After a couple of nail-biting days wondering if our event would go smoothly, the South London film night turned out to be a great success with only just enough chairs to seat the 50+ guests.
The Amersham pub in New Cross was a great venue. The bare white walls of the venue’s upstairs space provided an ideal canvas to hang Greenpeace banners and posters and its assortment of furniture gave the room a welcoming, homely feel. Many thanks to the pub’s manager, Andy, for his support.
The evening started with three short films. The first was a message from Greenpeace International’s executive director, Kumi Naidoo, who pointed out:
‘Today, we continue to face critical issues that threaten the health and safety of the planet. We must call on those with a basic moral conscience to say enough is enough. The environmental and social injustice that we see cannot go on. We need to work together now more than ever before.’
The second film short featured a brief discussion between Kumi and one of Greenpeace’s founders, Rex Weyler. This was followed by a music video that highlighted past Greenpeace successes from the banning of nuclear testing to prevention of seal culling. After a short break, we put on a 55-minute film documenting Greenpeace’s story from the ‘70s to the present day.
Heather Hampson, an active supporter in Southwark has written a great account of the evening here:
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/groups/southwark/blog/night-rememberjust-about
Following the films, Anders Lorenzen from the South West London crew gave an insight into Greenpeace’s modern techniques by documenting its recent social-media-based campaign against the car manufacturer Volkswagen. You can see Anders’ presentation and other images of the evening here:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151419083430043&set=oa.2930565...
The evening was rounded off by three area co-ordinators, me (Greenwich and Lewisham) Dominique (Southwark) and Anders (SW London) giving a short presentation on why they joined Greenpeace - and why they enjoy being active supporters.
A massive thank you to everyone who helped to make our south London film night such as success. Special thanks to Gillian and Stephanie for their help with pre-publicity and Carlos for being such an excellent storm trooper. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Greenpeace’s 40th anniversary than getting together with fellow activists and introducing Greenpeace’s work to new people.
Here’s the transcript of the 5-minute speech I gave at the film night:
Gender now and then
When I first saw the film showing how Greenpeace started, it struck me that it seemed to be an exclusively male enterprise. However, after talking to the folks at Greenpeace HQ, I am reliably informed that there were indeed women involved both on the ‘front line’ and behind the scenes.
In 2012 - in Greenwich and Lewisham at least - it’s very much the other way around. Our group is all women – apart from our good mate, Carlos, who has done such a great job being tonight’s Storm Trooper. So I’d like to take this opportunity to say that we’re looking for volunteers to redress the balance and if anybody would like to come forward to help us with that particular campaign, we’d be very grateful!
Nuclear, then and now
As the ‘Mindbomb’ film has documented tonight, 40 years ago, Greenpeace began its first mission – to stop the US testing nuclear bombs off the coast of Alaska. In 2012 it feels like we’ve gone full circle. The UK and the US are locking horns with Iran over the country’s supposed bid to develop its nuclear weapons capability. And in the UK our own government is pushing hard to have eight new nuclear power stations built in our back yards. It reminds me of the old saying, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Greenpeace more ‘in tune’ with reality
But against this backdrop, I would also say that you have to live in hope and keep chipping away otherwise you become overwhelmed with despair – and this is the main reason I joined Greenpeace as an active supporter. I am daily amazed by the lack of political commitment show by the three main parties in this country in addressing the ultimate challenge of climate change. To me, Greenpeace’s outlook is so much more in tune with the realities of our time and seems to be operating on a different plain of reality to the bureaucrats in Westminster and Whitehall.
The three most appealing aspect of Greenpeace for me are:
1) the organisation’s research into each issue it tackles is thorough and independent of party politics or corporate interests.
2) that it provides solutions to the problem it highlights – so that it’s not just getting angry but it’s providing positive alternatives as well.
2) that in my 20 years’ experience as an environmental activists, I have found that when you work with Greenpeace you often feel less like a ‘campaigner’ and more a ‘glam-paigner’. This is because their activities are so stylish and media-savvy. Equally important is that if you take part in some of Greenpeace’s ‘arrestable’ actions, they really look after you in terms of providing you with legal support, paying any fines you incur etc. So comparatively, Greenpeace really rolls out the red carpet for you.
How I fit in: three reasons
The public perception of Greenpeace is often of dramatic high-speed sea chases or activists hanging banners from tall structures. This is the headline-grabbing stuff but a lot of other activity goes on behind the scenes.
Personally, I’m not robust enough to be knocked off my feet by a high--pressure water cannon and my vertigo puts paid to any activity involving heights. But I can still do a great deal to support Greenpeace’s campaigns.
There are plenty of ways to support Greenpeace – from lobbying your local MP over current campaign issues, to running a stall in your local area, to becoming an online supporter and taking part in the growing number of social media-based campaigns.
And if all this doesn’t grab you - if you can, it would be great if you could give us a donation. Greenpeace does not accept money from companies or political organisations and it would not be able to continue without the financial support from people like you.
Greenpeace and Lady Gaga
So finally, I would contend that in 2012, Greenpeace is the Lady Gaga of the political spectrum. And this is why: like Lady Gaga, the organisation has carved out its own very individual niche in its own sector, it has millions of fans across the world and, as we have seen in the films tonight, it is inclined to wear strange outfits from time to time. However I would draw the line at comparing Greenpeace’s supporters to Lady Gaga’s ‘little monsters’!.
ENDS
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