Organization: National Capital Freenet, Ottawa, Canada
Lines: 51
While I believe that groups like Greenpeace serve a very important function
in questioning things like nuclear power, I share the opinion that
Greenpeace does use propaganda to its own dismerit. I will cite two cases.
The first case involves a film I watched last summer. I have been trying to
recall the name but it escapes me. I will find it out and post it later.
In any case it was produced by a Norwegian (?). The film examines the role
and modus operandi of Greenpeace in attacking major industries in Nordic
countries (incl. Iceland and Greenland) and Newfoundland....re whaling, sealing
and fur trade. It shows the tactics involved and the degree to which the
facts have been distorted. It then refers to an issue in Australia where
Greenpeace tried to claim that baby kangaroos were being unmercifully
slaughtered along the lines of the baby seals in Newfoundland. It
turned out that the Greenpeace filming of the slaughter of baby kangaroos
was in fact not fact but done by actors (greenpeace actors). Those
individuals were taken to court and successfully prosecuted.
The film was only shown on national television, I believe in Iceland.
Greenpeace managed to block the Norwegian film elsewhere. This says a lot
about this organization's philosophy about democracy, etc.
The film is well produced and in documentary style where the counter
arguments from reputable organizations and individuals to Greenpeace
claims are made.
The second case involves a meeting I hosted as President of a very active
...community association in Ottawa. The meeting dealt with water quality
and what we as residents could do about it. The meeting room was standing
room only. We had a panel with reps from localenvironmental activist
groups, provincial, regional and local government government organizations.
In attendance was a good cross section of local politicians. The meeting
went very well and we learned a lot. However, close to the end of the
meeting we had a Greenpeace lobbyist appear who literally ranted on
about how we should be effectively scaling the Peace Tower of the Parliament
Buildings to make our points. To say the least, the audience was a little
stunned, particularly as this individual had not even be present at the
meeting to participate and hear what was in fact accomplished.
I approached the Greenpeace person after the meeting to suggest that if he
was interested in helping us out that he should get involved in our
ongoing effort. He showed no interest in doing so. I was left with the impression that he couldn't care less. He was more interested in establishing his
lobbyist crede
credentials with a local politician. So much for Greenpeace!
