Speech to Greenpeace Business Conference – October 2001

As Greenpeace passes its 30th anniversary, this article reflects on the approach the internationally well-known non-governmental organisation (NGO) adopts to its campaigns. Greenpeace achieves its victories through non-violent direct action. It does not just confront wrongs; it also offer solutions. For example from the start of its anti-whaling campaign, Greenpeace promoted whale watching as an alternative to the slaughter. The article reviews some of Greenpeace campaigns and focuses on its strategies towards companies: when and how it will work with companies and when it will target companies and seek to expose their actions.