James Bond has Q - we have Luke (Now pay attention 007...)

Luke on injustice: "there's nothing more liberating than simply intervening to stop it."

I'm the Workshop Manager here at Greenpeace UK, which is a hectic and diverse role. The Workshop is an innovative creative hub, embedded into the Actions Unit, but working closely alongside other departments, deploying our technical and logistical skills wherever needed.

We research, procure, maintain and repair all the actions kit, climbing gear, boats, vehicles, solar and wind generators, battery banks etc, whilst pretty much taking care of all things practical for our academically orientated office colleagues. Need a picture hanging, bike repairing, or a bit of random advice on DIY? Well, we're here to help, although you might need to buy us a pint after work.

We make all the banners you see hanging from buildings, and design and build one-off bespoke projects that enable our direct actions to be so colourful and effective. If you imagine a significantly less glamorous yet equally grumpy version of James Bond's Q, that's us in the Workshop.

We also run all sorts of training events to build capacity for our specialist Action Teams. Two days each month are dedicated to taking the boat team out on training manoeuvres, and another two spent with the climb team, looking to increase their knowledge and skillset, and offering the opportunity for them to gain exposure which will serve them well when facing the edge of a 200m chimney. Last week, for example, we were out in the Thames Estuary training some of the photographers and videographers to operate safely from our Zodiac RHIBs (it's short for Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat), which was also a great opportunity to take some of our budding boat drivers through the basics of commanding a boat under simulated action conditions.

Before coming to work here with GPUK, I spent seven years sailing in the engineering departments of the Greenpeace ships. The internationalism of the ships and the organisation as a whole is one of my favourite things about Greenpeace, and also one of its true great strengths. I remember spending four months in the Antarctic onboard the MV Esperanza during a whaling campaign. I was one of two Brits, the rest of the 31 crew comprised of 19 nationalities. There were 16 languages spoken onboard, and as such our capacity to reach media all over the world was enormous.

I sailed all over the world, saw some amazing things and was fortunate enough to meet some truly inspiring people. I also managed to take direct action in defence of the environment and humanity in over a dozen countries, which I'm quite proud of, even though it's led to my arrest on more than one occasion. I truly believe in the power of direct action and intervention. Sometimes, when faced with an injustice, there can be nothing more liberating than simply intervening to stop it.

The fantastic thing about sailing on a Greenpeace ship is that every minute and everything you do in a day is spent working towards making this intervention possible. The ship needs to run in order to reach the locality where a campaign will take place. So working on the engines becomes an important factor in the lead to an effective campaign or action. The vessel needs to be ship-shape in order to receive local people and dignitaries, we have to make a good and professional impression which may help guide them to our cause. Thus the effort and pride one puts into the washing up or mopping the deck suddenly becomes worthwhile, in itself a mini direct action, something one does to help make the world a better place. Life, in short, becomes incredibly satisfying from an individual point of view.

Of course, the negative is that the ships always travel to environmental trouble spots. The oceans are in danger, and when out on the high seas one realises why, witnessing the super trawlers mauling the ocean bed, the islands of plastic accumulating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the bleaching coral reefs, amazing tuna fish corralled, being towed to shore for ranching.

Depressing and negative as this may be, these sights also offer inspiration and motivation. And Greenpeace, funded as it is by individual donations, offers the tools and resources to put willing people into a position to non-violently challenge some of the worst wrongs that are being perpetrated against the planet and its populations. And I have to say that, although at times it can be pretty frustrating working in such a large organisation, that overall, I'm grateful for the opportunity, and proud of what we do.