Welcome to the first edition of People Power Newsletter for 2024! This is a collection of the amazing work of Greenpeace volunteers and partner communities in Southeast Asia. We want to celebrate the incredible work they are doing and we hope you take inspiration from their experiences and stories.
Community Stories
Days after the devastation, our news team transitioned from coverage to a help desk for Yolanda survivors and their families. We transcribed letters given to journalists on the ground, mostly written on scrap papers and torn cardboards. We uploaded them online hoping that the messages will reach their relatives. Most of the dispatch was heartbreaking news of death and pleas for help. But one stood out, “Buhi kami tanan” or “Buhay kaming lahat” (“We’re alive”)— a message of hope amidst a tragedy.
“Buhi kami tanan” is part of the People’s Museum of Climate Justice, a living, growing physical and virtual museum co-created and co-curated with climate impacted communities in the Philippines and other countries. It features stories of pain, struggles, aspirations, heroism, and demands to make polluters pay from climate-impacted communities. The physical gallery was launched in Manila last December 2023 as part of the Make Polluters Pay ship tour. Visit the virtual museum and explore all stories here.
Volunteer Corner
We Demand Who Cares!
Lidwina Nathania is a Greenpeace volunteer from Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia. During the election, she followed the “Salah pilih susah pulih” mobilization in Jakarta to encourage the general public to choose a leader who will put the people and planet first over the interests of oligarchy. Read the full story.
My First Action Story
In this world of diverse backgrounds and untold stories, Davy Animas and Romela Gianan stand out as catalysts for change within Greenpeace. They both participated in the transformative Greenpeace Ship Tour in the Philippines, which became the crucible for their personal metamorphosis.
Davy, a retired Overseas Filipino Worker from Singapore, and a tireless advocate for migrant worker’s rights, found renewed purpose in environmental justice upon her return home. Her first actions journey with Greenpeace’s Kayak Team tested her endurance and rekindled a sense of pride in her contributions.
Meanwhile, Romela Gianan, blending her hotel industry experience with a passion for yoga and activism, embarked on a voyage that challenged her perceptions. Through routine and extraordinary moments alike, she learned the art of contentment and the courage to embrace the wildness in the pursuit of awakening towards environmental justice.
Their stories illuminate the power of individuals to shape their destinies and the world around them. Davy and Romela, epitomize the spirit of transformation, proving that every journey, no matter how different, can lead to profound change.
Becoming the Voices for the Animals
My name is Syira Junaidi and I’ve been volunteering for Greenpeace Malaysia and Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia – SAFM since 2020. In all of those years, there isn’t one moment of passivity or surrender. The team is always hard at work raising funds, meeting law-makers, and rallying with the public in support of animal welfare rights. Countless stray animals’ lives were spared thanks for the dedication of our core team. Recently, we managed to stop a local authority program to cull 500 stray dogs in Selangor. Instead, SAFM always has been advocating TNR alternatives. The road to full public awareness is still very long, so we shall never rest until then. But the power of the people has evidently helped our animals, who cannot speak for themselves. We are their voices, we are their power. Read more about the campaign.
Greenpeace Thailand Volunteer Programs
We kicked off 2024 with a Greenpeace volunteer camp in Bangkok! In this event, our volunteers gathered to reflect on 2023, share their favorite activities, discuss areas for improvement, and collectively advance environmental issues. They discussed campaign efforts and planned collaborative projects with Greenpeace activists focusing on rights, social, and environmental matters. Additionally, they learned about participatory work, campaign planning, and Greenpeace’s methods. The volunteers expressed their readiness to tackle 2024 with enthusiasm! Greenpeace Thailand also launched four programs that volunteers and public can be involved with and make difference on their own ways.
Greenspeakers Team
The Greenspeakers program is driven entirely by the effort and dedication of Greenpeace volunteers! Greenpeace Thailand hosts workshops for new Greenspeakers who are interested in fostering the development of a new generation of environmental leaders, enhancing their environmental education programs, and representing Greenpeace in public outreach and advocacy. As one of the world’s leading environmental organizations, we are committed to making a difference.
Digital Activist
We recently conducted training for volunteers interested in becoming online activists in the Greenpeace way. This involves peacefully communicating, exposing, and challenging environmental injustices. It’s a powerful method to hold government agencies and companies accountable for the damage caused by their decisions. Additionally, it helps create awareness and provide a platform for debating on environmental issues through online channels.
Local Volunteer Team
Local volunteers in Chana are discovering new ways to empower themselves by contributing their skills, gaining a sense of purpose, fulfillment, and personal growth, all while making a positive impact on the lives of others. We conducted two workshops: The first was a one-day session focused on volunteerism and community development in their hometown. The second was a two-day field trip to explore “Hill, Forest, Cornfield, and Sea.” In each area, volunteers connected with community development plans covering food security, community economics, and ecotourism and education. This initiative brought the new generation together to protect coastal community rights, build social connections, and strengthen community ties.
Diving Team
For the first time ever, Greenpeace Thailand’s Ocean Project has launched its very own diving activist team! These dedicated divers are set to explore and protect our beautiful marine ecosystems. Stay tuned for updates as they dive into action, uncovering the wonders of the deep and championing ocean conservation. Together, we can make a splash for a greener, bluer planet! 🌏💙
People Power Craft (PPC) Team
Last May 29 to June 2, 2023 Greenpeace conducted a Regional Boat Training and People Powered Craft Skillshare in Indonesia. The training was joined by volunteers from Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia. While implementing the new version of the Standard Boat Course module, it was also the first in the region to have a People Powered Craft session. The trainees were able to put their learning into practice as they joined the Deep Sea Mining Global Day of Action activity at the end of the training. Interested to be part of the PPC team? Reach out to our local Greenpeace office.
Read, Listen, Watch
Sailing for Change: Two Filipina Environmental Volunteers onboard the Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior Ship
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be part of the crew of an advocacy ship? Sailing around the globe, braving the waves, meeting and hearing stories of impacted communities firsthand, and contributing to scientific research while campaigning for environmental and social justice. Read more about their story
On Thin Ice: Putin v Greenpeace
A 6-part documentary series by BBC telling the story of Arctic 30. The story of 28 Greenpeace activists and 2 journalists who spent three months in a Russian Jail for protesting against big oil. Unfortunately there isn’t a public link to share but you can read the review of the documentary over here and perhaps we can watch it together one day at our office. 🙂
Cinemata’s Earth Day Special: Exploring Environmental Narratives Across Asia-Pacific
In its third year, Cinemata proudly presents its special newsletter dedicated to Earth Day on April 22nd. This edition features a thoughtfully curated selection of environmental films titled ‘Voices of the Land: Environmental Reflections in Asian Cinema’, co-curated with Kriti Film Club, the Cultural Center of the Philippines Film, Broadcast, and New Media Division, and Lingkar Keadilan Ruang (Circle for Justice of Ecological Space).
The films featured in this collection delve into the complex interplay between environmental degradation and conservation, shedding light on their inter-connectedness with socio-economic and political landscapes. Highlighting the experiences and efforts of communities living in close proximity to nature, these films explore themes such as large-scale migration and developmental pressures in India, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Watch the films
One of the greatest things you can give for the planet is your time.