I have never insisted that people watch Greenpeace videos. Usually they’re hyperbole-filled fundraising pitches or violent cartoon animations, but the latest eye-opening creation is simply too good to pass up. Therefore, I implore you to watch this video and our response to it.
It’s an example of the top-notch strategic decision making that is a Greenpeace hallmark and a great look at where donations actually go. And for retailers… well… for retailers it speaks for itself. While serious sustainability organizations are working with scientists and industry to craft policies that promote ecological conservation, Greenpeace is cruising around the world on a party boat.
The video features scantily clad crewmembers, nightclub dancing, aeriel helicopter shots, underwater scenes and, yes, the perfunctory hot tub scene. Yet in promoting and soliciting donations for the construction of the newest Rainbow Warrior, Greenpeace claimed the money would go towards “bolt(s),” “a soap dish” and even “a piece of her sail.” Curiously, they never mentioned the hot tub.
Let’s muse about the decision making that went into this video, shall we? A group of activists who apparently have nothing to do but sunbathe and clean the decks of their $30 million yacht decide that the best use of Greenpeace’s dough is to produce a video that shows them in the throws of a donor-sponsored, high seas dance party.
Sure, why not?
It will attract attention and maybe encourage volunteer to sign up. Because it’s realistic to think that far from shopping petitions on cold city streets, if I join Greenpeace I’ll get to see the world from the deck of a booze cruise. Yea, and the donations will just come rollin’ in.
Let’s not forget Aaron Gray-Block’s account of life aboard Greenpeace’s flagship vessel:
“It’s not a holiday as some colleagues in Amsterdam have suggested witha smirk — no, I will not be sitting in a hammock in the sun with a cocktail in my hand.”
The boat appears to be filled with a bunch of high-flying, yoga posing, carefree pursers who look more likely to report to *Captain Stubing than a scientist.
Greenpeace is a fundraising machine that has to bring in $700,000 a day just to keep the lights of this multi-national corporation on. And in addition to detracting from actual sustainability work being done with its antics, it sometimes takes a break to spend donations on videos like this. Thank you Greenpeace for giving us this glimpse of your hard work.
*For those featured in this video who were not born in the era of Captain Stubing we should explain the reference; he was the captain of a fictional but famed cruise ship known as The Love Boat.
We put the Greenpeace video into context here:
