I was thrilled when the opportunity to not only walk on the decks of the Rainbow Warrior (RW), but to contribute in her Malaysia tour stop presented itself. My eco-sister, Davina, and I had two days of high spirits in a wonderfully casual experience on board, where Greenpeace staff and volunteers worked hard from morning to night, yet stayed in good cheer.
I felt awestruck being on the RW, but it felt strangely normal sitting in the mess of the iconic ship; with relaxed conversation in the company of some real easy-going people. A playful argument between Vegemite or Marmite, the story behind a tattoo. It looked like a meeting point of friends coming from all over the globe.
We saw a scattering of the ship’s crew going about their day and Greenpeace staff from across the region. They jovially updated each other on successes, sharing about what they’ve worked on since they last met.
In contrast to the usual hundreds of plastic bottles of water usually found on any boat, we drank straight from the RW’s water dispenser with water desalinated, filtered and processed straight from the ocean. Trash is taken seriously on this boat, with the crew all sorting and composting the rest of their waste.
We enjoyed delicious vegetarian food from Willie’s galley, who cooks vegetarian 6 days a week. Not everyone is a hardcore vegan, hardcore zerowaster, or hardcore anything here. Everyone keeps an open mind, seeking truth behind the destruction of the environment, and then taking personal steps to be responsible in their habits. They dig in to delicious vegetarian meals with enthusiasm, and go “Sure, why not? It’s good for me and our planet”.
Greenpeace brought four of us to work together; Davina and I along with two cameramen / video journalists, Joshua Paul and Rahman, who volunteered their skills. We hosted a Facebook Live tour of the ship to bring that experience digitally to more Malaysians. The ship tour itself was overbooked and it was moving to see the strength of the Malaysian crowd that turned up, a new generation looking to be inspired to do more for the environment.
There are many ways to give to a cause, and I’m glad we lot were able to contribute our skill set in the areas we know best. It wasn’t something that was immediately clear to me, that every one of us have valuable skills that the fight for the environment needs.
In fact, many origin stories we heard that day started with a person who were donors or volunteered with Greenpeace for some time before joining the cause full-time.
And in environmental activism, it knows not gender or class, but capability and heart. Despite ships usually being a male dominated world, I saw many women among the crew and in positions of leadership, like Captain Hettie Geenan and First Mate, Maria.
The camaraderie and good spirits on board had me tempted to quit my job and be an activist too. But campaigning in the fight for the environment is not for the faint hearted, and the people on board were very real examples of that.
Like barefoot Captain Pete sitting with us for a coffee, who was involved in the bombing of the first Rainbow Warrior, and the arrest of the Arctic 30. Or the joyful and unassuming Albert Lozada, who faced deportation and narrowly avoided life-threatening encounters. While I made memories in a sheltered life, they made memories in the field, with the people and communities they fight for, locals displaced and severely affected when corporate greed override the welfare of the community and environment.
We may know the name Greenpeace, but not always the names of the force behind Greenpeace, the people. The ones changing the world, one peaceful step at a time.
The best part is, everyone goes headfirst into it not because they want to change the size of their wallets or their influence. They do it so that everyone wins, so that the world can have Greenpeace’s vision of a green and peaceful future.
In conversations on board, I found the answer to the question we all personally struggle with. “What happens when you feel demotivated and discouraged in the fight for the environment?” This is what I hear: It happens. But you keep going and you surround yourself with good people.
We were in great company here, people from all over coming together, passionately working to move the world and themselves in the right direction. The energy was infectious. The inspiration was so real, so tangible, you feel it swell in your heart thinking of all the ways you could contribute to the world at large. And it can be in simple and unexpected ways.
At that time, I had only been on my advocacy journey for little over a year, yet I was warmly welcomed to join in on the panel of the World Environment Day Public Forum to share as a #zerowaste advocate using social media to reach the masses with the message of conservation.
I felt silly at first, with a very distinguished panel and the Greenpeace staff, crew and volunteers in the audience. How could I compare? I was on a boat with so many who worked tirelessly for the environment. After an earnest discussion amongst the panel and audience, the crew, staff, and fellow panelists offered many words of support and encouragement. They showed me that I shouldn’t feel less than, everyone’s contribution is valued. There is no measuring stick, we’re all working for the same goal.
After all, Greenpeace and the RW are here to inspire US towards a stable climate and a healthy environment.
The journey of an environmentalist is an inclusive one. As long as you carry yourself sincerely and back it up with action, you have a place at this table. A figurative table where people, regardless of origin, come together to move the rest of the population to follow suit. And there’s always room for one more.
Whether we’re campaigning amongst the people, the corporates, or the government. With our voices and actions in our lives or with social media; as an individual or with an organisation. Or even with a ship. Anyone who answers the call with a heart for the environment is a hero in their own way.
In the words of Yeb Saño, “When we don’t act, every day we lose an opportunity to make an impact”
Contribute, serve, speak up; you can do so much as one person. And together, we can do more.
Melissa Tan is a Malaysian model, host and TV personality in addition to being a Greenpeace Malaysia volunteer.
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