Organization turns to college students for funding.
A tall man wearing a straw-colored sun hat strolls around the corner and sits down.
The epitome of a local environmentalist with his reusable coffee cup and scruffy exterior, this campaign coordinator for Greenpeace in St. Petersburg represents an organization the campus has become more than used to seeing – but few students know their true intentions.
Tyler Houghton, 28, leads his co-workers in a mission to “challenge the system in society.” To keep the world safe for future generations, Greenpeace wants to aid large companies in becoming environmentally friendly.
According to Greenpeace.org, “Greenpeace is an independent campaigning organization, which uses non-violent, creative confrontation to expose global environmental problems, and to force the solutions which are essential to a green and peaceful future.”
On the site, Annie Leonard, Greenpeace USA Executive Director, expands on some of the organization’s tactics.
“We ‘bear witness’ to environmental destruction in a peaceful, non-violent manner. We use non-violent confrontation to raise the level and quality of public debate. In exposing threats to the environment and finding solutions we have no permanent allies or adversaries. We ensure our financial independence from political or commercial interests.”
One way Greenpeace does this is by asking college students to donate money. Not cash that is, because then the organization would be required to obtain a soliciting permit from the university.
With the First Amendment on its side, Houghton’s team attempts to educate students on pressing environmental issues and convince them to simultaneously hand over credit card numbers.
Greenpeace sorts donations into two assets based on amount. If the donation is $50 or more, it goes to the Greenpeace Fund for research. Any donations below that cycle back to campaigning, including staff salaries and expenses.
Students like freshman Kylie Buklad seem less than enthusiastic with some of the methods Greenpeace employees have used to gain attention.
“I feel like they’re targeting the wrong group. We’re broke college students,” Buklad said.
Houghton heard from student government that he and his staff were not welcomed into warm arms on campus.
Despite the university’s discontent, Greenpeace continues its efforts to keep the environment in the conversation while toning down the abrasive behavior that turned students off from listening.
“We’re not here to ruin your day,” Houghton said. “But we’re here to connect what’s really going on in the rest of the world to how privileged our lives are here in America.”
Greenpeace started changing its direction on campus by pulling back and sending campaign staff members out only once a week. Houghton believes the focus must switch from donations to conversations.
“The money’s nice because you need money to do things,” Houghton said. “But really, it’s not about money. It’s about having those voices to do things.”
He hopes having a table during Harbor Market in the future will help bring awareness to students in a friendlier atmosphere, one where they don’t feel like they’re being harassed.
Houghton respects that students struggle to pay tuition and understands the slim chance of any having extra money left over to donate. For those who want to volunteer their time, he suggests registering online on the Tampa Bay sector at greenwire.greenpeace.org.
Whether the university is on his side or not, Houghton refuses to give up educating about environmental issues that are caused by large corporations, believing they require the public’s attention.
“The louder we are the easier it’s going to be for those overarching institutions to change.”
