IN THIS ISSUE…
IN THE COMMUNITY:
Meet the young Greenpeacer who sold cookies to combat carbon 3
PROTECTING NATURE:
Three big moments for the oceans in 2025 4-5
Meet the Greenpeace fleet 6
Introducing Greenpeace’s latest efforts to save the Amazon 7
OPERATION EXODUS:
After 40 years, the Rainbow Warrior returns to the Marshall Islands 8-9
NATURE CORNER:
Benefits of reconnecting with nature for yourself and the planet 10
YOU ASKED:
Staying informed and inspired at home 11
Greenpeace Trivia
Which of Greenpeace’s main ships is powered by sails?
The Rainbow Warrior III
The Arctic Sunrise
The Witness
Check out page 6 for the answer.
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Magazine
CANADA, COMMUNITY AND COOPERATION
Over the past few months, we have seen Canadians coming together in response to rising tensions with the United States. Buying and supporting domesticallymade products is one of the most visible ways this is being expressed.
For me, this moment brings to mind Greenpeace’s origins. Founded in Vancouver in 1971, Greenpeace is truly “Made in Canada.”
That’s only part of the story, however. Our origin story is also a powerful example of cross-border collaboration. Four of Greenpeace’s founders — Dorothy and Irving Stowe, and Marie and Jim Bohlen — were Americans who relocated to Canada during the Vietnam War, disturbed by their country’s political direction. In Canada, they connected with like-minded Canadians, including Bob Hunter and Dorothy and Ben Metcalfe from Winnipeg.
These individuals from different countries found common ground in their concerns and aspirations. Rather than merely discussing their worries, they took decisive action, launching a movement that now operates in 55 countries worldwide. Their story demonstrates how friendship and unity across borders can effectively resist oppression and create meaningful change.
The current political climate, marked by protectionist tariffs and nationalist sentiments, calls for the same vision, imagination, empathy, and collective action that birthed Greenpeace. While Canadians understandably rally together during these challenges, it’s also important to remember that global issues like climate change require international cooperation, not nationalist isolation
It’s essential that we come together, because it will be people power that will overcome the divisive politics we’re witnessing today. In this edition of Greenpeace Magazine, you’ll read about the benefits of immersing ourselves in the outdoors to build personal resilience in addressing global challenges like the climate crisis. You’ll meet a young Greenpeace supporter who took action to raise money for the planet. And you’ll discover stories about how Greenpeace is working cooperatively around the world — to protect our oceans, defend the Amazon, and support communities like the people of Rongelap in the Marshall Islands.
None of this work is possible without your support, and it’s your generosity that keeps us pushing forward. You are a part of our community, and I hope that wherever you are in the world right now, you feel that connection and our gratitude. May we move forward together, and create the greener, better future that we all deserve.
In solidarity and unwavering gratitude,
Christy Ferguson
Executive Director, Greenpeace Canada
biannually and
We are immune to political and corporate pressure because we don’t take donations from governments, corporations, or political parties. We rely solely on support from people like you in order to conduct our campaigns around the world. To learn more about Greenpeace, visit greenpeace.ca or call 1-800-320-7183
On the cover: The Arctic Sunrise joined hundreds of local fishing boats in the Arousa estuary, off the coast of Spain, to demand ocean protection and restoration of the estuary in 2024. © Pedro Armestre / Greenpeace. 33 Cecil Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1N1 454, avenue Laurier Est, Montréal, QC H2J 1E7
IN HIS “ELEMENT”: A YOUNG BOY’S BAKE SALE FOR THE PLANET
By Sana Fazal, Supporter Care Associate
Meet Wyatt, a five-year-old science enthusiast with a remarkable knowledge of the periodic table, who hosted a bake sale for the planet!
Wyatt is fascinated with the periodic table of elements — their symbols and atomic numbers — and recently became focused on carbon, which sparked a family research project about emissions. Their research led to learning about Greenpeace’s campaigns, which has now ignited Wyatt’s passion for climate action.
Determined to raise awareness and funds to bring about positive change, Wyatt set up a bake sale in his community and used it as a conversation starter about creative ways to reduce carbon footprints. It was an event his whole family got involved in, as they baked chocolate chip cookies and sold freezies to raise money for Greenpeace. His grandparents even agreed to match his fundraising efforts!
As well as periodic tables, some of Wyatt’s favourite things include camping, swimming, biking, and skiing. When asked why Earth deserves protection, Wyatt was straight to the point: “It’s the only planet we have.”
