Greenpeace marks 30 years with a warning

Pressure group Greenpeace was celebrating its 30th anniversary today but warned that the state of the environment is ‘‘worse than it ever was’’.

The pressure group was founded in September 1971 and since then has campaigned against nuclear testing, pollution and other environmental concerns.

It has grown from a band of just 12 volunteers to a worldwide organisation with more than 2.5 million supporters and a presence in 39 countries.

Greenpeace executive director Gerd Leipold said: ‘‘Greenpeace has become a symbol for non-violent protest to protect the environment.

‘‘We have developed our own campaigning style and demonstrated that ordinary people can make a difference to the state of the environment and international law.

‘‘We are particularly proud of Greenpeace’s successful campaigns to save the whales, to end nuclear testing and to get legal protection for Antarctica.

‘‘But although environmental awareness has grown enormously, the state of the environment is worse than it ever was.

‘‘We want to ensure there is a world our children can live in without risks from polluted water, air, land and food. In 30 years’ time, it may be too late to take action. It’s time to take back the planet.’’

The most notorious episode in Greenpeace’s history came in 1985 when the French secret service blew up the ship Rainbow Warrior in Auckland, New Zealand, as it headed to the South Pacific to protest against French nuclear testing. Greenpeace photographer Fernando Pereira was killed in the attack.

More recently Greenpeace activists delayed the launch of the US ‘‘Star Wars’’ missile defence testing in California by sailing inflatable vessels into the test zone.