Greenpeace works for positive change through action and our nonviolent direct actions (NVDA) are vital to winning our campaigns. However we can only take action because ordinary individuals make a personal choice to act to help expose an environmental crime or stop environmental destruction and are willing to accept the consequences of their actions.
People who take direct action recognise that there are risks involved, both physically and legally, so it is vital that they are trained to be ready for anything that might happen. We organise regular trainings for people who want to take non-violent direct action.
We expect that NVDA trained activists:
- support Greenpeace and have an understanding of the issues we work on
- are committed to nonviolence
- are available to participate in actions (i.e. have some flexibility as regards work commitments)
- realise that participation in actions involves accepting some personal risks (legal, physical and psychological)
If you cannot take the risks involved or you cannot take time off during the week, then we still need your help but please get involved in other ways.
You cannot participate in Greenpeace nonviolent direct actions until you are over 18.
And a final word: Please do not be deterred by being unable to supply any or all of these skills. We need reliable, sensible, committed, responsible, trustworthy volunteers who will remain calm under pressure more than we need climbers or canoeists. We can train reliable volunteers to become climbers whereas we can’t train climbers to become reliable if they are not already.