If you’re inspired by Wyatt and would like to run your own fundraiser for Greenpeace, visit fundraising.greenpeace.ca
Have a story of support you’d like to share with our Greenpeace community? Contact me, Sana Fazal, at supporter.ca@greenpeace.org — I’d love to hear from you!
© Sara Bouvette
Wyatt gives a big smile and a thumbs up, while wearing a Greenpeace shirt.
COULD 2025 BE A GAME CHANGER FOR THE OCEANS?
By Sarah King, Senior Strategist
For ocean life, ocean-dependent communities and ocean lovers, 2025 is a year full of opportunity. Greenpeace’s campaigns are in their “multilateralism era” as we work to build agreements between countries internationally to protect the oceans. As you’ll learn, it’s been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster as we look to world leaders to chart a new course for our blue earthship.
The Global Ocean Treaty
This summer, global governments will convene at a series of very important meetings. In June, the 2025 United Nations Oceans Conference will take place in France, where talks will focus on accelerating action to conserve and sustainably use the ocean in line with implementation of Goal 14 of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Global Goals. This conference has been earmarked as the moment where the Global Ocean Treaty could finally enter into force. But the road to ratification might still be a bumpy one.
After the adoption of the Treaty in June of 2023, 110 countries signed the Treaty, signalling their intention to turn it into law. But in order for the Treaty to enter into
force, 60 countries have to ratify, and as of early April (at the time of writing), only 21 have done so. Canada signed the Treaty, but the federal election has thrown a wrench in the ratification process. We’ll be watching closely to see if Canada is ultimately one of the 60. And we’ll be reminding whichever government we end up with that its ability to meet its commitments to protect biodiversity by 2030 depends on this Treaty.
As a reminder, the Global Ocean Treaty is needed to close governance gaps in the high seas that allow industries to push marine life to the brink of extinction. It’s needed to allow the creation of a network of ocean sanctuaries covering 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030, allowing biodiversity hotspots and sensitive areas to remain intact, and overexploited habitats and species to recover. With new threats like deep sea mining looming, it’s important to protect what we can, and help marine ecosystems build resilience.
Visit act.gp/globaloceanstreaty to sign our Global Ocean Treaty petition to help us keep the pressure on the government.
During a 2024 expedition in the English Channel, Greenpeace documented industrial fishing activities in several marine protected areas, including the Banc des Flandres, the Ridens du Détroit du Pas-de-Calais and the Parc marin des estuaires picards et de la mer d’Opale.
© Lorraine Turci
Greenpeace
A Deep Sea Mining Moratorium
To ensure protection for the oceans, we cannot let deep sea mining move ahead. This July, Greenpeace and our allies will be at the 30th Session of the International Seabed Authority in Jamaica, where governments will meet to talk about the fate of a truly destructive industry. With companies like Canada-based The Metals Company threatening to move forward with an application to mine, we’ve ramped up pressure on governments to support a deep sea mining moratorium — a topic that will be on this July’s meeting agenda. As of now, 32 countries, including Canada, have called for a moratorium on deep sea mining. They must now hold strong in their positions to bring others along.
Sign our petition at act.gp/stopdeepseamining to help us keep the pressure on global governments to establish this moratorium.
The Global Plastics Treaty
And all the while, the plastic pollution crisis continues to permeate not just the oceans, but every corner of our planet. From Arctic ice to remote lakes and the soil we grow our food in, plastic is everywhere, including in our bodies. Five rounds of UN negotiations on a Global Plastics Treaty later, governments have failed to produce an agreement. The last round of talks, which took place in South Korea in December 2024, resulted in the decision to continue negotiations in August 2025. Canada rallied to support key elements of the Treaty in the final hour, but
we need all countries to increase their commitment even further and secure a strong agreement that turns off the plastic tap once and for all.
As we get to work preparing for these big moments, there is no shortage of momentum to harness and wins to build on. New countries are announcing ratification of the Ocean Treaty regularly, providing a public nudge to others to follow suit. Thanks to rising awareness and public pressure, including by Greenpeace supporters here and globally, opposition to deep sea mining is growing steadily.
In fact, this global pressure has led the Norwegian government to agree to stop the first licensing round for deep sea mining in Arctic waters. This is a huge win for sensitive Arctic ecosystems and the stop deep sea mining movement. And though the Global Plastics Treaty talks failed to secure a strong agreement in December, over 100 countries — representing billions of people — signed a declaration in support of a meaningful Treaty, including global cuts to plastic production, which is the key ingredient to curb the plastic crisis. These countries resisted the influence of the fossil fuel industry. Now it’s up to us to hold them accountable.
