Author Archives: lindacapato1

The GOT – A Marvelous Victory

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Posted on behalf of Bessie Rose, GOT Spring 10 Alum:

 

 

I’ve just returned from the most life changing experience I’ve had yet in my 19 years on this beautiful Earth.  The experience I speak of is the Greenpeace Organizing Term. This semester, also called the GOT, provides students that have a passion for environmental activism, organizing, or are just curious about environmental issues in general an outlet to turn their concern into action.

 

When I signed up for the GOT, I’ll admit, I wasn’t entirely sure what I was getting myself into. Once I had completed the interview, and then been accepted, I realized my vision – to act on something I cared deeply about – would become a reality.

The semester was filled with action (quite literally) on all ends.

Some major highlights for me were the campaign simulation, the trainings, and the expedition trip. The campaign simulation gave each student two days to prepare, plan and implement a hypothetical environmental campaign on their campus or in their community using the tools we had gained while on the GOT.

It was hard but rewarding work, and after completion of the simulation, my confidence in my ability to run an environmental campaign increased ten-fold.

Our expedition trip to Canada to bear witness to the tar sands was perhaps the most eye-opening experience for me while on the GOT. Before leaving for the trip we spent weeks studying the tar sands.

We learned just how detrimental the tar sands are both to the land which contains large amounts of Canada’s wetlands and vast amounts of biodiversity, and also for the people including indigenous populations whose rights have been endlessly violated by oil companies.

Once we got to Canada, we went on an exclusive tour through the tar sands. Along with the DC GOT class and Greenpeace Canada, we successfully planned and carried out an action in front of the BP headquarters in Calgary.

Our action coincided with BP’s annual general meeting in London and other protests going on as part of the “BP Fortnight of Shame” to re-brand BP as an environmentally destructive company and demand that they divest from tar sands development.

 

 

The Calgary BP action was tons of fun to plan and carry out, but also required lots of hard-work, organization, and focus since it was almost entirely up to the GOT to plan and organize the event. Luckily, Greenpeace Canada was kind enough to give us space and materials to work, and also helped coordinate media to arrive at the event.

It’s hard to encompass exactly what the Greenpeace Organizing Term did for me in a few paragraphs. I want to say that if you decide to join the GOT, I promise you won’t be disappointed.

The GOT has and taught me how to align my beliefs with action that matters. For me, that’s the core of hope. And that, in itself, is a marvelous victory.

-Bessie Rose, Greenpeace Organizing Term Spring 2010 Alum

Changing the world, one student at a time

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Every semester I get a chance to witness something incredible.  A handful of students from all around North America take a break from their traditional semester, and join the Greenpeace Organizing Term. This might not sound like an incredible feat to you, but to me, I see the future of the movement investing in their skills to learn how to make a bigger impact.
The Greenpeace Organizing Term is not just a chance for students to take a neat trip across country.  This program is an important piece for us to grow a massive movement.  Yes it’s important for us to have folks from every walk of life fighting in the streets for legislation, corporate accountability, and even our lives.  What is so unique about the youth movement, and building up leadership in it, is not only will students continue to carry the torch long after I’m gone, but because the world we leave as adults, is the one their children are actually going to inherit.
Students who have just started learning about the problems are taking the leap and making time to learn how they can be apart of something bigger.
The GOT teaches students how to do everything from recruit fellow students into the movement, plan full campaigns, to actually doing the work in the field.  We’re not necessarily looking for the students who have done this work for years (although we do have many experienced students join), we’re looking for any person 18-24 who wants to learn how to fight corporate power, ensure a greener future, and learn how to inspire others to take action.
Everyday I tell the story of a particular student I admire. I admit, I barely know Basil, seeing as he was in the GOT before I came to work with Greenpeace. I feel the effects of his hard work and dedication every day.
Basil was a student at UVM who was excited about learning more about how to effect environmental issues, he took the plunge and joined the GOT.  Since his time with Greenpeace, he has been able to effectively build a massive movement on campus. He helped recruit tons of students to the largest convergence of youth for climate issues in history (at Powershift ’09), helped to build momentum to break his schools’ contract with Kimberly-Clark, and he was even one of the brave activists on Mt. Rushmore in our direct communication with the President.
Why Basil inspires me everyday, is not the impressive wins he’s had, but more that he’s been able to inspire years of students from his community to take the plunge with him. Each semester we have at least 1 student from his community join the program and become a leader. The work Basil and his group the “Forest Crimes Unit” has accomplished has inspired every one of these students.
That’s why it’s so important that you take a minute and talk to any student you know between the age of 18 to 24 to check out our program. Tell them about Basil and the amazing work he’s accomplished, tell them that this is their fight and that will continue long after me and you.
If you are a student, I hope that you take a minute to check out our site and apply to a program that will give you the necessary tools to build a movement in your community and the world.

My Inspiration

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I don’t have to tell you that the threats that face the planet are absolutely dire. People are doing things they never imagined in hopes of ensuring that our children’s children have a planet that is livable.

What keeps me inspired through all of this? Working with youth that are willing to put their lives on hold, to join the Greenpeace Organizing Term. Every semester, 25-30 students are taking time off of school, fundraising to cover tuition, convincing parents to let them join, and moving their lives sometimes across the country to learn how to become leaders in the environmental movement.

The Greenpeace Organizing Term is a semester long program where students learn basic to advanced campaign and grassroots organizing skills. Students spend 12 weeks learning how to build the movement back home, pressure big corporations and elected officials, and how to inspire coming generations of environmental activists.

During the program students’ travel to work on campaigns in the field, where they get to use their new skills on Greenpeace campaigns. On their expedition trip, they get a chance to see how environmental issues effect global communities, and have a chance to support those communities through organizing. .

Check out this awesome slideshow that we put together of a few of our over 200 alumni sharing why they decided to take a stand:

Do you want to be apart of this growing movement of youth who are willing to take a stand for the environment? Check out the G.O.T.’s website for more info and to apply!

The Organizing Term is an amazing experience for current undergraduate students who are 18-24. If you are, or know someone whois currently a student who is passionate about environmental change, check out our site at http://www.greenpeace.org/got and apply today for our Spring 2010 semester!