2011 is quite a year for the environment movement. Three giants of the sector have reached notable landmarks: WWF is celebrating its 50th anniversary while Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace burst onto the scene 40 years ago. Am not sure the RSPB's 122 year milestone quite lends itself to a party but colleagues in Cardiff and Bangor tell me that RSPB Cymru's cetenerary is still in full swing.
Last night I was lucky enough to be on the banks of the Thames to celebrate the arrival of the third Rainbow Warrior to coincide with Greenpeace's birthday celebrations. The Rainbow Warrior is such a poignant totem of the environment movement - on the frontline of conflict between humans and the natural world - the epitome of peaceful direct action. Remember that the first ship was sunk by the French foreign intelligent services in 1985 to prevent her from interfering in a nuclear test in Morura.
Rainbow Warrior II was put to service in 1989 but was retired in August this year and will see out its days as a hospital ship run by a Bangladeshi NGO.
And now, the third incarnation is a purpose built "motor-assisted sailing yacht". It is striking to look at. Last night, with a full moon and Thower Bridge as its backdrop, the ship's two 50m masts were lit up. Apparently these masts can carry 1,200 square metres of sail. Those in the know tell me that it is also incredibly fast, which might come in handing the next time it gets into a scrape.
So it made me think. What is the role of peaceful direct action in 21st century enivronmentalism? Not something that the RSPB has explored to date and am not saying that we are going to either. But we have cut our teeth on a number of demonstrations over the past few years (including No Airport at Cliffe, The Wave climate march on the eve of the climate talks and a number of marine parliamentary lobbies). Six Greenpeace supporters scaling Kingsnorth power station three years ago essentially triggered the end of unabated coal-fired power stations in this country. And, whatever you think of the protestors outside St Paul's it has been quite extraordinary to observe the impact that a small number of people have had on the Church of Engalnd if not on the financial institutions. People prepared to make a stand for what they believe in.
So two provocative questions for the end of the week: what do you think is the role of peaceful direct action in 21st century environmentalism? And if Rainbow Warrior is the campaigning totem for Greenpeace, what do think should be the most symbol of RSPB campaigns?
It would be great to hear your views.
Unfortunately no such thing as peaceful direct action it almost always disintergrates into violence and even if it doesn't wastes massive amount of police time that would be desperately needed elsewhere.Would have much greater respect for all protesters if they worked 40+hours a week and us working tax payers did not have to fund what quite often are misguided things,after all the riots which burnt parts of london come under the banner protests.We all have things we are not happy with and would like to change but if we all protested it would be chaos.St Pauls protest so crazy that 3 tents occupied at night and only the church hurt by protest which is a completely innocent party,how crazy is that,protesters probably professional protesters who will move onto something else soon.