We are so close to 2025 being a winner, and I’m confident that, together, we can reach these critical milestones!
To stay up to date on the latest news about our oceans and plastics campaigns, as well as progress on these treaties, visit greenpeace.ca.
© Lorenzo Moscia / Greenpeace
A campaigner from Greenpeace’s monitoring station at Ventotene Island in the Tyrrhenian Sea dove deep to study the impact of climate change on underwater coastal biodiversity.
GREENPEACE SHIPS
Since Greenpeace’s founding in the 1970s, our ships have played a critical role in how we’ve shown up and addressed both environmental and humanitarian issues. Greenpeace ships facilitate our research of fragile marine ecosystems and our direct action in the high seas. They allow us to bear witness and expose harms that take place out of sight. And they allow us to support and provide direct assistance to coastal communities and workers at sea.
Meet the three main ships in our fleet:
The Rainbow Warrior III
A custom-built motor-assisted sailing yacht launched in 2011. It replaced the Rainbow Warrior II and was specifically designed for environmental activism, featuring a helicopter landing pad and specialized communications equipment.
An icebreaker originally built in 1975 and purchased by Greenpeace in 1995. It’s specially strengthened for work in ice conditions, allowing us to voyage to remote polar regions.
The Witness
The newest and most technologically advanced vessel in the Greenpeace fleet was launched in 2021. At 22.5 metres long, it is also the smallest. Thanks to its lifting keel and rudder, the Witness is able to navigate shallow waters that are inaccessible to larger ships.
© Maarten Van Rouveroy / Greenpeace.
The Arctic Sunrise
© Markus Mauthe / Greenpeace
PROTECTING EARTH’S GREATEST RAINFOREST: THE AMAZON
By Stephanie Hulse, Loyalty Officer
The Amazon is the world’s biggest rainforest, home to around 50,000 different types of plants, nearly 2,400 different freshwater fish species, more than 370 different types of reptiles and a wide range of iconic animals. Jaguars, harpy eagles, pink river dolphins, giant otters, capybara, anacondas, two-toed sloths, poison dart frogs — the diversity is mind boggling. More than 40 million people live in the Amazon as well, including over 400 Indigenous communities and groups.
In addition to the life it supports, the Amazon Basin helps control the Earth’s climate by storing approximately 100 billion metric tons of carbon — more than ten times the annual global emissions from fossil fuels. In other words: the health of the planet depends on this incredible rainforest.
What’s the problem?
While the Amazon covers 2.6 million square miles across nine countries, about 60% of the Amazon is located in Brazil. Over the last 40 years, more than 18% of the rainforest in the Brazilian Amazon has been lost — roughly the size of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Agriculture is the main cause of this destruction, but the presence of extractive industries has dramatically increased over the past few years, resulting in further loss. On top of this, according to MapBiomas Brasil — a network of NGOs, universities and tech companies that use satellite data to produce land maps of Brazil — illegal gold mining in Brazilian Indigenous lands has exploded by 265% between 2018-2022. This has had immediate consequences on the rainforest and
Indigenous communities in the region: deforestation, mercury contamination of rivers, violence, and significant carbon emissions are among them.
Building a movement for change, protection, and respect
The goal of Greenpeace’s global Amazon campaign is to accelerate protection for the Amazon before the UN’s COP30 climate meeting in Brazil this November.
To do this, Greenpeace will first remind the world of the beauty and value of the Amazon, and amplify the importance and connection of the forest to the climate, and our own lives. Then we’ll shine a spotlight on the big players like agriculture, oil and gold mining companies, which are doing the most harm to the rainforest. Using people power, we’ll push for stricter regulations to pressure these industries’ financial enablers — big banks — to cut ties with them. We’ll also encourage the Brazilian government to scale up Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ direct access to resources in the area. And we’ll take action against gold mining, especially when it takes place without consent on Indigenous lands.
We’ll do this all while building a movement based on kindness, community and respect — respect for the forest that affects all life on Earth and respect for the people who live there.
We can’t wait to see how this campaign unfolds, and we’re hoping you’ll be a part of it from the very beginning. To take action for the Amazon, please visit: act.gp/respect-the-amazon
Two green-winged macaws fly over the valleys of the Serra do Aracá in the state of Amazonas, Brazil.
