Make It a Green Peace!: The Rise of a Countercultural Environmentalism

The emergence of Greenpeace in the late 1960s from a loose-knit group of anti-nuclear and anti-whaling activists fundamentally changed the nature of environmentalism--its purpose, philosophy, and tactics--around the world. And yet there has been no comprehensive objective history of Greenpeace's origins-until now. Make It a Green Peace! draws upon meeting minutes, internal correspondence, manifestos, philosophical writings, and interviews with former members to offer the first full account of the origins of what has become the most recognizable environmental non-governmental organization in the world. Situating Greenpeace within the peace movement and counterculture of the 1960s, Frank Zelko provides a much deeper treatment of the group's groundbreaking brand of radical, media-savvy, direct-action environmentalism than has been previously attempted. Zelko traces the complex intellectual and cultural roots of Greenpeace to the various protest movements of the 1950s and 1960s, highlighting the influence of Quakerism--with its practice of bearing witness--Native American spirituality, and the non-violent resistance of Gandhi. Unlike the more strait-laced, less confrontational Sierra Club and Audubon Society, early Greenpeacers smoked dope, dropped acid, wore their hair long, and put their bodies on the line--interposing themselves between the harpoons of whalers and the clubs of seal-hunters--to save the animals and achieve what they hoped would be a lasting transformation in the way humans regarded the natural world. And while it may not have achieved its most revolutionary goals, Greenpeace inarguably created a heightened awareness of environmental issues that endures to this day. Narrating the key campaigns and arguments among the group's early members, Make It a Green Peace! vividly captures all the drama, pathos, and occasional moments of absurd comic relief of Greenpeace's tumultuous first decade.

Table of Contents:
Introduction 1. Speak Truth to Power 2. The Enemies of Anarchy 3. The Canadian Crucible 4. Don't Make a Wave 5. Muroroa, Mon Amour 6. Showdown with the Force de Frappe 7. Armless Buddhas vs Carnivorous Nazis 8. The Reenchanted Whale 9. Stop Ahab 10. On Thin Ice 11. Blood and Death and Sex 12. The Paradox of Power: The Birth of Greenpeace International Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Frank Zelko is Associate Professor of History and Environmental Studies at the University of Vermont.

Review :
"Zelko's deeply researched and well-written book represents an important and invigorating contribution to the historiography of modern environmentalism. Make It a Green Peace!...should encourage more historians to adopt a transnational approach to the subject. The book's impressive research, thoughtful analysis, and accessible prose will entertain and enlighten any reader interested in the history of environmentalism."--Finis Dunaway, Environmental History "Make It a Green Peace! is a valuable addition to the history of twentieth-century environmentalism and the development of a particularly robust form of world civic politics...Greenpeace has been surprisingly underanalyzed by environmental historians; Frank Zelko fills this void...Zelko paints a vibrant portrait of the characters, episodes, and social contexts that defined Greenpeace to 1980. The book will change the way we teach and understand the interplay between the counterculture, the peace movement, global environmentalism, and environmental direct action...[T]his book is the rare scholarly text that is informative, a pleasure to read, and even occasionally funny."--Journal of American History "Readers...will find Make It a Green Peace!...an intimately researched and refreshingly enjoyable read...What stands out most is the magnificent writing. This book has enough excitement to be considered for a television docudrama series...Most chapters have passages that could be mistaken for dramatic fiction, and Zelko has recorded all of the tension, frustration, and comedy that ensue with each turn of events. Many of the core members had radical (and often opposing) views, and Zelko flawlessly captures these dynamics."--Brock Ternes, Environmental Politics "Wonderfully written and deeply researched, at its core Make It a Green Peace! is an institutional history tracing the creation, evolution, and finally establishment of the renowned environmental organization Greenpeace...Zelko tells this story by focusing on the complex relationships among an array of individuals who played a part in Greenpeace's evolution from a grassroots group born out of the anti-nuclear movement of the 1950s into a professionalized environmental organization with thousands of members and a global reach."--Michael Childers, American Historical Review "Early Greenpeace pioneers have written their own entertaining memoirs, but this densely sourced narrative is the definitive independent account, especially of the early years - and is highly readable."--New Scientist "Make it a Green Peace! is the best kind of history. Frank Zelko has managed to write an analysis of the founding and early years of Greenpeace that is both intelligent and very entertaining. Anyone who wants to understand modern environmentalism should read this book."--Kurk Dorsey, author of Whales and Nations: Environmental Diplomacy on the High Seas "This must be the definitive history of Greenpeace. Meticulously researched and immensely readable, it gives us the whole story, from grassroots hippies in Vancouver to global activism. Zelko's book is full of fresh insights about environmental issues, politics and ideas, and the individuals behind the rise of this remarkable international organization."--Christof Mauch, European Society for Environmental History "The story of Greenpeace is both astonishing and important-and Frank Zelko tells the story brilliantly. Make It a Green Peace! is a witty and wise account of one of the defining environmental groups of our time."--Adam Rome, author of The Genius of Earth Day