A noble cause..

Greenpeace: Making a mark

The organisation that has seen a huge global fan-following with its campaigns stretching from Alaska to New Zealand finds Pune a place where people sit up and take notice. It is keen to tap multiplexes and shopping malls in the city with its awareness campaigns

Aditi Thirani Eastside

We’ve heard about them stopping ships carrying toxic waste in the Atlantic, we have also seen them rescuing wales beached on Australian shores; now we find them outside banks and corporate houses in Pune, lobbying support against global warming and pollution.

Greenpeace, the international NGO, has finally found a footing in Pune - thanks to its young and enthusiastic members who mainly comprise the city’s college-going fraternity. According to Greenpeace’s territory manager Chandrani Chatterjee, climate change is a very serious topic that cannot be neglected. "Everyone will be affected. If we don’t wake up to this now, carbon emissions will touch 50% by 2050," she says. Started in 1971, Greenpeace which is present in 42 countries, came to India in 1994 but started active campaigning not before 2001.

In India the organisation is present in eight cities including Pune. "People in other countries are aware of our organisation and the work we do, but here in India, very few people know about us," says Chandrani. It was in April 2004 that Greenpeace set up base in Pune. This year activists launched ’Ban the Bulb Campaign’. "Regular bulbs consume a lot of electricity. So to conserve power and at the same time save costs we have asked people to use CFL’s. In order to lobby government support, we met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in February this year," says Chandrani.

To enlighten people about the advantages of conserving power, the organisation has started what it calls a signature petition campaign. "Pune is receptive and people are very cooperative here. Every six out of 10 people listen to us. This way our job becomes easier," says Chandrani. Their campaign is divided into three parts — street, corporate and shopping malls. Campaigns on streets include standing outside banks where Direct Dialogue Recruiters as they are known, make people aware of the problems around them.

Activists can be seen addressing people in parking lots of banks. "Banks serve as an ideal platform for spreading awareness simply because educated people who are keen listeners come here for their routine transactions," says Chandrani. Boys and girls from the IT and BPO sector sign up as volunteers making Greenpeace’s job easier. At other venues, activists show short documentaries about what Greenpeace is doing, so that people get a better understanding of the organisation. "When it comes to listening, it is very difficult to explain everything. After all things do get monotonous and repetitive after a while. So we show them documentaries. It leaves a greater impact on the mind," says Chandrani.

Greenpeace is also in talks with multiplex owners so that their movies can be screened "I will be approaching the City Pride multiplex for this. If we are able to get cinema theatres involved, we will be reaching out to many more people at one go" says Chandrani. "Shopping malls also serve as a good medium to connect with the general masses. S G S Mall is one the malls we approached. "We got a huge response there. We are planning to have our activists stationed at more places like this so that more and more people become aware of the cause we are working for. I am also keen on making presentations at the walking plaza on Main Street," says Chandrani.

Greenpeace has also covered the whole of Hinjewadi. Names like Infosys, EDS, Patni Canbay and Wipro have given them a boost. Wipro, says Chandrani, "replied very positively to the E-waste campaign we held. The campaign was started so that E-waste could be saved and reused. Wipro had a recycle unit in place by July this year". Greenpeace activists have also given presentations in schools. Activists have shown documentaries in schools like St. Mira’s, DAV Aundh and St. Vincent. Rotary Clubs have also been covered in their campaigns.

Greenpeace activists can also be seen in housing societies and residential areas. Most recruits who help the organisation are college going students. "In Pune most of our representatives are under-grads or graduates. Today’s youngsters are aware of almost everything. We keep them updated on happenings through the mail," says Chandrani. Many students who have spare time like to use it for a good cause and connect very well with the masses. "We have around 21 representatives in Pune. Most of our staff comprise young freshers and this is the lot that comes up with great ideas," says Chandrani.

Greenpeace is also finding a good support base in the city. "The number of supporters in Pune is going to cross 8,000. Many of our supporters are from the IT sector and include software professionals," she says. "Since we have no middle men involved in the collection of funds, it goes directly go to our organisation. We need financial help to function but at the same time are very stringent when it comes to taking help. In the Western world, every second person is a Greenpeace supporter. We don’t accept cash, nor do we take help from any company or organisation. We work on individual contributions only," says Chandrani.

With World Environment Day fast approaching, Greenpeace is putting together its awareness campaigns in the city. "We are definitely making plans for that day and would like to make the most out of it," says Chandrani. "In today’s world where people are working for their own gains, we at Greenpeace are working for the betterment of the planet. To get our message across loud and clear we are also trying to rope in big names. It is celebrities and captains of industry that will create a direct impact in peoples’ hearts," signs off Chandrani.