Environmentally Aware Groups in Time For Earth Day!

In time for Earth Day 2009! That’s what I like to hear. I know I’ve been hammering out all these environmental posts, but that’s because these issues are near and dear to my heart and rightfully so. They should be near and dear to you too because you inhabit Earth. Since we take so much from where we live, we should respect it and try to do some good. Give back, or at least make changes in your lifestyle to lessen your impact on our wonderful home. Let’s go through a bunch of environmentally aware groups. I don’t claim to know exactly what these groups do, but I am familiar with a few of them. Feel free to donate to these groups or get involved. I don’t make much money and I am a college student, but when I’m feeling generous I like to get involved with either conservation issues, wildlife, and environmental issues. I’m planning on attending FOE’s Green Ball, so holla if anyone else out there is planning to attend! One note before you continue, I’m from the US and some of these groups are only based in the US, but I’ll do my best to talk about other groups as well. Onto business then! I highly encourage you all to check out these groups:

1) US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The EPA employs a highly trained and educated workforce, with dozens of offices and laboratories across the country. The EPA is the nation’s leading source for research, environmental science, enforcement, assessment, and education force. It’s main goal is to create “cleaner, healthier environment for the American people”. We’d better be thankful for them. Thanks!

2) The Sierra Club: Founded in 1892 by John Muir, America’s most renowned naturalist and conservationist. Since then, the Sierra club has been around, offering smart energy solutions, holding conferences, and working endlessly to protect the wild places, wild things, and our planet Earth. They are actively involved in the current situation with energy alternatives and carbon emissions. Recently, the Sierra Club launched this site, a great resource for those of us at home. It’ll help you with a greener lifestyle. Definitely a plus.

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3) Friends of the Earth (FOE): An environmental group that rallies and fights for a “healthy and just world.” That, in the least number of words possible, is their goal. Their campaigns are focused on issues such as pollution, deforestation, whaling, and human rights. It’s an amazing group, so give them a visit. They also sponsor the FOE Green Ball, which I’m planning to attend.

4) Environmental Working Group: The mission of the Environmental Working Group is to “use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment.” It was founded by Ken Cook and Richard Wiles in 1993 and aims to protect the most vulnerable stage of human development (babies, children, and infants) from toxic pollutants. The EWG does this through research and advocacy.

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5) Carbon Fund: It’s leading the fight against global warming but providing information about reducing carbon emissions. This site empowers individuals and businesses, helping them transform through climate change education, public outreach, and carbon offsets and reductions. Their slogan is “Reduce what you can. Offset what you can’t.” Let them help you reduce your carbon footprint to almost nothing. One step at a time.

6) PEW Environmental Group: Pew studies, researches, and promotes nonpartisan ways for pressing problems that face the planet. Not only do they deal in areas such as global warming, protecting ocean life, and wilderness protection, but they are also involved in economic policy, health, and education. One of their main goals is for provide knowledge for informed choices.

7) The Alliance for Climate Protection: Their mission is to persuade the global community of the “importance and urgency of adopting and implementing effective and comprehensive solutions for the climate crisis.” The projects of the Alliance include the This is Reality, Repower America, and We Can Solve It.

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8 ) Global Green: Global Green is the American part of Green Cross International, which you should also check out. Their work here in the states is focused on putting a lid on the global climate change problem by promoting greener buildings, cities, and practices. Through environmental policy and education, Global Green is trying to make America green.

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9) Environmental Defense Fund: Founded in 1967, the organization tackles problems through law. They partner with “businesses, governments, and communities to find practical environmental solutions.” It’s nice to know that there are people working on initiatives and law to help strengthen our emerging green communities and businesses.

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10) United Nations Environment Programme: It’s the United Nations organization for environmental programs. They address environmental issues worldwide and have tons of resources for governments, scientists, children, journalists, and businesses. Their mission statement is as follows: “To provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.”

11) The Nature Conservancy: Here is their mission statement: “The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.” Pure conservation at it’s greatest. It’s the leading conservation organization striving to protect the delicate ecosystems. Using a science-based approach and partnering with governments and businesses, the Nature Conservancy has met with lots of success. Go support them! I’ve included their PSA.

12) Wild Earth Guardians: The Wildlife Earth Guardians “aims to protect and restore wildlife, and places and wild rivers of the American West.” The organization has wildlife programs to restore native fauna diversity, a wild places program to restore and protect the West’s degraded areas, a wild rivers program to keep the rivers clean, and a climate and energy program to enable private citizens to make a difference in a shift to a cleaner energy model.

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13) Defenders of Wildlife: This organization was founded in 1947 and is focused on science-bases wildlife conservation. This is their mission statement: “Defenders of Wildlife is a national, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities.” With so many threats to our nation’s wildlife and wild places, we need to be more pro-active in terms of conservation. I applaud this organization and all that it’s done.

14) World Wildlife Fund: I think that almost everyone has heard about the WWF. They are a very outspoken and well-known organization that is very active in terms of education and public outreach. The WWF is founded on science and involves action at every level to ensure that certain qualities are met. WWF all the way. Help save the world’s wildlife!

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There are a whole bunch of organizations out there, ranging from organizations that focus on specific ecosystems to organizations that reach out to save all ecosystems and make an impact on the globe. I applaud all of these organizations. To take a look at more organizations, click here for the Wikipedia List. I personally support a few of the above mentioned organizations in terms of monetary donations, but there are definitely more ways to get involved. I strongly encourage you to do something for Earth Day and sign up for newsletters, volunteer, or read up on something. You won’t regret it. That’s all for now. I’ll be posting more on environmental issues and the like within the next couple of days. Remember, Earth Day is just around the corner. Go out and have fun with your family, friends, or significant other. Enjoy our planet and advocate conservation! Cheers!