The Greenpeace story has always been one of community and togetherness.
That spirit has been in our DNA ever since 1971, when a small group of activists joined forces to sail a ship called The Greenpeace to Amchitka island, off Alaska, and protest against US nuclear testing. Fifty years on, our determination to bring people together to stand up for our planet is as strong as ever. If there is a consistent theme in this review of 2021, it is that we continued to build new links and collaborate more widely, while also deepening our commitment to be allies to those in the environmental movement who are too often ignored or silenced.
It was inspiring to stand alongside young people, in particular, and call for a greener, fairer, more peaceful future throughout the year. As we sailed through the Indian Ocean to build the case for ocean protection, 24-year-old scientist and campaigner Shaama Sandooyea joined us to stage the world’s first underwater climate strike. And young activists from Bangladesh, Mexico, Namibia and Uganda then sailed with us on the Rainbow Warrior to the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, sharing their experiences from the climate frontline directly with world leaders. We have never been interested in acting alone, and it is a privilege to share our platform with those whose experiences must guide the global response to the climate crisis.