Organised hippies
In my daily news/ blog scans about everything environment and Greenpeace related, I often read comments from people who think we're just a bunch of disorganised, unwashed, unemployed, uninformed hippies.
If you think that, or hear that being said, read this little paragraph from a letter sent to us by Professor Peter Wadhams from Cambridge university after he stayed on the Arctic Sunrise:
"The support offered by the whole crew on board was amazing - unstinted, professional, and far better than I normally find on government-owned research ships.
[...]
As well as the main work on ice thickness decay rates there were two graduate student projects which benefited from access to the ship. [...] Both students will owe a considerable debt to Greenpeace for the research material for their PhD theses. In addition, the officers were most helpful in assisting the maintenance of an ice log throughout the voyage, the results of which will be used as input to the first edition of a book by the Canadian Ice Service on field identification of new and old ice."
It's quite a compliment to the professionalism of the crew, and doubly so when you know that Peter Wadhams has considerable experience on research ships (just take a look at his CV...).
Most of Greenpeace's work never makes headlines, and that's a shame. Considerable amounts of resources are used on reports highlighting who drives the planet's destruction, research on solutions for our energy crisis and negotiations with the people we oppose. It's not always the most sexy stories, but combined with non-violent direct action, they make a difference. They change things. They protect our planet.
So unprofessional? Disorganised? Not at all. Unwashed? Depends on your personal preferences. Hippies? Definitively.
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Comments
green hippies :p save the planet.
Posted by: Nepal sites | October 15, 2009 1:31 PM
This is all good if you guys where trying to build relations with scientists in the future.
But again; everybody knows the environment goes down the drain. We need to stop airplaning and driving ASAP.
Or it`s too late.
Great job by the way. Best in the world. But people are not going to stop they`re routine if they don`t have to.
I pray for humans but see no hope.
Thanks again for really trying. But the solutions are not good enough. I`m sorry. For everyone.
Posted by: educated | October 15, 2009 3:18 PM
Educated: cheer up! The solutions are there, they exist, we need government to implement them. It certainly won't be easy, but it's possible. Our Energy [R]evolution scenario shows these solutions are within reach.
Pick up your phone, call your local representative, or the government, and tell them you want them to ask. It's your right and your duty.
Posted by: Juliette | October 15, 2009 3:22 PM
Nice job.
educated> it is easy to say it is too late, less to try to change it. I understand what u mean but save what can be save.
Posted by: Robin | October 15, 2009 7:11 PM
Throughout the ages the great sages have enjoined us to "Love our neighbor" In recent times the fab four said it, "All we need is love". Now its crunch time, if we can't love each other and our planet, then we're not gonna make it, so come on folks let's "Give love a chance" B 4 it's 2 late!
Posted by: Dee | October 20, 2009 10:36 PM