Campaign update: Tinned tuna - resistance is futile
John West is now John Worst coming bottom of our tinned tuna league table
by Simon Clydesdale, biodiversity campaigner Everybody involved in the tinned tuna campaign keeps pinching themselves. We set out to significantly raise the bar for the sustainability of UK tinned tuna but instead we've completely changed the bar and utterly shifted the landscape in this sector, with implications beyond the UK. The two worst performers, Princes and Tesco - also the UK's biggest tuna brand and biggest retailer - have committed to completely change their fishing methods. Princes was encouraged along this route by a personal visit from some active supporters dressed as sharks. Asda has also committed to complete change. The shifts from Princes and Asda are particularly significant. Firstly, they are part of multinational corporations, Mitsubishi and Walmart respectively, so greening their tuna supply chains sends a strong signal to other large corporations, such as Thai Union, owner of John West. More about them later. Secondly, these two players will shift to a mix of pole and line fishing, and FAD-free purse seine fishing. FAD-free fishing is the route to global sustainability of tinned tuna, so this move is highly significant. Two laggards still cling to discredited practices: John West, the 2nd biggest UK tuna brand, and Morrisons, the last remaining major retailer. Over 28,000 emails have gone to John West, and there also seems to be stickering targeting these two companies. With your help the pressure is mounting, and further plans are afoot. The rules of the game have changed so we need just one last push from you to finish cleaning up this sector. Watch this space. Get Active: Email John West - tell them to change their tuna and move to more shark and turtle-friendly fishing methods. Watch Fish Fight: If you missed Channel Four's Big Fish Fight back in January, you can catch the first of Hugh Fearnley-Whittinsgtall's one-hour programmes tonight at 10pm on More4. Get Active: If you would like to get involved with our oceans campaign work, please contact your local network coordinator. Campaign update: Go Beyond Oil and the Energy Bill by Louise Hutchins, Climate campaigner With the Energy Bill scheduled to go through the House of Commons in April / early May, active supporters across the country are still organising public engagement events to help pressure MPs to 'clean up' the Energy Bill and live up to their promises to be the greenest government ever. Make the most of the final few weeks to get members of the public to sign Go Beyond Oil postcards for their MPs. The Co-operative / Greenpeace / WWF exhibition continues its tour around the UK. This street photo exhibition, featuring the work of Greenpeace photographer Jiri Rezac, is scheduled to be in Manchester from 5th April and Brighton from 27th April. Check out www.tarnishedearth.co.uk for more information. Get Active: If you would like to get involved with the high street work, please contact your local network coordinator. Free training: If you'd like to lobby your MP as the Energy Bill makes it way through parliament, please contact us to receive more information. Rainbow Warrior III fundraising Greenpeace is raising money to pay for a new Rainbow Warrior. We have some great new materials and so far over 40 of our local groups / networks have requested supplies to help raise money for our new ship and to talk to the public about why she's so important. Why not join them? Several events have already taken place and lots more are in the pipeline. Get active: : Get involved with your local coordinator and / or download a fundraising guide, and help us build a new Warrior. Training events If you want to be more involved in Greenpeace's offline activities in your area, such as Go Beyond Oil events, you are invited to an introductory training to enable you to talk confidently to the public about Greenpeace's work. The next event will be in Nottingham on May 14th. Please contact greenpeacenotts@gmail.com for details and to book a place. We always need your help to lobby politicians and business leaders. Sign up for an information pack about our lobbying training programme. Training days are scheduled every month, and the next event is in Bournemouth on 30th April. Glastonbury 2011 Quick reminder about this year's Glastonbury. We need about 150 reliable volunteers to fill a variety of roles in the Greenpeace field. Jobs include building the site, campaigning, site maintenance, cooking and keeping our field safe and happy. Volunteers must be available from Tuesday 21st June - Sunday 26th June. If you would like to apply or have any questions, please contact your network coordinator for an application form. The deadline is April 8th. Thank you for all of your hard work helping Greenpeace campaign. We couldn't do it without you. | 
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