THE RAINBOW WARRIOR RETURNS: 40 YEARS AFTER OPERATION EXODUS
By Stephanie Hulse, Loyalty Officer
In 1985, Greenpeace’s ship, the Rainbow Warrior, embarked on an operation that would become a defining moment in Greenpeace’s history: Operation Exodus.
Between 1948 and 1956, the United States tested nuclear weapons in the Marshall Islands, a nation consisting of 29 atolls and five main islands in the North Pacific Ocean.
During this period, the region endured 67 nuclear bomb detonations. The largest of these was “Castle Bravo” on March 1, 1954 — a detonation which was 1,000 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb.
Within four hours of the explosion, radioactive fallout made up of crushed coral, water, and radioactive particles, rained down over inhabited atolls including Rongelap Atoll, 150 kilometres away from the blast location. The community immediately reported harrowing health impacts, including peeling skin, hair loss, and blistering burns.
Three days after the detonation, the US government evacuated the residents of Rongelap to Kwajalein Atoll. Three years later the government officials claimed that Rongelap Atoll was safe again, and they returned the islanders to their home.
However, over the next 30 years, the evidence of radioactive poisoning grew. Many Rongelap children were stillborn and many mothers experienced miscarriages. Just under 70% of the Rongelap children who were under 10 in 1954 developed thyroid tumours. And, without their consent, community members were enrolled in a medical lab study conducted by US scientists on the effects of radiation on human beings, which included withholding treatment and extracting healthy body parts. Despite their responsibility, the United States refused to help relocate those affected by the fallout of the weapons testing.
In 1985, Greenpeace used the Rainbow Warrior to help evacuate residents of The Marshall Islands’ Rongelap Atoll, following nuclear weapon testing by the United States on nearby atolls between 1946-1958.
And so in 1985, after decades of pleading with the US government, the Rongelap people turned to Greenpeace for help.
Greenpeace answered that call and used its ship the Rainbow Warrior to evacuate 300 Islanders and over 100 tons of building materials to move the community to the nearby Mejatto Island so they could begin a new life. This operation involved many trips and took 11 days.
Four decades later, the Rainbow Warrior — now in the form of Rainbow Warrior III — was invited back to the Marshall Islands by the Marshallese government, to commemorate the anniversary of the evacuation and conduct independent scientific research to support the nation’s case against the United States.
During this trip, Greenpeace has once again affirmed our enduring solidarity with the Marshall Islands, as well as other neighbouring Pacific communities. We amplify their ongoing struggle for justice and reparations.
Alongside the ongoing effects of nuclear testing, the Marshall Islands also face the looming threat of deep sea mining and the escalating impacts of the climate crisis — but its people are speaking out. As Ariana TibonKilma, chairperson of the Republic of the Marshall Islands National Nuclear Commission, stated before the
UN Human Rights Council in October, 2024, “This is a legacy not only of suffering, loss, and frustration, but also of strength, unity, and unwavering commitment to justice.”
You can watch Ariana Tibon-Kilma’s powerful testimony of the horrific legacy of nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands by searching her name on YouTube.
Learn more about Greenpeace’s commemorative visit to the Marshall Islands act.gp/marshallislands.
Bunny McDiarmid and Henk Haazen, ex-Greenpeace staff who were part of the Operation Exodus in 1985, are greeted by members of the Marshallese community during the 40th anniversary reunion.
© Bianca Vitale / Greenpeace
RECONNECTING WITH NATURE
By Priyanka Vittal, Legal Counsel
In the Hindu religion that I grew up in, the connection to nature is based on the idea that we are not separate from it but rather a part of it — and our spiritual well-being is intertwined with the health and vitality of the Earth. Our belief is that the Earth is supported by four elephants standing on the back of a turtle. Rivers are worshipped and mountains are also considered sacred places.
In modern Western society, however, our relationship to nature looks very different. Many of us have become disconnected from the natural world. A 2017 study from Yale University found that people are increasingly spending more time on their screens than outdoors. This is because the places where we work, live and go to school often don’t encourage contact with natural spaces. Other priorities take precedent over time spent outside.
The reason for these disconnections are multifaceted, but the impact is not equally felt. Research suggests that there are racial disparities relating to access to quality green space, including local and national parks as well as recreational spaces. Fortunately, organizations and businesses like Black Environmental Initiative, Brown Girl Outdoor World and Colour the Trails are working to improve access to nature and the outdoors for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour communities.
