NGO Spotlight: Rainforest Action Network

Rainforest Action Network - "We believe that a sustainable world can be created in our lifetime, and that aggressive action must be taken immediately to leave a safe and secure world for our children."

Wow! Simply put, Rainforest Action Network (RAN) is out to save the world.

RAN is an organization that seeks to break America's oil addiction, reduce our reliance on coal, protect endangered forests and Indigenous rights, and stop destructive investments. What sets RAN apart from other environmental activist NGOs is that RAN wants to work with multi-national corporations to change corporate philosophy. They seek to "push companies to balance profits with principles, to show that it is possible to do well by doing good." Jim Gollin, Chairman of the RAN Board of Directors, reassures Americans that their "goal is not to end capitalism but to hold it to a higher standard."*

RAN was founded in 1985 with it's initial purpose being to protect rainforests and the human rights of those living in and around those forests. RAN's first direct-action campaign pitted them against Burger King. Burger King was importing cheap beef from countries where rainforest were being slashed to provide open space for cattle. RAN led a boycott of Burger King which resulted in a 12% drop in sales for BK in 1987. Burger King responded by cancelling $35 million worth of beef contracts in Central America and ceased the importation of beef from rainforest regions. This small but vital victory over Burger King validated RAN's strategy for dealing with corporate giants and motivated them to take on larger companies.

In "The Secret History of the American Empire", author John Perkins describes RAN's dealings with Home Depot.

In the late 90s, Home Depot was the world's largest retailer of lumber, some of which came from old-growth forests and wood from endangered forests. RAN picketed stores and shareholders' meetings to bring attention to this problem, but it wasn't until a corporate insider joined their ranks that RAN was able to ratchet up the pressure. A Home Depot employee sympathetic to RAN's campaign leaked the security code for the stores' intercom systems. On the appointed day, RAN volunteers walked into Home Depots across the country, punched in the code, and made this announcement: "Attention, Home Depot Shoppers! A sale on wood in Aisle 10. This wood was ripped from the Amazon. There may be blood spilled on the floor; please be careful. Cutting this wood is leading to the dislocation of indigenous communities, soil degradation, and the destruction of the Earth." Calls from concerned shoppers flooded the Home Depot headquarters in Atlanta. By the end of the year, Home Depot, the world's largest wood products retailer, announced its commitment to stop selling wood from endangered forests. Soon, home improvement retailers Wickes Lumber, HomeBase, Mendard's, Lowe's, 84 Lumber, and Payless Cashways followed suit.

One of the more intriguing campaigns RAN has embarked on is taking on lending institutions that fund destructive corporate enterprises. By convincing banks to make their lending practices more environmentally conscious, RAN is figuratively grabbing environmentally destructive industries by throat, choking off their lines of credit, and forcing them to change or do business elsewhere. Recently, RAN convinced Bank of America to drop funding for mountaintop removal, a destructive method of mining coal that the Bush Administration has drafted executive orders to protect and which both Mr. finn over at buzztail and I posted on.

To date, RAN has convinced dozens of corporations including Home Depot, Bank of America, Citigroup, Boise Cascade, and Mitsubishi Motor Sales America to change their corporate practices.

There are several ways to get involved with RAN and make a difference. You can take action in your community or from your computer. You can start your own local RAN chapter. You can make a financial contribution to RAN. Of course, the easiest and most fundamental way you to support RAN's efforts is be environmentally conscious in your daily life - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; Buy Local; Reduce Your Energy Need; Stay Informed.

*Gollin's quote from "The Secret History of the American Empire".