Greenpeace volunteers have had an excellent summer campaigning on the high street, at fairs and festivals, celebrating a whole range of campaign successes and much more. Richard, from Bristol Greenpeace, has pulled together a summary as to what they've been up to.
As a busy summer draws to a close it is fitting to summarise and celebrate the successes that Greenpeace have achieved through its constant campaigning. We have been taking on big business and whole industries.
In some cases we have made good headway and in others the going has been heavy going, but we know that doggedly persistence does win through in the end. Volunteer members of Bristol Greenpeace have been involved in street campaigning and direct actions over the past 3 months to help achieve some of the positive outcomes as noted below,
Tremendous Tuna Triumph: Since January, after 1000's of emails, and a direct action at Princes HQ involving Bristol volunteers; Tesco, Asda, Morrissons and Princes all committed themselves to changing their methods of catching the tuna that ends up in supermarket tins. Out with the FADS and killer purse seine nets and in with the more 
sustainable pole and line. John West seemed to be stubbornly holding out in the hope that Greenpeace would get bored and go away. No chance! So it was great news to hear at the beginning of the summer that John West had fallen into line to adopt pole and line fishing for tuna. A superb result which means by 2016 the UK tinned tuna industry will be much more environmentally friendly.
EU Common Fisheries Policy Reform: The oceans campaign continues to ensure that the outmoded Common Fisheries Policy is well and truly reformed. Hugh’s Fish Fight has highlighted the sheer waste and mismanagement associated with the EU’s fishing industry. 72
% of European fish stocks are overfished. Volunteers from Bristol Greenpeace are currently engaged in street campaigns to get the public to send a clear message to David Cameron’s government o n what the reforms should achieve. Have you sent David Cameron a message yet? and please Join Hugh's Fish Fight here.
Detox Challenge: In a bid to clean up China’s polluted rivers, lakes and waterways Greenpeace challenged the sports and fashoin industry to eliminate hazardous chemicals from their production process. Chances are that clothes you are wearing may contain nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) - chemicals that are effectively banned in clothing manufacturing in Europe - which can break down in water to form nonylphenol (NP), a toxic, persistent and hormone-disrupting substance. Puma, Nike and more recently Adidas have promised to do just that by 2020. Greenpeace's report (Dirty Laundry 2: Hung Out to Dry) also implicates 10 other big names including Calvin Klein, Abercrombie & Fitch, H & M and Lacoste whose products manufactured in Asia have tested positive for NPEs. It is hoped that now the market leaders have promised to clean up their act, the others will follow. Want to find out more? - click here. and why Bristol volunteers kept there clothes on.
Cairn Energy’s Spill Strategy Revealed: Cairn Energy’s search for oil in the hostile but pristine Arctic environment have so far found little evidence of the black stuff. In the meantime they claimed they had a credible strategy to clean up after any ‘Deepwater Horizon-type’ oil spill accident. Greenpeace called their bluff and demanded that Cairn published their plan. Cairn refused so Greenpeace volunteers went looking for the Spill Plan on it’s oil rig and at it’s headquarters in Edinburgh. After persistent direct actions and numerous emails from supporters it was Greenland’s government that published the plan, but on examination by an international oil spill expert - Professor Richard Steiner - it has been described as 'outlandish, simplistic and wholly inadequate'. Click here for Professor Steiner's findings. Have you sent a message to Greenland's Prime Minister to ask him to cancel Cairn's risky drilling programme?
Saving the Rainforest: The Barbie Hunt with support from Bristol volunteers, was successful in raising awareness that Mattel are using virgin rainforest sourced from Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) in their ‘throw-away’ packaging of their toys. The company has announced their commitment to a sustainable procurement policy, but has not detailed timelines and the future purchases from APP. But what about the position with other culprits? Promising news regarding Lego – they have announced that they intend to not buy packaging from companies involved in deforestation and have confirmed that this means APP will 
not be able to supply the company. Hasbro has said that they are instructing their suppliers to immediately stop using APP, which is a good first step – but the company does need to go further to stop using virgin rainforest in their packaging. In the meantime Greenpeace in Australia and New Zealand have been targetting APP's links with the toilet tissue industry. Have you emailed Mattel yet? and for some more creative ways of keeping the pressure up.
Volkswagen’s Dark Side: Our campaign is to get this major car manufacturer to stop opposing stricter European laws that will help the fight against climate change, is just starting. The fight to rescue this company from the ‘Dark Side’ continues. Have you joined the rebellion and sent Volkwagen an email yet?
Rainbow Warrior III: Greenpeace’s new flagship has been floated and is undergoing final furnishing and fitting. There are plans for the new ship to visit London in November. It might be a golden opportunity to visit her before she starts her vital campaigning work. The Bristol network raised £1,000 towards the building of Rainbow Warrior III.
All in all a successful summer and Bristol has been active in supporting all of the above campaigns. However, it is clear that there is much work to be done to ensure these firms follow through with their commitments for a better environment. If you want to get more involved with local actions then come to our next meeting (1st Wednesday of every month) or get in contact with our local contact, Wilf, at nohiggsboson@hotmail.co.uk New volunteers are always welcome.
If you'd like to find out how Greenpeace volunteers have been helping us campaign in your local area, then please enter your postcode into the Greenpeace/active site and click on the nearest local group/network.
If there isn't much happening near you, then please join the Greenpeace webgroup and we'll email you regular updates about ways to get involved.
Finally for other ways you can help Greenpeace campaign, please see what you can do.
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