SAVING THE WORLD IS NOT JUST FOR SUPERHEROES

The world needs saving as the clouds of global warming, world poverty and terrorism gather. Fiona Campbell talks to five people who are doing their bit in roles that might just save us from destruction

SAVING the world is a burden that does not rest only on the broad shoulders of preternatural Superheroes; the challenge for all of us is to choose a role where doing what is right and doing what makes us happy converge, whether that is volunteering, fundraising or joining an ethical employer. However, there are those whose work is dedicated to eradicating the issues that stand between humanity and global happiness. They work in an infinitely diverse range of roles, and their work is both challenging and deeply fulfilling.

Rob Parker, 30 Arms and security trade campaign officer, Amnesty International UK Salary: pounds 21,000 to pounds 26,000 ONE morning, disguised as a cycle courier, Rob Parker pressed the doorbell of a gunrunner. The company he was investigating was a freight haulier run by people who were none too interested in what they shipped to whom, whether that meant instruments of torture, weapons or firearms.

"It was a bit scary because it was my first encounter with a gunrunner," admits Parker. "I had to check it was the right company because it had changed its name.

"The people challenged me and I made up a story about having the wrong address for my parcel and made a quick exit. But while I was there I had seen boxes addressed to the old name, so I knew it was them and called in the team.

"The next day, we turned up on their doorstep, dressed in black with a man disguised as a grim reaper and a BBC film crew. It was very embarrassing publicity for them, and ultimately helped bring about a change in British legislation."

The UK is the second largest exporter worldwide of small arms, including instruments of torture, and Parker manages the campaign to tighten up British legislation so that arms dealers can no longer operate here. There is no typical day in his job, which can range from reporting on behalf of Amnesty to a government working group to planning campaign strategies and arranging publicity stunts.

"The work can be frustrating, but it's worth it when you realise that the campaign has made a real difference," says Parker.

Watching video footage of a place that has been decimated by irresponsible trade in arms keeps him inspired.

"I just think, 'Why should people go through hell so that someone else can make a bit of extra money?'" Thanks in part to Parker's campaign, tighter legislation on arms dealing in the UK is now being considered by Parliament and is due to be passed later this year.

Martin Powell, 34 Bear campaigner, Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) Salary: pounds 20,000 LATE last year, live on television, Martin Powell was physically removed from a shareholders' meeting in British Columbia, Canada, while protesting about the destruction of the natural habitat of the grizzly bear.

Highlighting the plight of one "flagship" species, the EIA, which is committed to reporting the truth about environmental issues, also aims to protect a whole range of other wildlife, effectively supporting a major North American ecological concern.

The grizzlies of British Columbia play a vital ecological role, munching salmon from the coast and dropping the bones hundreds of miles away in the forest to spawn unique wildlife.

The bears also allow smaller populations of

grizzlies across British Columbia to breed. Their natural habitat is large areas of wilderness, which are currently under threat from building plans for a new Fa i r mont Convention Centre.

Powell manages a team of six, travelling frequently to North America, organising protests and campaigning to block the development. One recent success has been the banning by the EU of all trophy-hunting imports, which were a huge threat to the bears.

His role is varied and requires four months of travelling abroad every year, in addition to strategy-building and writing campaign literature.

The worst aspect is the salary which, for a manager in London with a family to support, is well below par.

But "getting out into the wilderness, seeing these beautiful animals and meeting such inspiring, committed people" reminds Powell why he does this job.

Stan Vincent, 38 Logistical facilitator for Greenpeace Salary: undisclosed STAN Vincent arranges planes, trains, ships and helicopters, or whatever it takes to achieve a stunt for Greenpeace.

Campaigns have included trying to shut down the Edmonton incinerator in north London, which has frequently breached environmental guidelines and belches out waste into the atmosphere.

"We had a three-pronged attack," explains Vincent.

"We shut down the waste coming in, stopped the transfer of waste and also sent five people up the 100-metre chimney to shut that down. I had to know exactly how the chimney worked in order to make sure they had the right safety equipment to survive the experience.

"The result was the Edmonton incinerator came to a halt, and the courts are now involved. The job is great when all the locals congratulate us, but terrible if you don't succeed.

"There are so many stories of people moving away from the area because of health problems, so it is vital that we stop these incinerators from being doubled in size."

Monica Conmee, 34 Fast-track fundraising manager, Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) Salary: pounds 20,000 to pounds 25,000 TEN-YEAR-OLD Sesay was drunk when he clambered on to a Caritas truck at a roadside checkpoint in Liberia.

He explained to aid workers there that he had been fighting with rebel soldiers since he was seven and that he was leaving because there weren't enough guns to go round. Then, in virtualy the same breath as talking of firearms, he added: "I want my mum."

The CAFOD media campaign to help children become

aware of overseas development issues, such as child soldiers, involved bringing the Millennium Football Team of rehabilitated child soldiers to the UK and taking them on a nationwide tour.

Conmee's role is to design a programme that gets British schoolchildren involved with social and development issues from an early age.

Children love sport and it is one of the key ways in which child soldiers are rehabilitated, so Conmee uses sport to teach about the lives of young people in other countries. "I go into schools and test the materials to make sure they are lively and interesting," she says. "We want young people to realise what is going on across the world because they are the future." Much of her time is spent producing materials, telephoning teachers, developing new strategies and finding resources.

At CAFOD, she is all too aware of the reality of the situation overseas, something that she finds difficult to witness. It also makes her very aware of her own comfortable life when she hears the reality in other places.

But she loves going into schools to meet young people and "going overseas to see the fantastic work".

She says: "It is then that you realise that change really is possible."

Jonathan Cohen, 26 Conciliation Resources caucasus programme manager Salary: pounds 25,000 to pounds 30,000 WHILE many campaigns rely on publicity, humility is the buzzword at Conciliation Resources. "What we do isn't necessarily critical," says Cohen, but those working to broker peace processes across the world testify to the vital role the charity performs.

"I'm interested in ideas and I find it inspiring to work with people who are trying to wrest control from violence mongerers because often the issues are very challenging intellectually.

"Conflict happens when people are trying to protect and promote their own identity and desires above those of other people, which is why we need to keep a low profile so as not to jeopardise our work."

In post-civil-war Georgia, which Cohen visits up to five times a year, he is working with a journalist from either side of the divide to make a television programme in which they put across their ideas. They also encourage unofficial dialogue and invite influential second- tier officials from the government and non-governmental organisations to meet and talk about critical issues. "These can have an influential relationship with their leaders and followers," he says.

Useful contacts _ CAFOD: 020 7733 7900; website:

cafod.co.uk _ Greenpeace: 020 7865 8100; website:

greenpeace.org _ Amnesty International UK: 020 7814 6200; website: amnesty.org.uk _ Conciliation Resources:

020 7359 7728; website: c-r.org _ EIA: 020 7354 7960; website: eia- international.org _ For ethical jobs, visit: oneworld.net and bond.org.uk

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