Overcoming the many systematic barriers won’t happen overnight. It’ll take more than just individual action to make it happen, but there are things we can do to begin to reconnect. It can start by building awareness of the plants, insects and animals in the greenspaces near you, and moving mindfully through the greenspaces in your neighbourhood.
In fact, a recent study by the University of Exeter found that having structured time — around 2-3 hours a week — in natural environments can greatly improve wellbeing. If this sounds like a lot, break those suggested hours into 20-30 minutes a day, and those 20-30 down to 15 minutes in the morning, and 15 minutes in the afternoon.
It’s not just scientists that are highlighting the benefits of the outdoors — medical professionals are as well. A Prescription for Nature, an initiative of the BC Parks Foundation in collaboration with government and healthcare professionals across the country, allows doctors to prescribe patients with time in nature. This includes free access to parks and conservation areas across Canada.
And if this still isn’t possible, tend to a houseplant! Indoor plants foster a great connection to nature through seeding, cultivating, growing, and propagating. A 2015 study published by the Journal of Physiological Anthropology suggests that cultivating indoor plants can reduce your stress levels, too.
We know that time outdoors or tending to a houseplant won’t solve the climate crisis or mend our broken systems, but it may help lower climate anxiety and increase the motivation we need to keep pushing governments and major decision-makers to protect the planet. Because, as we know, it’s people power that will change the world, and we need everyone to work together to create the green and peaceful world we all deserve.
If you’d like to share your favourite ways to connect with nature, contact us at supporter.ca@greenpeace.org
© Priyanka Vittal
Priyanka on a hike through the Simien Mountains, Ethiopia.
Get informed, stay inspired!
If you’re looking to stay informed, engaged and hopeful about the climate crisis, we’ve got just the thing for you. We’ve compiled a list of books, films, and podcasts that address the climate crisis, highlight meaningful solutions, and profile inspirational people, which we hope you’ll enjoy!
“All We Can Save” (2020) edited by Johnson and Wilkinson. A collection of powerful essays, poetry and art on climate issues and solutions from 60 diverse female leaders.
BOOKS
FILMS
“ Braiding Sweetgrass” (2015) by Robin Wall Kimmerer. In this acclaimed book, Potawatomi professor Robin Wall Kimmerer explores reciprocal relationships between humans and the land, offering Indigenous knowledge as a complementary or alternative approach to modern Western science.
“ Under the Sky We Make” (2021) by Kimberly Nicholas. In this bestselling book, Nicholas combines climate science with personal experience, and highlights the need to find purpose in a warming world.
PODCASTS
Anthropocene: The Human Epoch (2018): Co-directed by Canadian filmmakers Jennifer Baichwal, Nicholas de Pencier, and Edward Burtynsky, this visually stunning documentary examines humanity’s massive impact on Earth, including our role in climate change.
The Nature of Things (1960 – present): The world’s longest-running science documentary series, currently hosted by Sarika Cullis-Suzuki and Anthony Morgan. This CBC series frequently covers climate science, impacts, and solutions through dedicated episodes.
Our Planet (2019): Narrated by David Attenborough, this award-winning series raises awareness about the world’s natural wonders and the threats they face, and inspires environmental protection.
A Matter of Degrees: Hosts Dr. Leah Stokes and Dr. Katharine Wilkinson discuss complex climate issues and concrete action steps, with scientific credibility.
What On Earth: With a practical focus on Canadian-specific environmental issues and solutions, host Laura Lynch’s interviewing style and the show’s regional relevance earn it strong reviews.
SystemShift: This Greenpeace International podcast explores how we can move from a world that serves the economy to an economy that works for people and the planet.
Get in touch!
Have a question? Need to update your information? Greenpeace Canada’s Supporter Care team is here to help!
greenpeace.ca Spring/Summer 2025
Please email the team at supporter.ca@greenpeace.org or reach them by phone between 9:30 am and 5:30 pm ET, Monday to Thursday, at 1-800-320-7183.
LET’S TALK
After taking care of your loved ones, you can continue protecting the planet for future generations with a gift to Greenpeace in your Will. It’s a simple process, and we’re here to help answer any questions you may have about the legacy you want to leave.
If you’re ready to start a conversation, email us at lcanada@greenpeace.org or call Lisa Bono , Head of Donor and Development at 647-955-0070 .
Scan the QR code to learn more about how you can make a lasting legacy!