By Kim Tae-jong
Greenpeace will open an office in Seoul in mid-June to strengthen environmental protection campaigns in more effective and efficient ways in the East Asian region.
“Asia is fast developing and industrialized and environmental impacts are also growing,” Greenpeace East Asia Executive Director Mario Damato told The Korea Times. “Korea is no exception.”
The plan comes as part of the launch of Greenpeace East Asia for stronger cross-boundary coordination, with offices in Hong Kong, Beijing and Taipei already in operation.
As a global environmental organization, Greenpeace offices worldwide need to operate in a more integrated way and offices in East Asia will join other existing regional offices, including those in Africa, Southeast Asia and Central and Eastern Europe, he said.
In opening the Seoul office, the organization pledged to tackle the issue of climate change as one of the biggest and most urgent global issues, and it also plans to strengthen its anti-nuclear and ocean protection campaigns as its main regional tasks here.
“Korea has maintained pro-nuke policies, and at the same time it has the potential to develop alternative energy sources. We will push anti-nuke campaigns as one of the specific regional issues that we must tackle,” Damato said.
The office will also take up an oceans campaign, which has so far not been adequately addressed in this big fishery country, he added.
He also said the organization will cooperate with local environmental groups on specific regional issues, citing the recently alleged dumping of Agent Orange by the U.S. military here in the past.
“They have their own expertise on local issues, and we have our own specialties on international issues. We will seek cooperation with them, rather than compete.”
Regarding ways of pursuing environmental campaigns, Damato emphasized the non-violent principle of the organization.
“It is true that we’re known as very aggressive, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. We work on scientific research and we hold press conferences and try to talk to governments.”
Action is taken to attract public attention on certain issues only when necessary, he said.
As one of its other principles, he emphasized that Greenpeace will not accept donations from governments or corporations but rely on contributions from individual supporters and foundation grants to maintain its independence
Greenpeace Seoul will recruit four members soon, and as Rainbow Warrior will finish its research in the seas off Fukushima in Japan, which was recently devastated by an earthquake, and arrive at Incheon Port next week, they will hold a press conference to release their research findings.