EES PAN: Campaign Organizations
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Campaign Organizations and the Environment Introduction
When an American lives overseas, it is easy to get out of touch with the wealth of opportunities in the U.S. for participating in the campaigning for environmental issues. One usually becomes more observant of what is going on in ones host country, for better or for worse. However, being an American, one is buffeted with criticism about the way the US behaves when it comes to the environment: Americans drive big cars that guzzle gas, our communities spread out and consume vast areas of land on which we build huge houses, and so forth.
We don’t have to take that! Yes, the US is rich in resources which we are quite flagrant about using. We also expoit others' resources world-wide. However, there has been an active ‘environmental movement’ in the US for many, many years starting as far back as the 1800s and encompassing such early carers of our resources as the Sierra Club and activists such as John Muir. Arguably, today's foremost environmental activist is former Vice-President Al Gore, who received a Nobel Prize for his efforts to combat climate change.
The environmental movement should not be thought of solely in terms of ‘activists’ but considered also to be embedded in the way we plan and build our communities, manage our farms, grow-harvest-process our food, and conduct a myriad other activities that make up our lives. All of which is to say that everything you do, every decision you make as to how you will live your life, has meaning for the environment.
However, this section of the PAN-EES website will be an introduction to activist steps you can take to push along the making of policy and to spur the initiation of action to carry out concrete changes in the way we Americans treat our environment. We also list some sources that will provide you with information to back up your activist work and provide data you can use in your contacts with decision makers and others.
Kinds of Resources for Action
Generally speaking these resources can be divided into three groups:
• Those activist organizations created to address a specific aspect of the environment, such as the oceans, or to deal with environment in general. Examples of each would be the Ocean Conservancy and Friends of the Earth-US.
• Organizations that are of a scientific or academic bent which focus on specific aspects of the environment which produce information that is used in studying the environment. The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, CO, is an example.
• Governmental and international organizations attending to environmental issues should not be ignored and can provide information for action in a campaign.
Many of these have been cited elsewhere in this Policy Action Network but we add a few here such as the International Maritime Organization. Regarding the latter two groups, be aware that you may also find these in other countries, not just the US. It’s a small world!
Activist Organizations That Conduct Campaigns
There are groups that focus on a particular medium, such as air or water, or sector like transportation or land use, or a specific geographic area of the world, such as the North or South pole, or a natural resource like coal. Other groups have a broad spectrum of concerns. Some are focused on political action or politics. Most groups provide opportunities for online activist engagement, produce publications and fact sheets, provide online e-newsletters, highlight relevant legislation and provide information on current developments in their sphere of interest.
One thing to remember is that each of us can locate new groups and information through clever use of our web-search skills. You can contribute your finds to the PAN EES through participation in the PAN Forum.
Activists: Broad Spectrum of Concerns
The We Campaign, founded by Al Gore, encourages people and governments to rapidly deploy techological and efficiency solutions to combat the threat of climate change.
The Natural Resources Defence Council uses science and the law to activate members and on-line activists to address environmental issues, including environmental justice.
The Blue Green Alliance is a strategic initiative led by the United Steelworkers and the Sierra Club, focusing on global warming, clean energy, fair trade and toxics and their influence on job creation, green investing, green buildings, and the reform of trade agreements.
The Union of Concerned Scientists is a science-based group. Among its many features is an A to Z guide to political interference in science and Background information on the 2007 energy bill.
Greenpeace works on a variety of environmental topics among which are oceans, forests, and global warming.
The Sierra Club, founded in 1892, has a feature whereby you can stay in touch with events, issues and chapters in your state. It also addresses international issues.
The Rocky Mountain Institute areas of interest include buildings and communities in addition to its general approach to resource issues.
The Environmental Working Group uses ‘the power of public information to protect public health and the environment.’ Through its work, it advocates for national policy change. The website provides a useful chemical index and analysis of health effects and routes of exposure.
Activists: Medium or Sector Groups
Environment America is a new national organization covering the environmental work of the US PIRG (see below). It focuses on protecting air, water and open spaces. There are state chapters and a highlights from the states feature.
US PIRG, a federation of public interest resource groups focuses on consumer concerns and has a useful link to ‘transportation’ issues.
American Rivers focuses on rivers and water scarcity issues. It publishes an annual Ten Most Endangered Rivers list. Regional information is available.
The Ocean Conservancy activities focus on fisheries, marine ‘by-catch’, marine protected areas and reserves, and better stewardship of the oceans.
Forest Ethics works to protect endangered forests. It works with First Nations and utilizes a Corporate Action Program to achieve results.
Organic Farming Research Foundation fosters the improvement and adoption of organic farming practices. It sponsors research, disseminates results, and generally educates the public.
The Smart Growth Network promotes smart growth principles as a strategy to combat sprawl in our current land development patterns.
The Trust for Public Land is a land conservation group with nation-wide conservation activities, plus a search facility to access information state-by-state and by special topic.
Co-op America covers a range of consumer issues which include the programs Wood Wise and Green Energy and, for those wishing to engage corporate polluters, Climate Action. Focus on Policy and the Political Sphere
The League of Conservation Voters provides information on important environmental legislation and how legislators have voted. They work for the election of pro-environment candidates.
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development aims to provide business leadership as a catalyst for change toward sustainable development. From this site one can track how some business leaders are addressing this issue.
Earthjustice is a non-profit public interest law firm that works with clients in the courts and on legislation on Capitol Hill.
The Pew Charitable Trusts areas of interest are in improving public policy, informing the public and stimulating civic life. In the policy arena their work addresses global warming, oceans, wilderness protection and science and technology, among other topics.
Scientific and Academic Organizations
The Byrd Polar Research Center at Ohio State University focuses on the role of cold regions and is a leader in polar and alpine research.
The National Center for Atmospheric Research provides a wealth of information about the atmosphere and a useful section on Education and Outreach for students and educators.
The National Snow and Ice Data Center at the University of Colorado supports research into the world’s frozen zones. It provides access to data collections and participates in the International Polar Year.
Government and International Organizations
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assesses the literature on human-induced climate change. There are several useful glossaries on the website.
The National Caucus of Environmental Legislators provides environmentally progressive legislators an opportunity to coordinate their activities.
The International Maritime Organization is a specialized agency of the U.N., based in the U.K. It’s main task is to develop and maintain a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping. Of special interest is the Maritime Environment section of the website.