Greenpeace has directly helped to bring about positive environmental changes in the world and in Southeast Asia.
Philippine Senate finally passes the Renewable Energy Bill!
Hundreds of students, bikers, runners, volunteers, and supporters in Renewable Energy-themed costumes called for the immediate passage of the Renewable Energy Bill. © Greenpeace/Luis Liwanag
18 May 2010: Nestlé finally announced a break for the orang-utan - as well as Indonesian rainforests and peatlands - by committing to stop using products that come from rainforest destruction.
5 April 2009: After our ongoing anti-nukes push in the region, President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono backed away from longstanding and highly controversial plans to build a nuclear reactor in one of the world's most seismically active countries, saying it would instead develop existing energy sources and explore renewable alternatives before pursuing the nuclear option.
March 2009: The iconic Philippine Rice Terraces in Ifugao Province, a UNESCO Living Cultural Heritage site, was declared a genetically-modified organism (GMO)-Free zone. The historic declaration, which is in line with the province’s commitment to preserve the integrity of the country’s most enduring cultural symbol, was enacted by Ifugao Governor Hon. Teodoro Baguilat Jr. and Banaue Mayor Hon. Lino Madchiw, with the support of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.
16 December 2008: President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed the Renewable Energy Law which is intended to accelerate the development and utilization of renewable energy sources in the country.
November 2008: Thai Rice Exporters Association commits to export only GE-free rice in a letter they sent to us.
September 29, 2008: Senators in the Philippines finally passed the Renewable Energy bill, paving the way for enactment of a law that will allow massive uptake of renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, to ensure energy security and to combat climate change.
July 2008: After Greenpeace had been working to support Tapsakae's environmental protection group's fight to stop the construction of new 4,000 megawatts coal-fired power plant in Tapsake district, Prachuab Khiri Khan province, Thailand, the Thai government, led by Electricity Generation Authority of Thailand (EGAT) put the project on hold during the Rainbow Warrior's Quit Coal ship tour in July 2008, where Greenpeace mobilized Tapsakae community to form a human banner proclaiming "Quit Coal".
May 2008: After just three weeks of actions, a hugely popular spoof advert and 115,000 online signatures Unilever changes its position to support a moratorium on cutting down trees in Indonesia for palm oil plantations.
12 July 2006: In a decisive victory that attests to the growing opposition against coal in the country, the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) has conceded to withdraw its plans for an integrated coal mining and mine-mouth power plant project in Isabela after massive opposition from Isabela communities and Greenpeace.
26 June 2006: Dell has become the latest company to promise to remove the worst toxic chemicals from it products, closely following the move of its rival HP. Both companies have been pressured by us to make their products greener and help tackle the growing mountain of toxic e-waste.
12 October 2005: Governor Arnan Panaligan of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines issues Memorandum Circular 150-05 implementing a provincial ban on Genetically Modified Organisms that covers the banning of introduction, demonstration or experimental pursposes of GMOs not covered in the original Environmental Code.
29 April 2005: After persistent online pressure by Greenpeace supporters, Sony Ericsson announces that it will be phasing out toxic chemicals from its products, joining Samsung, Nokia, and Sony as among the first clean electronics companies.
29 October 2004: Greenpeace efforts to achieve tighter controls on the notorious shipbreaking industry result in an international agreement to treat obsolete ships as waste. Treaty commitments by 163 nations can be expected to increase demands for the decontamination of ships prior to their export to the principal shipbreaking countries (China, India, Bangladesh, Philippines and Turkey). The treaty will also create new demand for "green" ship recycling in developed countries.
15 October 2004: Greenpeace secures the protection of the minke whale, the great white shark, and the irrawaddy dolphin at the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) in Bangkok, Thailand.
10 March 2004: The Thai Land Department revokes the deeds of more than 1,300 rai land designated in the Klong Dan wastewater treatment project, signaling a victory in the legal battle against land brokers, Palm Beach Development Klong Dan Marine Fishery, for encroaching upon public land water sources.
20 February 2004: 180 governments agree to establish a global network of protected areas in both sea and land at the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2002: The Philippine government halts plans for a 50 megawatt coal-fired power station in Pulupandan, province of Negros.
2002: Greenpeace campaigners prevent the construction of coal plants in Bo Nok and Ban Krut in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand.
2001: The Thai Minister of Public Health announces plans to institute the mandatory labeling of genetically modified food.
2001: A UN Treaty banning the use of highly toxic persistent man-made chemicals (Persistent Organic Pollutants or POPs) is adopted after years of negotiation and pressure from Greenpeace.
2001: Together with partner environmental groups and communities, Greenpace successfully pushes for the approval of the Philippine Ecological Waste Management Act which mandates the implementation of front-end strategies, namely waste reduction, separation and recycling to solve the country’s waste crisis.
2000: The Biosafety Protocol is adopted in Montreal, Canada. It aims to protect the environment and human health from risks of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) by controlling the international trade of GMOs. Greenpeace has campaigned to stop the irreversible release of GMOs into the environment and to protect biodiversity from genetic pollution since 1995.
1999: Greenpeace` successfully led the campaign to push for the passage of Republic Act No. 8749, otherwise known as "The Philippine clean Air Act of 1999" which includes an unprecedented national ban against waste incineration.
1997: Greenpeace receives the UNEP Ozone Award for the development of Greenfreeze, a domestic refrigerator free of ozone-depleting and global warming chemicals.
1996: The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) is adopted at the United Nations.
1994: The Basel Convention is adopted signaling the end of exports of toxic waste by iindustrialized countries to the developing world.
1993: A permanent ban is put on dumping of radioactive and industrial wastes at sea.
1990: 39 Antarctic Treaty signatories agree to a 50-year minimum prohibition on all mineral exploitation the Antarctic.
1989: The United Nations places a moratorium on high seas large-scale driftnets.
1989: A UN moratorium on high seas large-scale driftnets is passed as a response to the public outrage at indiscriminate fishing practices exposed by Greenpeace.
1988: A worldwide ban on incinerating toxic waste at sea is instituted.
1988: A world-wide ban on incinerating organochlorine waste at sea is agreed by the London Dumping Convention following at sea actions by Greenpeace.
1985: French nuclear testing in the South Pacific again becomes the subject of international controversy, particularly following the sinking of Greenpeace's ship, the Rainbow Warrior, by the French Secret Service.
1982: A global whaling moratorium is adopted by the International Whaling Commission.
1978: Greenpeace actions halt the grey seal slaughter in the Orkney Islands, Scotland.
1975: France ends atmospheric nuclear tests in the Pacific.
1972: After the first Greenpeace action in 1971, the US abandons its nuclear testing grounds at Amchitka Island, Alaska.