They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Shortly after Pollution Probe began making headlines in 1969 with its blend of street theatre and scientific reasoning, similar organizations sprang up across Canada. While some opted to develop unique identities - see the Ecology Action Centre in Halifax and British Columbia's SPEC - others decided to latch onto Probe's coattails and formed affiliate groups. Some of the better known affiliates were located in Ottawa, Waterloo, and Winnipeg, but a wide range of short-lived Probes were formed all across central Canada.
In order to help alleviate the crush of affiliation requests, in 1970 Pollution Probe at the University of Toronto (as the original Probe became known) developed a document titled "How to Form Your Own Pollution Probe Group." While prospective affiliates were required to sign a contract that affirmed their support for core Probe values, it was also noted that there would be no policing of the day to day operations of the affiliates.
This experiment ended up as a bust. As mentioned above, most groups fizzled out rather quickly. More troublesome, however, was the inconsistency among the various Probes. Unable to enforce a measure of quality control, those at the University of Toronto group often found themselves embarrassed by statements made by others speaking on behalf of Probe. Efforts to coordinate the affiliates proved too taxing on their limited resources.
Even more extreme was the situation confronting Greenpeace. Founded in British Columbia in 1971, the group rapidly became an international sensation. Consequently, Greenpeace groups emerged around the globe. These groups were linked to the original Greenpeace crew in little more than spirit and name. Indeed, as Rex Weyler explains in Greenpeace: How a Group of Ecologists, Journalists and Visionaries Changed the World, the original members hotly debated whether they should attempt to reel in those operating under the name they made famous. The decision at the time was to let the spirit of the movement flourish unhindered, but ultimately, when it was discovered that no fewer than three groups using the name were operating concurrently in San Francisco, the decision was made to restructure the organization.
As far as I know, there has been no work done on these affiliate groups. Know anybody looking for a class paper topic?
Shortly after Pollution Probe began making headlines in 1969 with its blend of street theatre and scientific reasoning, similar organizations sprang up across Canada. While some opted to develop unique identities - see the Ecology Action Centre in Halifax and British Columbia's SPEC - others decided to latch onto Probe's coattails and formed affiliate groups. Some of the better known affiliates were located in Ottawa, Waterloo, and Winnipeg, but a wide range of short-lived Probes were formed all across central Canada.
In order to help alleviate the crush of affiliation requests, in 1970 Pollution Probe at the University of Toronto (as the original Probe became known) developed a document titled "How to Form Your Own Pollution Probe Group." While prospective affiliates were required to sign a contract that affirmed their support for core Probe values, it was also noted that there would be no policing of the day to day operations of the affiliates.
This experiment ended up as a bust. As mentioned above, most groups fizzled out rather quickly. More troublesome, however, was the inconsistency among the various Probes. Unable to enforce a measure of quality control, those at the University of Toronto group often found themselves embarrassed by statements made by others speaking on behalf of Probe. Efforts to coordinate the affiliates proved too taxing on their limited resources.
Even more extreme was the situation confronting Greenpeace. Founded in British Columbia in 1971, the group rapidly became an international sensation. Consequently, Greenpeace groups emerged around the globe. These groups were linked to the original Greenpeace crew in little more than spirit and name. Indeed, as Rex Weyler explains in Greenpeace: How a Group of Ecologists, Journalists and Visionaries Changed the World, the original members hotly debated whether they should attempt to reel in those operating under the name they made famous. The decision at the time was to let the spirit of the movement flourish unhindered, but ultimately, when it was discovered that no fewer than three groups using the name were operating concurrently in San Francisco, the decision was made to restructure the organization.
As far as I know, there has been no work done on these affiliate groups. Know anybody looking for a class paper topic?
