The history and goals of Greenpeace, the organization which started such campaigns as “Save the Whales” and “Nuclear Free Pacific,” was presented at NIU Wednesday night by the Campus Activities Board.

Speaker Peter Dykstra, national media director for Greenpeace, urged an audience of 230 to do what they can to make earth a “peaceful planet for all to enjoy.”

The lecture and slide presentation, held in the Duke Ellington Ballroom at the Holmes Student Center, explained the growth of Greenpeace through time. The organization is now worldwide with an annual budget of $17 million.

“We have supporters in 17 countries around the world that are helping us put together a picture of hope,” Dykstra said.

Greenpeace began 15 years ago when a small fishing boat sailed into a nuclear weapons testing site in Alaska. This triggered protests and resulted in the cancellation of a series of tests and the making of the site into a bird sanctuary.

ecent accomplishments by Greenpeace include suspending and ending the huntings of whales, sea turtles, and seals; protests against toxic waste which resulted in the investigations and the stopping of discharge into lakes; and the postponing and termination of nuclear tests and the stopping of nuclear dumping in the Pacific Ocean.

Last year, Greenpeace sent an expedition to the Antarctic to set up a camp and try to work for a “world park.” The Antarctic has not been bothered by man because of an Antarctica treaty. Dykstra said that countries, including the United States, are showing interest in taking advantage of the area or drilling and fishing.

A group of Greenpeace activists will enter a Nevada nuclear test site scheduled for 10 a.m. Feb. 5, Dykstra said. He said he hopes the action will at least postpone the tests and stir up public opposition to the testing.

Dykstra said the Russians have not tested since Aug. 5, 1985, but are threatening to begin again if the United States tests again. He also spoke against the building of nuclear arms in other countries. “We may get to the point where a bilateral (arms) agreement between the U.S. and Russia will mean that much less,” he said.

e said the audience could do such things as pressure their congressmen and inform friends about the problems he had discussed.

“I didn’t want this to be a lengthy guilt trip because there’s been a lot of things that we’ve done… and there’s a lot we could do,” Dykstra said.