean, one cannot help but be drawn and connected by it. This, accompanied by the in-your-face destruction of the environment and abuse evidently seen in British Columbia, one cannot help but also be involved with saving the thing you are so closely connected to. She also expressed much concern with the power corporation seem to have over our lives and her personal desire to educate people and see them change for the better drives her to continue in the field.

Andra claimed that where she grew up there was always a "Greenpeace vibe". They were the most publicized organization, and the natural tendency was to be drawn to them. After researching about them she realized that she agreed with their methods, especially the raising awareness, independency (not connected with the government) and nonviolent aspects. They also allowed her to pursue her interests in educating people and creating a change.

Her biggest concern was Genetically Modified Organisms (or GMO's). Specifically, she talked about the biotech company Monsanto. This is the same company that manufactured Agent Orange, and it currently manufactures the Bovine Growth Hormone. GMO's are poorly tested and create many side effects for the animals and humans. The laws regulating GMO's are insufficient, and much of what is illegal in one country can be manufactured and sold in another one. The market is also poorly regulated. The consumer rarely knows the dangers and consequences of the company's methods.

Greenpeace takes no spiritual or political stance. It makes it clear that it is neutral to all personal affiliations and does not emphasis or promote any side. It is a common misconception that Greenpeace is affiliated with some political parties, or that all the members are new age naturalists. Personally, Andra believes that there is a special healing and renewing connection with nature and the spirit. Although not a formal religion, she believes with many ideas of other religions like karma and reincarnation. Her spiritualism seemed not to be a very big motivation to her. She also expressed that most people in Greenpeace have no real spiritual emphasis.

Greenpeace's vision is that the researching new solutions and alternate approaches will lead to a green and peaceful future. Specifically, they want to protect the oceans, ancient forests, get rid of fossil fuels and work towards complete reliance on natural resources and their protection.

Personally, hope comes from seeing one individual change their stance or approach. When people take a genuine interest and change in their lives it gives hope for the larger battle. The organization keeps going because of the results and solutions that come about from their existence. Their protests and campaigns have been the source of many changes and even affecting the United Nations. One example is that they introduced a new fridge cooling