Grist Comment Feed en http://www.grist.org/article/2009-04-14-greenpeaces-new-leader-talks/ Wed, 15 Apr 2009 08:26:55 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-04-14-greenpeaces-new-leader-talks/1 http://www.oriongrassroots.org/members - Erik, Orion Grassroots Network ]]> http://www.oriongrassroots.org/members - Erik, Orion Grassroots Network ]]> http://www.grist.org/article/2009-04-14-greenpeaces-new-leader-talks/ Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:47:45 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-04-14-greenpeaces-new-leader-talks/2 Well.... yes, but I think there is a tendency to see environmental work on a continuum with schmoozing at one end and "genuine" grassroots work at the other. This neither gives appropriate due to the hard lifting that our advocacy oriented outfits - including all named on the above list - have done, nor does it take into account the truly unique Greenpeace contributions to environmental campaigning. Local organizing can be as restrictive and low yield as lobbying with limited power. What Greenpeace can offer is the electrifying,  audacious and moral dimension, through actions that are not always comfortable, even for erstwhile supporters. Actions have been denigrated in recent years, which is justified where the approach is taken to mean not much more than banner hanging and another animal costume, but the essential elements of GP campaigning are still the only means environmentalists have for transformational political action - and I sincerely hope that this is the direction the organization, under a guy who was doing prescient climate action organizing while still nearly in his nappies, will be heading.

]]> Well.... yes, but I think there is a tendency to see environmental work on a continuum with schmoozing at one end and "genuine" grassroots work at the other. This neither gives appropriate due to the hard lifting that our advocacy oriented outfits - including all named on the above list - have done, nor does it take into account the truly unique Greenpeace contributions to environmental campaigning. Local organizing can be as restrictive and low yield as lobbying with limited power. What Greenpeace can offer is the electrifying,  audacious and moral dimension, through actions that are not always comfortable, even for erstwhile supporters. Actions have been denigrated in recent years, which is justified where the approach is taken to mean not much more than banner hanging and another animal costume, but the essential elements of GP campaigning are still the only means environmentalists have for transformational political action - and I sincerely hope that this is the direction the organization, under a guy who was doing prescient climate action organizing while still nearly in his nappies, will be heading.

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