Greenpeace Spain celebrates its 40th anniversary: The environmental organization claims its tireless work for a profound change in the socioeconomic model to ensure a greener, democratic and fair future for the planet and people. Currently, the environmental organization is focused on the definitive demolition of Algarrobico, the opposition to Altri’s mega pulp, the defense of Urdaibai and the denunciation of large corporations such as Repsol and Santander. The protection of Doñana, the Mar Menor or the Daimiel tables and initiatives such as the single T-lleva subscription or energy communities are examples of the fight against the climate crisis and the loss of biodiversity.
For Eva Saldaña, executive director of the environmental organization, “the more than 155,000 members we have and our thousands of volunteer activists are the greatest guarantee of our independence and our strength.” Such a relevant anniversary has coincided with the arrival to our coasts of two ships, the ‘Arctic Sunrise’ and the ‘Witness’, to demand the effective protection of the oceans and support the artisanal fishing sector.
On April 29, 1978, the Rainbow Warrior set sail from the Thames and arrived on the Galician coast to oppose whaling. The Spanish Navy tried to stop her, but she escaped before reaching port. It was the first action of the environmental organization and the beginning of a long-lasting and fruitful relationship, which would culminate in 1984 with the inauguration of the first office in our country.
“It’s been 40 years,”40 years without being silent”, and in this period the environmental organization has become a great reference in environmental issues in our country, with the implementation of relevant campaigns at a local, national and global level. Likewise, it has developed important work in creating links and collaboration with other organizations of the climate, social and ecofeminist movement.
“We have not been silent for 40 years: we have been present in the great ecosocial struggles of these four decades. The end of nuclear power plants, waste incineration, chemical spills, fossil fuels, destructive fishing systems, plastic pollution or the destruction of coastal ecosystems by wild urbanism These are some of the issues in which the presence of our organization has been very relevant and in which, in addition, we have achieved important successes, despite how much remains to be done,” stated the executive director of the environmental organization, Eva Saldaña, who has also highlighted the role of the environmental organization in expanding the democratic space, its work in generating counterpower, changing mentalities and training activists to transform the future. In this way, the environmental organization has launched activities such as camps, the solar caravan, the activism school or the solar or forest-friendly schools.
Greenpeace Spain celebrates its 40th anniversary
This very important anniversary has coincided with the arrival in our country of two ships from the environmental organization: the legendary icebreaker Arctic Sunrise and the sailboat Witness, who will tour our coasts this June to demand the immediate ratification of the Global Ocean Treaty, work together with the artisanal fishing sector and achieve the effective protection of marine areas.
Boats have always been a fundamental tool in the environmental organization’s campaigns to be a witness, witness and act against the threats suffered by the planet. They also represent an opportunity to research and document marine biodiversity, get closer to citizens, advocate politically, empower local communities and show first-hand the work they do around the world.
Greenpeace Spain… the fight continues
On this anniversary, the environmental organization presents itself as a mature organization, a reference and uncomfortable for power. A great team of committed people who defend a model of distributed power, in the hands of the people and not large corporations, as is currently the case.
“We are an uncomfortable organization because we are tireless in our struggles and independent thanks to the fact that we are only accountable to our 155,000 members and donors, who trust the environmental organization to build a greener, fairer and more peaceful future. People power is our strength and what makes us unstoppable. We continue to act every day: the future will be what we want it to be,” said Saldaña.
At the moment, the environmental organization is focused on the definitive demolition of Algarrobico, the opposition to Altri’s mega pulp, the fight against fossil fuels, the denunciation of the concentration of power and the damages of the extractive industry and its financiers, as is the case of Repsol or Santander. Also in the protection and fair distribution of water, the fight against the climate crisis and the loss of biodiversity and the management and protection of oceans, forests and rural areas, among many other issues.
For all these fights the organization offers real and alternative solutions to ensure a dignified future with a socioeconomic model more focused on the well-being of people, the planet and democracy, beyond infinite economic growth or the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few.. For all this, the environmental organization works by increasing the democratic space, exercising its right to peaceful protest and promoting the protagonism and participation of citizens in decision-making and public policies.
Throughout its history, the environmental organization has defended respect for fundamental rights, generating counterpower, making alternatives visible, deepening the peace agenda and now more than ever, generating stories of hopeful futures. so that together we are able to imagine them and act to achieve them.