Greenpeace Sperm Whale

Black and white illustration of a sperm whale on a white background.

Greenpeace is an international environmental organization that was founded in 1971 in British Columbia in response to nuclear testing in Alaska. It has become a large, global organization, with millions of members, offices in 41 countries, and a headquarters in Amsterdam. They work to protect endangered species, end environmental abuses, and raise public awareness of environmental  issues. Greenpeace has a reputation for direct, non-violent, and dangerous actions. They also fight for national and international rulings on environmental abuses.  Over the course of its history, the organization has attracted both praise and significant controversy. 

The Save the Whales campaign, which began in 1975 in Vancouver,  was well-known. Greenpeace activists on high-speed inflatable rafts positioned themselves between whales and whaling ships. They also brought back pictures and videos that they used in an awareness campaign. Their efforts resulted in the 1986 global ban on commercial whaling.