On a hot spring day, April 2011. It was early evening and I was about to experience my first encounter with Greenpeace. I had for a long time been curious about getting involved and had signed up to the three groups nearest to me. But so far I had failed to make it to nay meetings, partly because of availability but also the preconseptions ( Which I today know is not true), issues like what happens if I don't want to get arrested? What happens if I have been flying? What happens if I'm not vegetarian?
But one day I received an email via one of the networks I was subscribed to Southwest London from a man called Richard Martin. It was saying something in the line off that the group had to close down and was looking for someone to help run the group. I ignored that email. A week or so later, another email arrived with about the same message, which I decided to reply to something in the line off'' I'm happy to help but I don't really know much about Greenpeace''. A little bit later a meeting had been sent up and it was that very meeting I was heading for.
Today Richard Martin is leaving Greenpeace after ten years of service to take up an role with Greenpeace Asia.
Back to my very first encounter, off course that meeting ended up with me signing up to in a coallition of three others between us re-start the South West London network. On of the first trademarks I picked up from Richard was his reply to one of my questions while twitching his very maous beard ''No we didn't do that, but we could do'' Which was a great example of his can do attitude. I wanted to clarify aswell Richard that I'm holding you personally reponsible for becoming involved with Greenpeace.
But perhaps what network co-coordinators up and down the regions will remember more is: ''Blog, blog blog. Blog more... Make a video.''
More recently is the internal rumours of Richards's intense lobbying of moving the Walrus up next to the ranks of the Polar Bear in the current Arctic campaign and when we all had to vote on our favourite Arctic animal, he turned the lobbying to us volunteers to make sure we voted for the Walrus.
All in all Richard from all us in Southwest London you will be sorely missed, but we know you will do a grand job with Greenpeace Asia and don't be a stranger and looking forward to see your blogs coming through from Asia...
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