London Greenpeace Agreed Statement, January 2001
received by email - 29/01/01
Tel c/o +44-(0)20 7713 1269 . Email c/o: mclibel@globalnet.co.uk
Internet info: www.mcspotlight.org
Statement - January 2001
WE'RE SUSPENDING OUR ACTIVITIES
After 30 years of anarchist environmental campaigning and spreading information and ideas we've decided to suspend the activities of our collective. Most of us are busy with other, related, activities.
Many of the basic ideas and information circulated by radical environmentalists in the 1970s, denounced at the time as irresponsible scare stories or marginal issues, are now widely accepted. For example: challenging industrialisation and promoting alternative forms of energy and technology, arguing for the need to focus on and challenge corporate power, animal liberation and veganism, organising collectively without leaders and the idea of networking loosely with a wide range of grass roots groups and campaigns. And, maybe most importantly, the need to see how all the various radical ideas, groups and campaigns are all part of a jigsaw, each with a piece to contribute to an overall message and movement. The inspirational rise of Earth First! and the Reclaim The Streets movements in the 1990s and the recent mushrooming of anti-capitalism is ensuring that radical, anarchist and environmentalist views have taken root and will continue to spread and thrive.
Looking back, we believe London Greenpeace activities have contributed to this healthy situation. [see London Greenpeace - A History of Ideas, Protests and Campaigning - details below]
30 YEARS OF ACTIVITY
After starting as a radical environmentalist/anti-militarist group in 1971 originally to campaign against nuclear bomb tests, we gradually broadened our activities to encompass a wide range of issues, and an internationalist approach. And at the same time we called for grass-roots movements to lay the basis for fundamental change to create a society based on freedom and co-operation, not money and power - an anarchist society. In the 1970s and 1980s we had a distinct role as one of the few groups working for an anarchist strategy within the environmentalist and anti-militarist movements, and as probably one of the few anarchist groups committed to fundamental ecological change in society.
When we began, we were one of many independent autonomous greenpeace groups in various countries. In 1977 we rejected an invitation to help set up the new 'Greenpeace UK' and 'Greenpeace International', preferring to keep our way of working as an autonomous collective networking within diverse and radical movements for change.
In the 1970s we were one of the first groups to concentrate on exposing the power of specific corporations, for example those connected to the nuclear power industry. In the 1980s we initiated a series of large protests (Stop 'The City') in 'the City' of London, initially to oppose the arms trade and wars, but quickly developing into opposition to the institutions and the profiteering of capitalism in general - and all the resulting economic, social and environmental crises that people all over the world have to face. >From the late '80s we specifically targetted the IMF and World Bank, now exposed by recent mass protests as two of the most powerful and damaging financial institutions in the world.
In 1984 we launched what became our most successful campaign - against the McDonald's Corporation and all it stands for. It has since developed into one of the most effective and long running global campaigns exposing the realities of a specific corporation and industry (fast food). The targetting of specific corporations to reveal the reality behind the production and consumption of their products is now a widely-used tactic.
During the 1990s, after McDonald's took legal action (the 'McLibel' case) to try to halt the growing campaign, London Greenpeace set up and concentrated on the McLibel Support Campaign. This consumed all our energies for about 7 years. As a result opposition to McDonald's mushroomed and our leaflets have since been distributed in millions all over the world. However, the group's other activities suffered and dwindled.
There was a burst of energy for a couple of years after the McLibel trial ended in 1997. Participants in the group produced and distributed a range of new leaflets and helped launch the 'J18: Carnival Against Capitalism' day of action in 'the City' - the first of a number of global anti-capitalist days of action. But the group's renaissance unfortunately didn't last!
Over the years the number of participants in the group has fluctuated between three and thirty. We always encouraged a 'don't join us, do it yourself' philosophy, but at the same time our own activities depended on there being an enthusiastic core of volunteers.
To some extent we became a bit weighed down by our history. We expected to be achieving a lot, but at the same time we found we had to concentrate more and more in running our office and responding to an ever-increasing volume of mail from all over the world. Its almost as if the group had a life and momentum of its own, and those involved were under pressure to keep things going at all costs. In the last couple of years people involved in the group have been finding new sources of activity and energy to put effort into, and we can no longer maintain the work needed to keep London Greenpeace active.
THE FUTURE
We have decided to suspend the group's activities, and to send this statement out, along with our 'London Greenpeace - A History', in response to any letters we continue to receive.
We feel that this is a positive decision. We're proud of what participants have achieved over the years, but movements for change need to be constantly questioning, experimenting and re-inventing themselves if they are to continue to be part of new and energetic movements. There's always the option of people reviving the group.
However, the McLibel Support Campaign will continue (up to date news
bulletin available). To subscribe to the McLibel announcements list, send a
blank email to
Some of the London Greenpeace leaflets, and the history of London
Greenpeace, are accessible on
WHAT WE BELIEVE - THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES
Around the world there is a war being waged on society by a powerful minority who seek to control and use other people, animals and the planet in order to make profits for themselves. But many around the world are fighting back, for ecological sustainability, for their communities, and for freedom for all people and animals.
We can all benefit from those groups, campaigns and movements which have gone before, giving us the perspective and strength to be able to fight and win current battles and ultimately, the long war for a better world. Social inequalities and controls, conflict, and environmental destruction are serious and growing problems, so public discontent and opposition is bound to increase. We need to create a new society by taking direct control of our lives, workplaces, streets, neighbourhoods and land. Together ordinary people can reclaim our world, currently based on the greed and power of a minority, and create an anarchist society based on strong and free communities, the sharing of precious resources and respect for all life.
We send our solidarity to you all!
London Greenpeace collective