Greenpeace Environmentalist Organization - Article Example

Greenpeace is an environmentalist organization which utilizes ecological direct action to fight against nuclear waste and toxic waste. Greenpeace is at the forefront of ecological direct action in order to protect the earth. Ecological direct action is defined as the action where protesters engage in forms of action designed not only or necessarily to change government policy or to shift the climate of public opinion through the media, but to change environmental conditions around them directly (Doherty, Paterson and Seel 2000:1). Organizations which implement ecological direct action have no single organization, no national office or administrative centre. This kind of network relies on the network of groups based in local areas and sharing a common identity and form of action and linked by a systematic ties. (Doherty 1992). Greenpeace believes that nuclear waste must be eliminated. Nuclear waste constitutes a serious threat to all types of life on earth. It poses a strong environmental hazard. Due to its close link to nuclear weapons via plutonium, spent fuel is a dangerous residual from nuclear waste. The nuclear reactors which are used are stored in cheap, temporary and insufficient waste storage areas which poses a danger to residents living near nuclear power plants. The radioactive materials in the nuclear wastes will leak from different places thus causing cancer to several residents living near those sites. Another area of concern is the radioactive isotopes which will spread and spill into the food chains of living beings. Finally, the efforts of developed countries to contain radioactivity from the nuclear waste is hardly successful. Developed countries still do not have expertise in the storage and disposal of nuclear waste. Most developed countries just dump their nuclear waste in developing countries and give aid to these receiving countries in exchange for this service. Greenpeace has made efforts to stop the establishment of new nuclear power plants in Europe. Through the consistent efforts of Greenpeace, Spains Socialist government has pledged not to open nuclear power plants. However, France is still open to establishing a new nuclear power plant. Thus, Greenpeace activists put up wind farms on the grounds of a nuclear power plant in Penly, France. The activists put up ten wind turbines up to protest the French government decision to build a new nuclear reactor on the site. (Greenpeace website) Greenpeace has campaigned for the closure of old nuclear power plants. Nuclear power is extremely unpopular in Spain. Greenpeace activists protested in Garona Power Plant in order to exhort the government to close this down. Spains existing eight nuclear power plants supplies 20 percent of Spains electricity needs. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has vowed to phase out nuclear power and rely on renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. Greenpeace believes that all types of toxic waste must be eliminated. Greenpeace USA was able to convince Apple and HP to eliminate all types of toxic waste in their computer production. Nokia and Dell eliminated the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in all of its products. Dell also has set ambitious targets for cutting its use of PVC and brominated flame retardants (BFRs). Apple had improved its environmental track record and has led the industry in restricting and banning toxic substances such as BFRs, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium. Apple has phased out CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors, which has lead, from the company product line. Greenpeace stated that Lenovo recorded improvements in chemicals management and voluntary take-back programs but it needs to do better. Greenpeace was able to convince local leaders of developing countries that nuclear waste is harmful to life and the environment. Greenpeace made a positive stride in blocking nuclear waste in 2006. In September 2006, Estonia investigated the Probo Koala after it was blocked by the Greenpeace vessel, Arctic Sunrise. The Probo Koala had dumped its cargo of toxic waste in the sea near Ivory Coast killing eight people. The ship had sailed into Estonia freely until Greenpeace implemented its action. Greenpeace has carried out educational campaigns regarding toxic waste from computers. Computers generate a waste stream which contains billions of pounds of hazardous materials, including lead, mercury, beryllium, cadmium, brominates or flame-retardants and 1,000 different toxic substances which are harmful to human beings and the environment. If not disposed of properly, these toxic materials can pose high risk to humans, animals and the environment. If this is thrown into residential landfills, these substances leak and can eventually pollute groundwater. The writer admires Greenpeace and its strong advocacy. Specifically, this writer believes that a holistic civic action against nuclear and toxic wastes all over the world are