Anti-whaling activist Peter Bethune is hunting down children from around the world to become the next generation of eco-warriors.
Two months after being released from a Japanese prison in July, the Aucklander has created Pete Bethune's Junior Activist Club on social-media site Facebook, The Waikato Times reported.
"I want to bring kids from around the world together to discuss conservation and be inspired to take action," he said. "The message I want to get out to the kids is stand up and be counted.
"I want them to take action. The young ones will make an enormous difference. If I can help someone who is 10 it means they will be contributing for the next 60 or so years."
Mr Bethune said he believed that New Zealand had been very complacent with conservation.
"We are not a nation of eco-warriors any more...activism used to be quite acceptable.
New Zealand is so far behind much of Europe for activism.
"We used to be very good at protesting in the past – women's rights, Springboks and the Rainbow Warrior – but I believe people are afraid to stand up now. It's that fear of failure. What happens if you organise a protest and no one turns up? We need to get out of that mindset."
Mr Bethune was deported from Japan in July after being given a two-year suspended prison after boarding Japanese whaling ship Shonan Maru II in February.
NZPA