David McTaggart

David Fraser McTaggart
1932-2001
Founder of Third Millennium Foundation
David McTaggart
David McTaggart was more than a man; he was a movement.

McTaggart was the force behind bringing 3 different Greenpeace organisations (Canada, USA, Europe) into the heavyweight it is today as Greenpeace International. In 1979 he became the first chairman.
It started with the protests against nuclear testings in Muroroa, but protecting our oceans became a strong focus point throughout the years, and he played a central role in Greenpeace’s campaigns to end commercial whaling. His work helped influence global policies, including the International Whaling Commission’s moratorium on commercial whaling in 1986.
The dangers of nuclear technologies remained a cause he was passionate about, and In the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986, he traveled to the site to witness firsthand the catastrophic effects of nuclear technology. His visit was not just an act of solidarity but a critical effort to raise global awareness about the dangers of nuclear power. In the following years his main priority became securing international support for the construction of a new sarcophagus for the destroyed reactor. The original cover was cracking and it was an urgent matter to find the funds to build a new, safer one.
His stark documentation of the environmental devastation and its human toll helped galvanize international efforts to reevaluate the use of nuclear energy.
"He's cold. He's calculating. He's Machiavellian. He's unremorseful. He's unremitting. I mean he will just do it, whatever he's got to do, and then he'll invite you out for a beer."
- Pete Wilkinson, Greenpeace UK founder
So who really was David McTaggart?
Besides being a fearless and tireless advocate for the environment, those who knew him describe him as extremely charismatic, someone who could rally up and inspire people around him - but also at his core someone rebellious and defiant. He challenged authorities and fearlessly put himself at risk for the causes he believed in.
He was a true visionary with an unrelenting drive to achieve his goals,
and with a passion that has inspired - and continues to inspire - countless activists throughout the world.

David Fraser McTaggart

1932-2001

Founder of Third Millennium Foundation

David McTaggart

"He's cold. He's calculating. He's Machiavellian. He's unremorseful. He's unremitting. I mean he will just do it, whatever he's got to do, and then he'll invite you out for a beer." - Pete Wilkinson, Greenpeace UK founder

"He's cold. He's calculating. He's Machiavellian. He's unremorseful. He's unremitting. I mean he will just do it, whatever he's got to do, and then he'll invite you out for a beer."
- Pete Wilkinson, Greenpeace UK founder