What is TNI?The Transnational Institute (TNI) is a decentralised fellowship of scholars, researchers and writers from the Third World, the US and Europe committed to critical and forward-looking analysis of transnational issues, particularly in the areas of Peace, Security & Conflicts; Global Economy; Democratization - with a focus on North-South relations. Founded in 1973, TNI was initially a branch of the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS), Washington D.C. Now wholly independent, TNI continues to work closely with IPS as well as with institutes in Spain, Central America and Asia. The Institute's administrative and coordinating center is in the heart of Amsterdam, opposite the Van Gogh Museum, in a handsome townhouse, made available by an early supporter. Ten staff members currently work there, including those involved in the "in-house" programs on Drug Traffic, European-Asian relations, sub-Saharan Africa and the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Most of TNI's work is, however, decentralized: some thirty fellows and associates are spread throughout the world, working - among other places - in San Francisco, Brussels, Jerusalem, Paris, Harare, Manila, Cologne, Managua, Moscow, Madrid, Budapest, Islamabad, London, New Delhi, Washington, Oslo and Buenos Aires. TNI fellows provide research and intellectual support for political activists, social movements and grassroots organisations. Their work stimulates political and social debate in their own society as well as transnationally. To that end, the Institute uses contacts with massmedia, organizes conferences and workshops and disseminates papers and reports. TNI's books are published in English through an arrangement with Pluto Press in London and in German through a similar agreement with Konkret Literatur Verlag in Hamburg. Selected titles are published in Spanish by Intermon in Barcelona. TNI authors also publish in other languages. TNI What is WISE?The World Information Service on Energy (WISE) was set up by safe- energy activists in 1978 to function as an international switchboard for local and national safe-energy groups around the world who want to exchange information and support one another. The main focus of WISE is on nuclear energy. WISE has its international main office in Amsterdam and has offices or relays in Brno, Copenhagen, Dresden, Glen Aplin, Kiev, Paris, Rasario, Stockholm and Tokyo. One of WISE's activities is the English language publication of the WISE News Communique (NC), published twenty times a year by WISE Amsterdam. Parts of the NC are translated into Japanese, Czech, Russian, and Ukranian. Twice a year WISE publishes a NC Special on issues like "Chernobyl: Ten Years of Disaster"; "Uranium Mining in Europe"; "Environmental Racism"; "Energy and Development". Networking still is one of the main tasks of WISE. It brings grassroots groups into contact with each other and with experts, with the aim to make these groups stronger and to provide them with the information which they need. To be able to do this, WISE needs to have a good knowledge of the groups concerned as well as a clear insight into the reliability and relevance of the information available. In Amsterdam, WISE shares its office with LAKA, the Dutch Documentation and Research Centre on Nuclear Energy. This guarantees the availability of recent and reliable information. WISE What is Greenpeace?Greenpeace began in 1971, when a small group of people set sail in a fishing boat from Vancouver, Canada, to express their opposition to US nuclear testing "by bearing witness" at the test site on the Aleutian island of Amchitka. Their courage and commitment, and the non-violent form of protest, set an example that thousands of people have since followed in an endeavour to bring about a cleaner, greener and more peaceful planet on which humankind and the rest of the natural world can live in harmony. Over the last two decades, Greenpeace has grown to campaign on a wide variety of issues that threaten the quality of the environment. While the concept of non-violent direct action remains central to Greenpeace's strategy of drawing attention to the environmental problems that face the world, many other elements are involved in attaining the campaign goals. Greenpeace science units and mobile laboratories, together with a network of consultants, provide the scientific research and analysis on which campaigns are based. The information that Greenpeace produces is made public through reports, newspapers and television, and is often sought by governments, conventions and other organisations. Greenpeace also participates, directly or as an observer, in many international organisations and conventions, including the United Nations Environmental Program, a series of regional conventions, the European Union, the International Whaling Commission, and many others. Today, Greenpeace has offices in 32 countries and more than three million supporters worldwide. In recent years, Greenpeace has begun to establish offices in Latin America, Asia and Eastern Europe. The opening of new offices is strictly controlled by the International Board of Directors to ensure that Greenpeace is not represented by unauthorised groups or individuals. Greenpeace's international headquarters is based in Amsterdam. Greenpeace International |
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