London Greenpeace

London Greenpeace was an Anarchist environmentalist activist collective that existed between 1971 and 2001. They were based in London, and came to international prominence when two of their activists refused to capitulate to McDonalds in the landmark libel case known as "McLibel".

Origins

In 1970 a group of activists involved with War Resisters' International and Peace News formed a new group committed to environmentalism and Anarchism. [ [http://www.mcspotlight.org/people/biogs/london_grnpeace.html London Greenpeace - History and Past Campaigns ] ] By 1972 they were using the name "Greenpeace". They began their political activism by campaigning against the testing of French nuclear weapons in the Pacific.

London Greenpeace is not affiliated with Greenpeace. Greenpeace was formed out of a rough coalition of various environmentalist groups in 1977, many of whom were already using the name "Greenpeace". London Greenpeace emphatically wanted to remain independent of this new and larger Greenpeace, which they saw as being too "centralized and mainstream for their tastes". ["No Logo," Naomi Klein, p. 388.]

Political Affiliation

London Greenpeace's politics have primarily been informed by Anarchism. They have been linked, ideologically and in their activism with radical environmentalism, green anarchism and pacifism. They have been officially affiliated with War Resisters' International, the National Peace Council, [ [http://www.mcspotlight.org/people/biogs/london_grnpeace.html London Greenpeace - History and Past Campaigns ] ] and the Animal Liberation movement. In the 1980s they were involved with the Stop the City campaigns, ["The Story of Crass," George Berger, p. 247.] whilst the 1990s saw them helping to initate the London-wide Reclaim The Streets Network. They are viewed as one of the first Anarchist groups to promote a specifically environmentalist message.

McLibel

In 1990 McDonalds took court action against five London Greenpeace supporters, Paul Gravett, Andrew Clarke and Jonathan O'Farrell, Helen Steel and David Morris, for libel. The activists had been distributing a pamphlet throughout London alleging that McDonalds were involved in massive environmental degradation, treated their labour force unfairly, and lied about the damaging effects of their food. Whilst McDonalds assumed that a standard threat of legal proceedings would silence the activists, Steel and Morris (often referred to as "The McLibel Two") took the multinational to court. London Greenpeace mobilised their resources and supporters to assist in the court case, and the parallel solidarity campaigns. The eleven-year court battle was a public relations disaster for McDonalds, and brought the activists, London Greenpeace, and their accusations against McDonalds to the international stage.

Dissolution

In 2001 London Greenpeace issued a public statement announcing their dissolution. [ [http://www.veggies.org.uk/news/e010129.htm Animal Rights News in UK ] ] While the McLibel action brought fresh energy, publicity and urgency to the organisation, this did not last long, and the group felt it best to permanently suspend their efforts. [ [http://www.veggies.org.uk/news/e010129.htm Animal Rights News in UK ] ]

ee also

* Earth First!
* Reclaim the Streets
* Stop the City

References