to begin making reductions in greenhouse gas emissions .
In 1971 , a group of loosely organized protestors sailed to an island in the Arctic to stop a nuclear bomb . Although their ship was forced back , what they did drew international attention . Months later , nuclear testing in the area stopped .
This marked the beginning of an
international organization “ dedicated to preserving endangered species of animals , preventing environmental abuses , and heightening environmental awareness through direct confrontations with polluting corporations and governmental authorities .” The organization , now known as Greenpeace , was founded in Canada but has its headquarters in Amsterdam , Netherlands .
This group of activists has since become a network of independent organizations that use peaceful and creative confrontation to expose global environmental issues and develop solutions for a greener future . It investigates and exposes environmental crimes , communicates and confronts decision makers about what it has found , and mobilizes millions of people to take part in its campaigns using creative and peaceful yet direct means . It has about three million members worldwide and is present in 55 countries . Greenpeace
continues to decline donations from governments and corporations to avoid the risk of corruption . It relies on voluntary funding and staffing .
Since the movement began , Greenpeace ’ s campaigns have led to the banning of commercial whaling and the use of large driftnets in the oceans worldwide . Its
other victories involved the eventual banning of nuclear test explosions and illegal dumping of toxic waste and industrial equipment / scraps in the North Sea ; the commitments of 80 clothing companies to phase out hazardous chemicals from their production lines ; and Shell ’ s abandoning of its plans to drill for oil in the Alaskan Arctic after years of Greenpeace protests worldwide . The organization ’ s protests also had a hand in the banning of plastic microbeads in the U . K . and the end of Denmark ’ s North Sea oil drilling .
All these successes and campaigns are driven by Greenpeace ’ s striving to ensure the ability of the earth to nurture life in all its diversity , thus changing the world for the better .
Although these organizations are now giants in environmental advocacy , they all rely on the support and participation of many individuals who want to make this world a better place to live in . The beginnings of these organizations also highlight the fact that all great things do have small beginnings . And if you want to make a difference , it all begins with one small step forward — either by supporting one of these movements or making eco-friendly changes in your own lifestyle .
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