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".

NGO Spotlight: The September Project

The September Project is a grassroots organization started in 2004 focused on engaging and bringing communities together in local libraries around the world to discuss issues of freedom and democracy.

In 2004, the September Project was born "to break the silence following September 11th, and to invite all people into libraries to consider topics of patriotism, democracy, and citizenship. Initially, events focused on September 11th and largely took place on September 11th. As the project evolved, events spread throughout the month of September and focused on issues of freedom and democracy."

Americans appreciate their freedom and form of democracy, more so now in retrospect, seeing how we reacted to the cataclysmic events of September 11, 2001. 9/11 unified America like no event since the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. We joined to help the victims, rescuers, and families of the 9/11 dead by giving food, blood, and money. We also sacrificed some freedoms and civil liberties in order to achieve speed and efficiency to fight the terrorist threat. We called for retribution and we got exactly what we sought.

Unfortunately, somewhere along the line we lost site of the true enemy. We allowed our elected leaders to mislead us. We allowed ourselves to be led like lemmings on a course of action that was wrong. We invaded a country and deposed a leader that was not connected to the 9/11 attacks and for reasons that were not substantiated. We paid for it in lives, liberties, treasure, and any international goodwill we garnered from the September 11th attacks. We can not let this happen again. This is why the mission of the September Project is important.

Librarians are the true force behind the September Project. They organize, fund, and host the events. "Since 2004, over 1200 public, public, academic, school, government, and special libraries in 35 countries have hosted September Project events." Events include "book displays, community book readings, children's art project, film screenings, theatrical performances, civic deliberations, voter registrations, murals, panel discussions, and so much more."

If you wish to organize an event, contact your local library. Then inform the September Project here so they can add it to their map and list of participants. All September Project events are free and open to the public.

NGO Spotlight: Democracy Now!

"How is THIS news?" is a phrase repeated often during the half hour of evening news in this house, a phrase that is eventually followed by 'click'.

One would think that network anchors could fill a 25 minute broadcast with informative, in-depth news stories, especially considering that 24 hours and an entire world's worth of current events have passed since the last broadcast. Instead, the corporate owned media outlets feed Americans stories that skim the surface of pertinent issues and attempt to entertain us with a mix of the latest Hollywood scandal and/or human interest story. Enough is enough. Enter alternative media outlet Democracy Now!

Democracy Now! is a national, daily, independent news program that is an alternative to the corporate owned media outlets. In their own words:

"Democracy Now!... provides our audience with access to people and perspectives rarely heard in the U.S. corporate-sponsored media, including independent and international journalists, ordinary people from around the world who are directly affected by U.S. foreign policy, grassroots leaders and peace activists, artists, academics and independent analysts. In addition, Democracy Now! hosts real debates–debates between people who substantially disagree, such as between the White House or the Pentagon spokespeople on the one hand, and grassroots activists on the other."

Democracy Now! avoids the possible conflicts of interest found in corporate owned media where imposed bias and program profitability are always in question. It does not accept advertising, corporate underwriting, or government funding. It's sole sources of income are through contributions from listeners, viewers, and foundations.

Democracy Now! depends on engaged viewers and listeners to bring the program to their local television and radio stations. Supporters of the program are also encouraged to spread the word, volunteer at events, contribute story ideas, and of course, donate to the non-profit organization.

Democracy Now! airs on over 750 television and radio stations in North America. It is broadcast on Pacifica, NPR, PBS, public access networks, community and college radio stations, satellite television, and on the web. Check it out.

NGO Spotlight: FoodRoutes Network

FoodRoutes begs you to ask the question: Where does my food come from? Not surprisingly in today's mechanised, industrialized world, much of America's food supply comes from large corporate farms, grown in large scale and spending days being packaged and shipped from field to plate - hardly fresh and hardly environmentally friendly.

The FoodRoutes Network wants to reintroduce America to its food. They use community based grassroots chapters to rebuild local food systems and promote sustainable agriculture. You may have seen or are familiar with the "Buy Fresh, Buy Local" signage (shown above) used by local chapters to promote buying local food.

Why buy locally grown food? If you tend your own backyard garden or purchase produce from a farmer's market, you already know that you get exceptional taste and freshness over supermarket produce shipped from afar. You get regional varieties of food with a name and a face you can trust, things you may not get at chain supermarket. You also strengthen the local economy, support family farms, and protect the environment.

What is sustainable agriculture? Sustainable agriculture refers to the ability of a farm to produces food indefinitely, without causing severe or irreversible damage to ecosystem health. Industrial farms often require a large investment in resources such as water, fertilizers, pesticides, and antibiotics in order to replenish the soil and keep animals healthy. Smaller farms producing a variety of food goods require fewer resources and leave a smaller carbon footprint.

FoodRoutes with the help of their "Buy Fresh, Buy Local" community chapters work at the state and local level to involve more consumers in revitalization of our local food systems. They connect farmer's markets, restaurants, grocery stores, food co-ops, and large scale institutions, like colleges and retirement homes, with local food supplies. They organize outreach events and produce local food guides and educational materials in order to make it easy for consumers to find and connect with local food from farmers they can know and trust.

How do you get involved? It's as easy as going to your local farmer's market or food co-op and purchasing produce and meat grown locally. Now that's a vote for change you can taste! You can also join or form your own "Buy Fresh, Buy Local" community chapter. Visit the foodroutes.org for more information.

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The FoodRoutes Network is part of a larger Buy Local movement to encourage Americans to purchase food and goods made or grown closer to home and is something I have written about previously.

I encourage you to always ask the question: Can I buy local?

NGO Spotlight: Amnesty International

In "The Secret History of the American Empire", author John Perkins prods readers to become active in or make financial contributions to nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that take on the corporatocracy. Over the next couple of days, I will spotlight a few NGOs in order to gain a better understanding of their mission and share with people how they can support efforts for lasting change in the world. First on tap, Amnesty International.

Amnesty International

Many of us are familiar with Amnesty International from their letter writing campaigns in high school or college. The organization is committed to combating human rights violations throughout the world, whether it be poor working conditions, wrongful imprisonment, or genocide.

In there own words:

Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights to be respected and protected for everyone. We believe human rights abuses anywhere are the concern of people everywhere.

So, outraged by human rights abuses but inspired by hope for a better world, we work to improve people’s lives through campaigning and international solidarity.

Our mission is to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated.

Our members and supporters exert influence on governments, political bodies, companies and intergovernmental groups.

Activists take up human rights issues by mobilizing public pressure through mass demonstrations, vigils and direct lobbying as well as online and offline campaigning.

Perhaps one of the more interesting reasons to support Amenesty International is how they take on human rights violations in global corporations. Mona Cadena, a deputy director for Amnesty International explains in an excerpt from "The Secret History...".

"With over 1.8 million members in about 500 countries, we know the power of corporations. In fact, we buy stock in some of the worst offenders [of human rights violations]- enough so we can attend meetings and file shareholder resolutions requiring companies to adopt human rights policies in every country where they work."

Amnesty International was formed in 1961. It has 2.2 million supporters and subscribers in over 150 countries. They are currently leading efforts to protect the civilians of Darfur and highlighting the humanitarian crise in Sri Lanka. To get involved, visit Amnesty's website and learn about human rights. Then, join and/or make a donation.

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You can learn more about John Perkins and his mission to inspire lasting change at his website at http://www.johnperkins.org/.