Our History

A group of thoughtful, committed citizens came together in 1971 to create Greenpeace. A handful of determined activists leased a small fishing vessel, called the Phyllis Cormack, and set sail from Vancouver for Amchitka Island in Alaska. Their mission was to protest U.S. nuclear testing off the coast of Alaska with a brave act of defiance: to place themselves in harm’s way.

Despite being intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard, these daring activists sailed into history by bringing worldwide attention to the dangers of nuclear testing.

Learn more about how it all began here.

Our Values

• We ‘bear witness’ to environmental destruction in a peaceful, non-violent manner;
• We use non-violent confrontation to raise the level and quality of public debate;
• In exposing threats to the environment and finding solutions we have no permanent allies or adversaries;
• We ensure our financial independence from political or commercial interests;
• We seek solutions for, and promote open, informed debate about society’s environmental choices.

Our Funding

Greenpeace does not solicit contributions from government or corporations, nor will we endorse political candidates.

Greenpeace Australia Pacific is an independent environmental campaigning organisation that uses non-violent direct action to work for solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future.

We also receive some grant money from Greenpeace International, based in Amsterdam, and from private foundations and philanthropic organisations for specific projects. To find out more, visit our FAQs page.