Shell-Day Saturday 21st July
by Vicky Wyatt, climate campaigner
At 6.30 this morning 70 + Dutch Greenpeace volunteers, including their executive director Sylvia Borren occupied Shell's HQ in the Netherlands. She announced 'I have succeeded former Shell CEO Peter Voser. I have taken my place in the international headquarters of Shell here in The Hague. From this day forward, I will radically change our course.'
Now we need your help to convince Shell to scrap their imminent plans to start drilling in the Arctic. Greenpeace volunteers all across the UK are planning a day of peaceful, legal protests at Shell Petrol stations on Saturday 21st July, this is your invitation to join us.
If you've not been to a local event before this a great opportunity to get involved in Greenpeace campaigning. If you've not been to a meeting for a while then now is the time to reconnect. We won't be asking you to chain yourself to anything, simply to spend a couple of hours protesting - holding banners and placards, handing out leaflets and talking to passers-by.
Even if you can only spare an hour, then that's fine. You being there and taking part will make a difference. Please bring friends, family, people you meet on the bus, and let's make this a day for Shell to remember.
Get Active - enter your postcode.
to find your local group / network. Check their events listings, and then contact the local coordinator - even if their local event has yet to be finalised / published.
Join the Arctic Rising
by Richard George, climate campaigner
Our campaign to protect the Arctic went global over the last month. As world leaders were arguing over a lacklustre climate agreement at the Earth Summit in Rio, Greenpeace joined forces with over 150 international celebrities, explorers and environmentalists to launch a plan to put the Arctic out of the polluters’ reach – forever. We’re demanding a ban on drilling and unsustainable fishing in the Arctic and a global sanctuary around the North Pole.
The Arctic is under threat as never before. If we don’t act soon, then the splash of white at the top of the world that we remember from our school atlases will be gone for good. But Shell aren’t bothered; they’re still determined to drill for oil off the coast of Alaska. This month, their British forecourts went through a topical make-over, with posters advertising their Arctic endeavours mysteriously popping up all over the pumps.
That’s just the start though, so keep your eyes peeled as we show Shell that we won’t stand by while they put the frozen North at risk.
Get Active - Come with us to the North Pole. We'll plant your name and a flag for the future on the bottom of the ocean at the top of the world.
VW - Get Ready
by Sara Ayech, climate campaigner
Our campaign to stop Volkswagen from opposing key European climate laws which would make our cars less polluting is on-going. The European Commissioner is drafting those laws as we speak, and car companies led by VW doing their best to water it down. We’ve been working behind the scenes to try and stop them. Autumn will be crunch time when the new laws will be discussed by politicians, when VW will send in the lobbyists to try and get massive loopholes and delays. We’re preparing now for a big new push in late summer, so stay tuned as we’ll need your help. Guardian BMW accused of hypocrisy.
Be a fisherman's friend
by Alicia Craw, oceans campaigner
Greenpeace volunteers in coastal areas of the Southeast and Southwest have been campaigning since April to invite the public to sign ‘fish cards’ to persuade MEPs to reform the Common Fisheries Policy. In August and September the campaign goes national and volunteers across the UK will be organising local polling events, to send a message from the people of their town to local MEPs. Watch this space.
Spotlight on John Halladay
from Canterbury Greenpeace
The two policemen approached the dancing polar bear outside the Shell petrol station and asked, 'who is in charge ?' I took off my mask and admitted it was me. I wonder how it was reported at Canterbury Police Station?
'Upon questioning, the Polar Bear confirmed that Greenpeace were a peaceful group pursuing their legitimate right to street protest. They undertook not to leave any fish-heads on the pavement']
I will have a lasting memory of a local bobby grinning and shaking a polar bear by the paw, confirming my belief that British policemen are the best in the world.
I don’t believe that there are bad companies, just companies that haven’t recognised their bad habits. I think that Greenpeace’s job is to show that there is a better way. Sometimes it’s done with a joke, sometimes with a shock, but it’s best of all is when it’s done with both.
When the police arrive we always explain why we are there and what they can expect during the course of an action: the orang-utan at Kentucky Fried Chicken, the bear at Shell, are there to make them smile and to make them think. We are the good guys - if we break the law we do it in style and nobody gets hurt.
Do the police sympathise with our campaigns? I know the two that we met on Saturday heard the message. So I rather hope, if we are ever arrested, to hear them say: 'it's that nice polar bear again! Throw him a fish and set him free.'
Amongst other things John is the Network Co-ordinator for Canterbury Greenpeace, a Greenspeaker, regularly takes part in non violent direct actions … and more, so much more
Forthcoming Events
Scottish Skillshare: 6th – 7th October, an event for all active supporters in Scotland and North of England. Please register onlinefor more information.
Thank you for all your hard work campaigning with Greenpeace.
Tim, Rachael and Malcolm
Outreach team
Comments