About Greenpeace

A small group of activists sail from Vancouver towards Amchitka Island, Alaska, to protest US nuclear weapons testing. This voyage marks the birth of Greenpeace.

Greenpeace gains international attention for protests against nuclear bomb tests in Alaska and later in the Pacific.

Activists confront Soviet whalers in the North Pacific. Iconic images of rubber dinghies between harpoons and whales capture global headlines.

Greenpeace UK is founded, opening its first office in London to support global anti-whaling and anti-sealing campaigns.

French secret service agents bomb Greenpeace’s flagship, the Rainbow Warrior, in Auckland Harbour, killing photographer Fernando Pereira. The ship had been preparing to protest French nuclear tests.

Greenpeace UK activists occupy the Brent Spar oil platform to stop Shell’s plan to sink it at sea. Massive public pressure forces Shell to dismantle it on land instead, setting a precedent for oil industry decommissioning.

Greenpeace UK climbers shut down Kingsnorth coal-fired power station in Kent, kicking off a decade-long campaign to consign this climate wrecking fossil fuel to history.

Russian authorities seize the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise and detain 28 activists and two journalists – later dubbed the “Arctic 30” – after a peaceful protest against Arctic oil drilling at a Gazprom oil platform. The incident sparks global outrage and a huge solidarity movement.

Greenpeace celebrates 50 years since its founding voyage.

Countries agree a strong Global Ocean Treaty following over 30 years of campaigning from Greenpeace and others. The treaty has been described as one of the greatest conservation victories in history.