David Attenborough 1926
When I was small I was fascinated by fossils and the traces left by the living beings that populated our world in the past. Growing up, I added this early passion for prehistoric plants and animals to one for living species, understanding more and more, over time, the degree to which THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH HUMANS AND TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS COULD PUT THEM AT RISK. I have dedicated nearly my entire existence to documenting the natural wonders of this planet. It has been a great honor, among other things, to have granted some of them my name, like the strange carnivorous plant Nepenthes attenboroughii or the tiny bat Myotis attenboroughi. After all, “IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE NATURAL WORLD IS THE GREATEST SOURCE OF EXCITEMENT.”
I spent many years studying gorillas, but when I first came to Africa, I wasn’t looking for them. I wanted to explore at least a part of this extraordinary continent, because I was looking for a natural environment that was still uncontaminated, and the incredible animal species that lived there. To realize my dream I went into debt, but it was worth it because I finally understood what my mission was. My encounter with the gorillas was a moment that I will never forget: the feeling I experienced was that of being among CREATURES WHO WERE VERY SIMILAR TO ME, WITH WHOM I COULD SHARE EMOTIONS AND SOCIALIZE. Gradually, approaching them humbly and patiently, I managed to establish a true relationship of mutual understanding and friendship. I soon realized what dangers existed due to the greed of people without principles, who did not care much at all about destroying their world.
Steve Sawyer 1956
When I joined Greenpeace, I was just a young man and had no clear vision of my future; I only imagined that it would be linked to environmentalism and to the sea. I embarked on the Rainbow Warrior, a ship that had just been acquired by the organization, and without thinking too much about it, I took the plunge and headed on a dangerous adventure on the waves of the Pacific:
TO
PUT
A STOP TO NUCLEAR TESTING IN POLYNESIA
. We carried out all kinds of operations, from protests to evacuating the local population of Rongelap Atoll, in the Marshall Islands, to prevent them from getting sick from nuclear radiation. What began as a rather undefined project became a mission that would lead me to risk my life and become a leader of Greenpeace. As with my story, I believe that “THE
ENVIRONMENT HAS TO RISE TO THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE ON THE WORLD AGENDA.”
GretaThumberg
My name is Greta, and now the whole world knows who I am. After struggling silently on my own for months, MY ENVIRONMENTAL MESSAGE HAS ARRIVED EVERYWHERE , and now many are ready to follow my example. To some, I am a hero, to others I am a thorn in their side. Some would like to shut me up, claiming that I am small, that I am not capable of understanding, but young people are on my side, and many adults are also beginning to appreciate my ideas. I know I am direct and unwilling to accept compromises, but I am deeply convinced that I must act quickly to save my future and that of my peers. And anyhow, “I DON’T CARE ABOUT BEING POPULAR. I CARE ABOUT CLIMATE JUSTICE AND THE LIVING PLANET.”