29 October 2006

Steve-o, Communications Officer

Have you been on a Greenpeace ship before?
Well, this is my first time on a moving Greenpeace ship. I have been onboard
Esperanza before- when she was denied entry into the port of Miami back in 2003.
It was a very magical experience, even though it was only for a few short
hours, and I'm really excited to be here this time around.

How or why did you get involved with Greenpeace?
I've always been excited by Greenpeace, ever since I was a kid and saw images of
Greenpeace activists confronting whalers, seal hunters and nuclear power plants.
It's much more than an organization: it really is a movement. After college, I
moved to Washington, D.C., and was beyond excited to see that Greenpeace was
hiring. I started working officially for Greenpeace in 2001, and after leaving
for two years in 2004, was drawn back again this past winter because I really
wanted to be a part of this amazing expedition.

What was your best experience for Greenpeace so far?
There really are too many to mention. I was lucky enough to be part of the
Greenpeace team at the WTO meeting in Cancun, Mexico, which was a very profound
experience. But I would say that the best experience was being part of a human
art image on Miami Beach in January 2004, when over 1,000 people formed
Picasso's famed "Amnistia" drawing. Being part of such a large crowd gathered
for a unique cause was really something special, and to wake up the next day to
see it on the front page of the newspaper is a feeling I'll never forget.

What do you like best about your work on the ship?
Definitely the views from the ship. The ocean is so blue out here! And the stars at
night are truly a sight to behold.

What personal connection do you have with the ocean?
I've always felt best when the ocean is near. I don't live near the ocean at
the moment, but every chance I get, I go near the water. Being in the ocean
recharges me and even just watching the ocean from land makes me feel at peace.

If you were not on the Esperanza at this moment where would you probably be
instead and what would you be doing?
Well, I'd most likely be at the office, making phone calls and
trying to get the word out about what Greenpeace is doing. If not there, I'd no
doubt be out and about with my friends getting into some pretty hilarious
situations.

Why are you on this expedition?
I'm here because our oceans are under threat in so many ways. Especially in the
U.S., we just don't seem to understand that our consumption and daily practices
have a direct impact on these waters. Since we come from the ocean, and they
continue to give us life, I thought it was high time to give something back, and
tell the story of what's happening out here, and hopefully get a few people to
think about our daily choices and how they impact the oceans. I also really
wanted to be part of a truly global expedition- Greenpeace is global in scope,
and to be part of such a large-scale campaign has always been a dream of mine.
But, this expedition isn't just about us onboard or those of us who work with
Greenpeace. It's about all of us, since oceans protection begins on land.
Hopefully you'll join us and become an Ocean Defender right now!

   

Comments

Posted by: jessica at November 17, 2006 5:41 PM

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