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Greenpeace International

Website: http://www.greenpeace.org/

Category: Environment

Year of Foundation: 1979

Location of Foundation: Vancouver, Canada

Location of Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Brief Description: Greenpeace International describes itself as 'an independent global campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace.' (Source: www.greenpeace.org; accessed 15 April 2010)

Founding Rationales:

According to Rex Weyler, David McTaggart justified the creation of Greenpeace International in 1979 in the following terms: 'this thing can't be run out of Vancouver anymore. The headquarters should be in Europe. The European groups are well organized. There's a million dollars sitting in a bank account in Amsterdam. You know the scams that hucksters are perpetrating under the name. The U.S. wants autonomy from the Canadian group. The only solution is a Greenpeace International, with each country getting a vote.'

Source: Rex Weyler, 'Waves of Compassion. The Founding of Greenpeace. Where Are They Now?' (available at: http://www.utne.com/archives/WavesofCompassion.aspx, accessed 15 April 2010)

Evolution of Membership:

Greenpeace International Membership Chart

Sources: Michael Brown, 'The Greenpeace Story' (London: Dorling Kindersley, 1989), pp. 4, 40; EAIO; www.greenpeace.org (accessed 15 April 2010).