Week of November 5, 2009, Issue #733
EDUCATION
Greenpeace; Activist training
Greenpeace offers skills to help change the world
Mike Angus / mikeangus
Greenpeace Canada has recently undertaken some highly visible—and controversial—campaigns protesting the impact of the tar sands projects on Alberta's environment. As one of the leading advocates for environmental accountability around the globe, Greenpeace has a proud history of engaging and educating people about all facets of the health of our planet, from illegal whaling campaigns to the current climate crisis. Mike Hudema is the climate and energy campaigner for the Edmonton chapter of Greenpeace Canada, who speaks excitedly about the opportunities for Edmontonians to get educated and involved.
"We offer training on a wide variety of topics, in different ways. People can go about trying to build and think about what they want and what we need to see—especially when it comes to protecting the environment and the health of our citizens and pushing for a renewable tomorrow. We've held action camps across the country, including Edmonton, and we're training people across the country, not just in civil disobedience, although we do talk about the history of it, and how it has brought about most of the social and environmental benefits that we have today. And when we're talking about something with global implications like the climate crisis, civil disobedience is one of the tactics necessary."
As an organization that seeks to promote the health of the environment and how global citizens can engage to make change for the world they want to see, its first mandate is to provide people with the assets they require to create effective change.
"We offer what I call 'toolbox' training, which are all the different tools people have at their disposal to bring about change, from workshops on lobbying to how to write a press release and media workshops to learning about how to use the legal system to try and bring about change to non-violent direct action. We try to train people on the full gamut of their rights as citizens and options they have to push for the type of world they want to see."
There are several ways people can join Greenpeace, Hudema points out. "People can get involved as a volunteer, as well as internship opportunities, where they learn about the organization and how it works, and how it pertains to this province. We also have a Facebook group where you can find out more about the day-to-day activities to get involved in, to learn about the issues that are affecting our province and the solutions that are available to help us turn to a future that our children can live freely in."
A typical volunteer experience would depend on the volunteer, Hudema adds, depending on what they're interested in. "We try to find avenues for people to get involved in whatever way they're comfortable with, whether it's helping us in organizing a rally, a presentation talking to students about the tar sands or helping us organize a letter-writing campaign or getting petition signatures to push the province to invest in green jobs and green energy.
"The internship is a bigger commitment," he continues. "We ask for 10 – 20 hours per week, but, again, the tasks are up to the individual. In the past we've had research internships where interns look at what other countries are doing around the world in terms of moving to a green economy, what job and health benefits they're already reaping and help to research what we can do here in the province. Interns can also take on different aspects of the campaign, whether that's organizing tours to educate people, or helping other groups facing a wide variety of typically environmental problems. We try to help out as best we can, so lots of times an intern will help locate resources, or directly offer workshops to those groups to help them develop a more thorough campaign plan so they can protect their community."
If Greenpeace has a reputation for radicalism, it is because they deem their obstacles to change as requiring it. "We call it 'civic engagement,'" he explains diplomatically. "The biggest obstacle we face is having a government who seems to be letting industry write the rules, a government that has abdicated its responsibility to protect the citizens of this province and the health of its environment. It's been very difficult to present arguments to this government that would see us strengthen and diversify our economy, while at the same time protect our environment and the health of our citizens. The government refuses continuously to go down any other path other than one that's exemplified by the destruction of the environment, which is very apparent in the tar sands project.
"Secondly, yes, we do activities that get a lot of attention, but that's only one aspect of Greenpeace's work. We do a tremendous amount of research, lobbying and talking to elected officials and companies, as well as public engagement, awareness and education. We do a lot of work other than the activities that we're perhaps better known for, and a lot of that work is solution-based. We are actively trying to propose solutions that would help us direct some of the environmental problems we're facing, and the tremendous opportunities for this province, and we're going to continue to do that." V
Visit greenpeace.ca for more information on volunteer and education opportunities through greenpeace
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