Munich celebrates 50 years of Greenpeace.
We asked the members why they are committed to the environmental protection organization.
Stubborn, contentious and authentic: Greenpeace has been fighting with this claim for environmental and nature protection for 50 years.
What began in 1971 with twelve activists in America is now a global organization with over three million members.
There are local groups in over 100 German cities.
Greenpeace Munich has around 140 members - from young people to senior citizens.
Again and again the activists attract attention with sometimes provocative actions.
The most important topic is currently climate change.
We asked members what drives them.
Demo at the bathing lake
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Stefan Maier (left) at a Greenpeace demonstration in 2018.
© Andreas Fischer / Greenpeace
“I have campaigned against environmental pollution privately in the past.
I have been with Greenpeace for six years, as has my wife.
Our daughter is also involved in campaigns.
For Earth Overshoot Day on August 1, 2018, we went to the Stoibermühle swimming lake to demonstrate how serious the situation is - suddenly everyone around the lake was quiet.
On that day, mankind used up as many resources as the planet could regenerate in that year. ”
Stefan Maier (left, 57), entrepreneur from the district of Freising
Crisis hits us extremely
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Student Emilia is committed to ensuring that the people of Munich vote for the climate.
© Markus Götzfried
“I'm always there at the Fridays for Future demos - but I wanted to do more to help protect the climate.
That's why I've been with Greenpeace since this year.
I'm participating in the #voteforme campaign.
It's about convincing older people to vote for the climate.
Young people and children cannot vote yet, but the crisis hits us most.
We were also at Marienplatz for the campaign to talk to other generations. ”
Emilia L. (17), student from Munich
Commitment to the oceans
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Leonie wanted to join Greenpeace when she was ten.
© Markus Götzfried
“When I was ten years old, I wanted to go to Greenpeace.
At that time I was at an exhibition of the organization about the pollution of the world's oceans.
There was the Greenpeace ship Beluga II on Sylt.
The exhibition showed how oil drilling in the Wadden Sea affects the environment.
It was so memorable to me at the time that a postcard from the exhibition has been hanging over my bed ever since.
It was clear to me that when I grew up, I would go along with it.
I've been with Greenpeace for two months now. ”
Leonie S. (15), student from Munich
No more coal mining
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Anouk demonstrated against lignite mining in North Rhine-Westphalia.
© Markus Götzfried
“I've been worried about climate change for a long time.
I've always been to the Fridays for Future demos, but I wanted to do more.
That's why I've been with the Greenpeace Youth Munich since February and participated in a few campaigns.
For example, I was at the demo at the Garzweiler II open-cast lignite mine in North Rhine-Westphalia.
We have formed a human chain.
Whole villages and nature are being destroyed there for the climate-damaging lignite mining. ”
Anouk P. (18), student from Munich
Greenpeace: From the beginning to the present
On September 15, 1971, a former fishing trawler with a banner that read "Greenpeace" left Vancouver, Canada for the island of Amchitka.
Twelve activists were determined to protest against an atomic bomb test planned there.
Nobody had suspected that one of the largest environmental organizations in the world was born.
Greenpeace Germany was founded on October 13, 1980.
At that time, environmentalists prevented the toxic waste tanker Kronos from leaving the port.
After further protests, from 1989 onwards the German authorities no longer issued any permits for the disposal of waste in bodies of water.
Greenpeace has over 600,000 sustaining members in Germany.
There has been a volunteer Greenpeace group in Munich since the early 1980s.
Here, too, the organization attracts attention with its provocative actions.
There was criticism this year for the glider pilot at the EM.
Two people were injured.
The activists at the IAA recently drew attention to themselves when they went into the water basin in front of the trade fair to demonstrate for a faster goodbye to the internal combustion engine.
By the way: Our Munich newsletter informs you about all developments and results from the Isar metropolis about the upcoming federal election - and of course about all other important stories from Munich.
