From a small group of activists setting sail in an old fishing boat to conduct an anti-nuclear protest in Canada in 1971, Greenpeace has grown to become one of the world’s most recognised environmental campaigning organisations. The Beijing office – the only one in Mainland China – celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. Gabrielle Jaffe talks to Tom Wang, Greenpeace’s communications director for East Asia, about China’s coal problem and stripping off for the cause.
What are Greenpeace’s aims for China?
It’s no secret that China is the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world. Greenpeace is working to push China to quit coal, which supplies 70 per cent of the country’s energy and produces 80 per cent of its carbon dioxide emissions. Beyond climate change, we also put a lot of energy into investigating and exposing industrial water pollution.
What has been your biggest achievement so far?
In the last year, our Beijing office has gotten six major clothing companies [Adidas, Nike, Puma, H&M, Li-Ning and C&A] to promise to remove hazardous pollutants from their supply chain in China. Also, we’ve indirectly heard a commitment from the Ministry of Agriculture that China has suspended the commercialisation of genetically engineered rice.
How can volunteers help?
We don’t have specific requirements for volunteers, we’re just looking for anybody who cares about the environment. Our volunteers do a variety of things; for example: research, surveys, online campaigning, offline campaigning and classic Greenpeace actions, like our ‘Detox’ striptease last summer (pictured above) where volunteers stripped off outside an Adidas store in central Beijing – and outlets in 29 cities worldwide – challenging the sportswear giant to eliminate dangerous chemicals from its products. Those who wish to join should see our website: www.greenpeace.org/eastasia.