There was our little group, a whole year ago, talking about all the campaigning to come, and if I’m honest, getting a little disillusioned with the world. What good could little Team Southwark do? Maybe this was the motivation, the challenge, to see what a few hands and hearts could change. So off we went – and boy did we get involved!
The year started with a bang, as we hit the local supermarkets with Greenpeace’s tuna stickering campaign, exposing John West, Morrison’s and Princes’ fishing policies. What an incredible feeling when 6 months later, the UK phases out FAD caught tuna and together we transform the world’s second-largest tinned tuna market.
In May, Kate and Yvonne joined 180 activists from across Europe in Brussels to close the European Business Convention and expose the attending climate laggards. Fantastic to see an overseas action in operation, meet our fellow Greenpeacer’s from the continent, and to be congratulated and commended by a number of the delegates – not to mention eating waffles in prison!
Barbie also got a bashing throughout the year, as our campaign against Mattel to protect Indonesia’s forests led to them dropping Indonesian paper company APP and deforestation. Steven, Gabriela, Andrea, Roberta, Dominique and Kate participated to the Barbie hunt by hiding “killer barbies” in south London parks.
Early July Dominique and Steven joined the Polar Bear occupation of Cairn Energy in Edinburgh to request the public disclosure of their oil spill response plan. Since the action, Cairn has released its plan which was discredited by the scientific world. Moreover their exploration drills off the coast of Greenland came dry and their shares plummeted…
As summer drew to a close, Dominique, Kate, Andrea and Yvonne took part in a Europe-wide day of action against Volkswagen by peacefully protesting in a London VW garage, with the help of Brian, our resident Storm Trooper.
In November Gabriela delivered a petition at the Brazilian Embassy to save the Amazon. Proposed changes to the Forest Code – the Brazilian laws protecting the Amazon – has led to increased forest clearance.
Finally in the Autumn Kate joined the blockade of the Department for Transport with 50 activists in response to the ministry's efforts to scupper EU legislation that will keep dirty tar sands oil out of petrol pumps.
Looking back it’s been an incredible year, and stunning to see what a small group of people with vision and spirit can achieve. If you’re at all interested in getting involved, do! Check out our local page and join us for a beer every second Tuesday of the month, with your help we can make an even bigger difference in 2012.
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