Ms. Panita Kongsook, 36

A Greenpeace volunteer from Bangkok

I joined Greenpeace as a volunteer in 2000 when the Greenpeace office was established in Thailand. My interest in environmental advocacy began when I saw a TV news coverage of a Greenpeace action. I was inspired by the group’s core value of non-violent direct action in stopping environmental crimes. Since then, I have been actively involved in Greenpeace’s campaigns.

There is a certain pride to being a Greenpeace volunteer. In 2013, I joined the Esperanza’s Ocean Defender Tour and for 6 months, I was a volunteer-on-board. It was an invaluable experience to work with the Greenpeace crew and to help the local fishery communities in Prachuab Kiri Khan province. One of the most memorable activities we did during the ship tour was when we dropped marker buoys in the water to prevent destructive fishing vessels from entering and destroying coastal marine ecosystems. I felt happy and fulfilled— that my time onboard helped safeguard the marine environment which sustains the nation and the generations to come.