Environmental Law

Greenpeace co-founder has second thoughts--NEWS WEEKLY

By STEPHEN HOLZER

Canadian environmentalist, Dr Patrick Moore, who helped found Greenpeace, says he left the organisation because it became "increasingly senseless as it adopted an agenda that was anti-science, anti-business, and downright anti-human".

In a hard-hitting article for The Vancouver Sun (January 7, 2011) he said he joined Greenpeace "before it was even called by that name".

Moore went on to play a key role in blocking American and French nuclear testing in the Pacific, and helped launch campaigns against whaling, baby seal hunting, driftnet fishing, and toxic-waste dumping.

He said: "Our campaigns were highly successful at changing opinions and energising the public. Through the power of the media and the people, we were steadily influencing government policies and forcing industries to clean up their acts. We had achieved the support of the majority of people in the industrialised democracies.

"By 1982, Greenpeace had grown into a full-fledged international movement with offices and staff around the world. We were bringing in $100 million a year in donations and half a dozen campaigns were occurring simultaneously."

But just as Greenpeace was moving into full stride, Moore began having doubts.

Read more at http://www.newsweekly.com.au/articles/2011feb05_e.html

Full post as published by Environmental Legal Blogs on February 19, 2011 (boomark / email).