Ecological Internet Needs You Now more than ever -- given Copenhagens failure and looming ecosystem collapse -- pursuit of global ecological sustainability depends upon ecological science based, global citizen advocacy. With your support, together we will continue to give it all we have for Earth. Thus far $11,930 raised from 82 donors (16%). This leaves $63,070 or 84% to reach our goal. Next $17,000 matched 100%! Read more below regarding why your donation, if you can afford it, is vital to keep EI operating.
December 21, 2009 Dear colleagues, Ecological Internets 2009 year-end fund-raising drive has stalled. For our work together to continue, it is very important you make a tax-deductible donation of $100 or what you can afford at http://www.climateark.org/shared/donate/ as soon as possible. You will not find any organization anywhere like Ecological Internet (EI). We only work transnationally on the Internet, reaching millions of conservationists a year with deep ecology messages and actions. With a tiny staff of three, we continually are leading the grassroots-global forest and climate movements by only promoting ecologically sufficient policy prescriptions. As is always a possibility, given we are user supported, should the drive stall at 16% where it is now, Ecological Internet will be forced to cut back or cease operating (but only after all currently donated funds have been expended). Just this year EIs network (YOU!) single-handedly brought UN carbon payments for sustainable forest management to international attention, stopped Malaysian government oil palm development in the heart of the Amazon, and successfully protected critical Indian elephant habitat. In concert with others, we bravely highlighted the folly of geo-engineering including ocean fertilization and biochar, exposed FSC and allies greenwashing of primary forest logging, and boldly discussed the need to consider all options including escalating people power revolution. Being publicly rather than foundation funded made this work possible, as we are concerned with what is necessary, not what sells. There are any numbers of governments, governments and even big NGOs that would like to see Ecological Internet not be funded because of these biocentric positions. Some such as Rainforest Action Network have personally contacted our donors to ask them to stop supporting us, because we have highlighted their open support for ten of millions of hectares of certified primary forest destruction. We lost our largest funder this way, yet RAN still refuses to defend FSC. Yet based upon courageous conviction we continue against all odds because as a scientist I KNOW old forests must be fully protected and restored to sustain the biosphere and humanity. The climate and forest protection movements are not a fashion show or a party, they are a deadly struggle to pull humanity into sustainability with Earth. I have always been open with you regarding my personal journey, including years of debilitating depression. Over the past year the pain of witnessing the demise of being (amongst other things), became so acute, made me so abrasive and unable to get along with others, that I began treatment with depression medications. This will not make up for the years of ego-centric, selfish behavior as I doggedly pursued forest sustainability. But it has given me a fresh start at being who I want to be personally; and it is making me a better, more focused and less surly activist. I am sorry if I was difficult to work with in the past, but that is over now as I have gotten my act together. If you still hold grudges, get over it, as I have years of ecological activism before me. Over the past year the volume of EIs new features, alerts and other content have slightly declined as I have tried to establish first within Seattle and now within Papua New Guinea. In both cases, bad economies and personal jealousies have made things difficult. Yet I persist because I believe Earth is imminently dying along with all her life including humans, and that despite personal tragedy each of us must do all we can at this pivotal moment. There are many, many others doing so as well and I am proud to be part of, and to occasionally lead, the ecological sustainability movement. The next year will witness the release of my book New Earth Rising, and the resumption of the similarly named e-zine. Once again I will be based at my rural log cabin in Wisconsin, where the ecological restoration and permaculture work will intensify. The Papua New Guinea international campaign work will strengthen as we have established a local office and staff for our new project called Asples PNG, and we intend to become active on the ground elsewhere as well. Finally I have hired and trained staff to do the daily 6-8 hours of web site news updating I have always done, and this is going to give me much more time to fund-raise and campaign. But we need to raise funds for the next six months! Given Copenhagen, we have extended until January 15th to do so. I very, very much want to continue with Ecological Internets work. Continuation of my lifes work is in your hands. Given the crashing economy and challenging positions EI espouse, I expect donations to be reduced. But our finances are so tight right now, and my personal credit card maxed out to subsidize the work, that unless we make more progress on the fund-raiser, this may be it for Ecological Internet. I think that would be sad and detrimental to Earth as we are a ferocious voice for what must be done, rather than what is easy but inadequate. Please donate now at: http://www.climateark.org/shared/donate/ . I have profound faith in Gaia that things will work out as they have for the past 15 years of activism. For Earth with warmest regards, Dr. Glen Barry P.S. Remember as a 501c3 donations may be tax-deductible. There is information on mailing checks and setting up regular payments at the URL above as well. Please, Ecological Internet needs you. 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