Take action

Protecting our planet's resources

We have reached the point where we must take action against the destructive forces wrought by our modern age, if our planet is remain "healthy." It requires what we call environmental advocacy - the need to speak up, both individually and collectively - in order to protect our planet's resources. People who eat organic are naturally concerned about the impact that their food choices has on the environment. However, we can do more to contribute to a greener world.

According to the International Food Policy Research Institute, nearly 40% of the world's agricultural land is "seriously degraded." Antibiotics used to treat cattle, chickens, and pigs are contributing to new drug-resistant strains of bacteria. And the list goes on.



For those of us who want to take action, we have listed a small number of organizations here, which we will continue to update.

Environmental advocacy can be as simple as a click of the mouse. Click here to visit the Earthjustice website, the leader in environmental law. For over 30 years, this non-profit organization has defended public health and the environment, particularly wildlife preserves, wetlands and waterways. When you become a member, your contribution supports their efforts, and you will have an opportunity to participate in writing campaigns to overturn harmful laws and other transgressions. One victory: they helped block drilling in the northwest portion of the Artic in 2004.

Speaking of the Artic, the Bush Administration continues to support Big Oil's attempts to exploit our wildlife refuges, while allowing oil prices to increase and dragging their feet on alternative fuel sources. The Natural Resources Defense Council seeks to address this by demanding that our country reduce its dependence on oil in the years to come.

Visit the Environmental Defense Fun website ; or visit the Nature Conservancy website and click on the "Take action" link.

Here's a great website with a cool way to reduce CO2 emissions. Visit the Care2 advocacy website and click once a day to reduce CO2 emissions. Every time you click your mouse, it will offset 1 pound of CO2, to help stop global warming. Care2 will donate money to remove CO2 from the atmosphere.

Preserving our green canopy has never been more urgent than it is today. There are a number of organizations committed to heightening awareness of the negative impacts of deforestation. Among them are the Rain Forest Alliance, the Rain Forest Foundation, and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. Together, these organizations keep citizens informed about what is being done around the world to save our precious forests. If you would like to plant your own trees, visit the National Arbor Day Foundation website, or the website for Sustainable Harvest International for assistance.

This year, the U.S. Farm Bill was finally renewed. Many local farmers and environmental advocates are still concerned about the influence that commercial monoculture operations and companies like Monsanto may have on this important bill. For more updates, please visit Healthyfarmbill.org to take action.

If you are interested in making a donation, but all of this seems overwhelming, why not visit earthshare.org, which helps individuals and businesses make contributions to worthy organizations through payroll deduction? They have affiliates in 13 states. Visit their website to see which organizations they support.



Of course, no take action page would be complete without mentioning these bastions of environmental advocacy; Greenpeace, a worldwide organization that helps protect our planet's resources; and Coop America, which publishes the National Green Pages, a green guide for consumers.

For more consumer information regarding the organics movement, why not join the Organic Consumers Association? To take action on everything from factory farming to alternative fuels, visit the Global Resources Action Center for the Environment website.

Do you want to help feed hungry children in New York? Why not contribute to one of our favorite organizations, City Harvest? Your donation will help feed hungry children in New York City communities. Find out out the fruit bowl program for children, or learn about corporations that donate excess food to them. Another organization that helps to provide animals to needy families around the world is Heifer International. Or you can contribute to an organization that helps find ways for people in other countries to obtain clean, healthy water, like their latest program in Honduras. Watch the video at Waterforpeople.org.

Threadsforthought.com sells cool organic cotton tees and other items with a message. Popular with celebrities, the organization will donate part of the proceeds to non-profits dealing with African relief and environmental causes. Please check out their online store.

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