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: 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/.

Book Review of "The Secret History of the American Empire" by John Perkins

John Perkins's globe trotting adventures as a self-described Economic Hit Man (EHM) in "The Secret History of the American Empire" is a one of a kind history lesson in U.S. international affairs and economics over the last 40 years. Perkins sheds light on the discomforting close-knit relationship between the U.S. government and corporate America and shakes off any naive, preconceived assumptions Americans may have that their government officials are out to spread democracy abroad for purely the noblest of intentions.

Perkins's job as an EHM was to secure loans for developing nations in Asia, Latin America, The Middle East, and Africa in order to pay for large infrastructure projects (ex. hydroelectric dam). The loans financed through the IMF or World Bank were intended to supply a developing nation’s citizenry with energy in order to upgrade their lives and improve the country’s economy. In Perkins's experiences, however, the poor never benefited from the project. The money went to a few wealthy individuals and to large Western corporations that oversaw the construction and operation of the projects. The corporations saw the projects as cash cows, funneling profits back to their headquarters located outside the developing nation. Also, the loans were provided knowing full well that the nation would not be able pay them back (think sub-prime mortgages during the housing bubble). It produced a debtor nation, one subservient to the country that provided the loan. The foreign government that supplied the cash would then ask for resources at a reduced rate as payment, resources such as oil and minerals that a foreign corporation would then extract with little regard to the local people or environment. The EHM would sell the loan to government officials by any means necessary, including bribery. If an EHM failed to convince a national leader of his need for the loan, jackals (paid assassins) were then sent in to remove that person from power.

The stories initially sound far-fetched to those of us not privy to the discussions in the halls of congress or in the boardrooms of corporate America, but historical examples of U.S. meddling in foreign affairs provides credence to Perkins's stories. For example: Iran-Contra during Reagan's administration; the U.S. sponsored coup to overthrow Iranian Prime Minister Mossadegh; U.S. backing of Saddam Hussein on his rise to power and during the Iraq-Iran border war, only later to be removed from power by U.S. armed forces; CIA leading the overthrow of Chilean President Salvador Allende in a military coup that brought to power Gen. Augusto Pinochet; The P.R. campaign United Fruit launched to convince the Eisenhower administration to depose the democratically elected government led by Col. Jacobo Arbenz Guzman in Guatamala.

Perkins does an excellent job sharing some of America's ulterior motives for overthrowing governments and deposing foreign leaders, ulterior motives that have less to do with communism and unjust rulers then oil and corporate influence. In most cases the people of the nation under siege would have been better off if America had stayed out.

Perkins spends most of "The Secret History..." bringing us low, supplying us with philosophical ammunition to wrack our brains with. But over the final few chapters he provides inspiration and a path to lasting change. He says,

"At times like these, it is important to be philosophical and to investigate the ethical implications of what we do; however, it is essential that we also apply ourselves in down-to-earth ways, ones that will result in concrete and lasting change."

The first thing that comes to mind to secure change is to vote for intelligent, forward thinking politicians. Politicians that support responsible corporate practices, smart environmental policies, and are voices for human rights domestic and abroad can be valuable agents of change in the government. But perhaps the most important thing we can do is spend our money wisely, because how and where we spend our dollars is a vote we can cast every single day for lasting change. It provides the biggest punch for the least amount of effort. It is important to buy local, think sustainable, and support fair trade products. It's a simple effort that will force corporate America to take notice and change their policies of human and resource exploitation.

Perkins finishes up his book with a "To Do" list (for those of us that need things spelled out before we'll jump on board).

To Do:
*When tempted to engage in “retail therapy” instead jog, meditate, read, or find some other solution.

*Shop consciously if there is something you must have; purchase items whose packaging, ingredients, and methods of production are sustainable and support life.

*Make everything you own last as long as possible.

*Purchase at consignment and thrift stores where everything is recycled.

*Protest against “free” trade agreements and sweatshops.

*Write letters telling Monsanto, De Beers, ExxonMobil, Adidas, Ford, GE, Coca-Cola, Wal-Mart, and other labor exploiters and environment destroyers why you refuse to purchase from them.

*Write letters praising Home Depot, Kinko’s, Citicorp, Starbucks, Whole Foods, and other companies that cooperate with RAN, Amnesty International, and other NGOs(NonGovernmental Organizations).

*Cut back on oil and gas consumption.

*Downsize your car, home, wardrobe, everything in your life.

*Send money to nonprofits, radio stations, and other organizations that promote just causes.

*Volunteer your time and energy to such organizations.

*Support local merchants.

*Encourage stores to buy from local growers, producers, and suppliers.

*Shop at your local farmer’s market.

*Drink tap water (get the water company to do a better job if necessary, but avoid buying bottled water).

*Vote for enlightened school boards, commissions, ordinances, and politicians.

*Run for office.

*Insist that those who use your money – banks, pensions, mutual funds, companies – make socially and environmentally responsible investments.

*Speak out whenever forums present themselves.

*Volunteer to talk at your local school about your favorite subject (beekeeping, weaving, tennis, anything) and use it to challenge students, to wake them up.

*Discuss externalities, the costs of pollution, poor working conditions, public subsidies, corporate exemptions, and other environmental, social, and political factors that should be included in the prices we pay for goods and services but are not (discussed in Chapter 54); let people know that when we do not pay for these very real expenses we rob future generations.

*Encourage “taxes” on externalities – higher prices for gas, clothes, electricity, etc., as long as the difference pays to right social and environmental wrongs.

*Offer study groups at local libraries, bookstores, churches, and clubs.

*Expand this list and share it with everyone you know.

There. It's that easy. Small things that when done collectively can make a big impact on the local economy, the global economy, change corporate America, improve the lives of the impoverished, and stop laying waste to the environment.

Hey, I'm trying to uphold my end of the deal. So... whose got next?