laudable. Moreover, the writer affirms that nuclear waste is harmful to human health and the global environment and direct, global group action must be implemented to lessen the production of nuclear wastes. Dr. Ian Fairlie of the United Kingdom. has warned about tritium emissions from the nuclear power plant reactors. (Fairlie, 3). His study recommends that pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children should not live within 10 kilometers of a nuclear power plant. He also stated that people residing within 5 kilometres radius should not consume food from their gardens, beehives, and orchards. Moreover, the writer believes that toxic waste is harmful to human health and the global environment. The computer industry uses toxic waste in the computer production process covering selenium in circuit boards, mercury in LCD backlights, flame retardants and antimony trioxide flame retardant in plastics. Computer chip manufacturing uses deadly gases such as as arsine, silane, chlorine, and phosgene and greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. Indeed, a united group effort is needed to counter nuclear waste and toxic waste and Greenpeace with its credibility can take the lead. Old electronics when burned in a municipal waste facility releases toxic and carcinogenic substances into the atmosphere. The chemicals consisting of beryllium in computer motherboards, and cadmium used in chip resistors and semiconductors are poisonous and could lead to cancer. Chromium in floppy disks, lead in batteries and computer monitors and mercury in alkaline batteries poses very high health risks. A 15-inch PC monitor contains from 5 to 8 pounds of lead. Old laptop batteries have cadmium, a toxic chemical. The writer pushes for a concerted action among developed countries to firmly support the efforts of Greenpeace to eliminate toxic waste. Greenpeace has also played a key role in promoting environmental protection in the United States. It had called on the attention of the numerous key executives of the Fortune 100 companies in the United States to clarify and explain their position on the Kyoto Protocol. With this renewed campaign on environmental awareness, approximately 30 percent of these firms have responded with increasing interest. The group also works on a variety of environmental research, consumer and educational campaigns. (Selle, 1). This writer emphasizes that companies, whether large or small, can support the efforts of Greenpeace to eliminate toxic waste. Some computer companies have opted to have cleaner and greener production. Japan’s NEC computers use lead-free solder, a fully recyclable plastic case, monitors without harmful gases, and no toxic flame retardants. Dells desktops are now also lead-free. Computer products in the future are expected to be lead-free too. HP is using bioplastics for its computer casing thus leading in biodegradeable computer casings. This writer argues that individuals can assist in supporting the efforts of Greenpeace to eliminate toxic waste. Greenpeace also promotes individual initiatives in promoting a safer and cleaner environment. It has funded local community education projects that focus on such issues as environmentally conscious shopping, consistent energy conservation in the home, and daily organic gardening and lawn care. The care for the environment can be sustained with an environmentally conscious consumption, and community-based ethics. Despite the efforts of Greenpeace, the future of the earth still hangs in the balance. This environmental threat can be tackled with ease if people in different countries can act, move and cooperate to help slow down and reverse some of the environmental damage which had been done. Greenpeace has shown a strong responsibility and stewardship for the environment and it exercises its environmental activism in a consistent way. Hence, many people can join its numerous efforts through volunteer work and financial contribution References: Bond, Michael. “A New Environment for Greenpeace.” Foreign Policy. (Nov.-Dec. 2001). Page Number: 66. Doherty, Brian. Ideas and Actions in the Green Movement. London: Routledge, 2002. Doherty, B., Paterson, M., Plows, A., and Wall, D. (2000). Constructing the Fuel Protests: New Populist Movements in British Politics. A paper presented at the BSA/ISA Conference on Social Movements, Manchester University, Nov. Fairlie, Ian. Tritium Hazard Report: Pollution and Radiation Risk from Canadian Nuclear Facilities. 2007. Toronto: Greenpeace Canada Kerlin, Katherine. “Giving Greenpeace a Chance.” E. Volume: 12. Issue: 5. Sept. 2001. Page Number: 12. Killingsworth, Jimmie and Jacqueline Palmer. Ecospeak: Rhetoric and Environmental Politics in America. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1992. Selle, Robert. “A Founder of Greenpeace. “ World and I. Volume: 18. Issue: 3. Mar 2003. Page Number: 52. Online reference “Energy Revolution: A Sustainable World Energy Outlook”. 20 November 2008. “The Greenpeace”. 19 Nov. 2002. Available at http//:www.greenpeace.org. Read More