For those of you who are unfamiliar with Global Response, this my come
as a pleasant surprise. Global Response is a sort of
Environmental/Human Rights imitator of Amnesty International, and I
think you will enjoy reading of their successes.
Apologies to p[eople already on their list.
Caspar Davis
***** FORWARDED MESSAGE *****
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 14:29:10 -0800 (PST)
From: Global Response <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED
LETTER FROM CHAIR, GLOBAL RESPONSE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
and
1998 ANNUAL REPORT (Sept 1997-August 1998)
* NEWS FLASH * VICTORY * NEWS FLASH * VICTORY * NEWS FLASH * VICTORY *
We just learned that our Action to stop construction of an industrial port
in India has succeeded!!! P&O Ports (Great Britain and Australia)
announced
this week that it will NOT build a port at Dahanu, a region defined as
"ecologically fragile." On behalf of a coalition of Dahanu organizations,
GR launched a letter campaign to P&O in November 1997; one year later with
the people of Dahanu we celebrate SUCCESS!! (See GR Action #7/97)
* * * * * * * * *
November 1998
Dear Members of Global Response’s Quick Response Network,
Together we’ve accomplished a lot this past year! Take a look at
our Annual Report, attached below. It tells the story of recent Global
Response "Actions" and their positive impacts around the world. It also
tells how we use your dollars. I think you will appreciate knowing that
when you give to Global Response, 85% of your money goes directly into
programs. Top-heavy we are NOT!
In fact, Global Response is a very lean and efficient organization
with a staff of just 1.5 people and an annual budget under $100,000.
We are
proud to accomplish so much at such low cost.
TODAY I AM ASKING YOU TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO GLOBAL RESPONSE.
We don’t "charge" people to receive our Action Alerts by email, but of
course it DOES cost to produce and circulate them. You know you can
rely on
Global Response to get the facts behind every case and present them to you
in a format that makes it easy for you write convincing letters – and
make a
difference in our world. I hope you will help us, if you can, cover the
costs of providing this service that you depend on.
The more support we receive from our members, the more independent
of funders’ agendas we can be.
Please tell us, too, if you would like to designate your gift to
help us get more children and teenagers involved in environmental
activism.
Global Response is eager to build our youth activism programs for two
important reasons:
1) Letters from young people are particularly persuasive with many
decision
makers. Here’s one inspiring example: When asked how Mitsubishi
Corporation was persuaded to stop logging in tropical rainforests, the
director of RAN’s successful Mitsubishi campaign said, "The key factor was
the children’s campaign." Thousands of children sent haiku poems as gifts
to Mitsubishi’s corporate executives in Japan. Mitsubishi executives
couldn’t help being moved by the earnest and sincere messages from
children
who wanted to inherit a world with rainforests.
2) In our new global society, we must teach young people to work together
with people of all cultures and countries to protect the Earth’s
environment. Global Response gives children the chance they deserve to
make a difference in the world.
We know our Young Environmentalist’s Actions for children and our
Eco-Club Actions for teenagers are effective in motivating young people to
become environmental activists. This is what young people and their
teachers say about Global Response:
"I enjoy writing letters to protect the environment
because
it makes me feel good inside that I am trying to help save man-kind.
I know
that I cannot make all the difference in the world by myself, but one
person
can definitely help to change things for the better."
-- Amy Ryan, high school student
"As an educator, I am always looking for innovative
ways to
spark the interest of my students; I have found just what I need in Global
Response. The Global Response newsletter is an awaited piece of mail
in my
classroom. Its friendly format and focus on environmental issues help my
students feel connected to others all around the world…. This is every
educator’s dream." -- Debbie
Rabideau, teacher.
Thank you for supporting Global Response this year, and thank
you for ALL
the ways you contribute to our successes.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey A. Kodish, Chair
Board of Directors
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - -
Here is my special end-of-year contribution for:
_____ general support for GR’s important work
_____ GR’s unique youth activism programs
Ť$50 Ť$100 Ť $200 Ť$350 Ť$500 Ť$1,000 ŤOther
$____________
My name_________________________________________ I am: ____adult
Complete address________________________________
____teacher____grade
________________________________________________ ____K-8 grade
student
________________________________________________ ____high school
student
________________________________________________ ____college student
E-mail__________________________________________ Tel.____________________
Global Response is a 501c(3) organization. Your contributions are
tax-deductible.
THANK YOU for your support – we can’t accomplish our mission without you!
Please mail your check to: GLOBAL RESPONSE
PO BOX 7490
BOULDER CO 80306
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - -
GLOBAL RESPONSE: 1998 ANNUAL REPORT (Sept 1997- Aug 1998)
MISSION
Global Response empowers people of all ages, cultures, and
nationalities to
protect the environment by creating partnerships for effective citizen
action. At the request of indigenous peoples and grassroots
organizations,
Global Response organizes urgent international letter campaigns to help
communities prevent many kinds of environmental destruction. Global
Response involves young people as well as adults in these campaigns to
develop in them the values and skills for global citizen cooperation and
earth stewardship.
GOALS
· Help grassroots organizations and indigenous peoples prevent
environmental
destruction ;
· Create an international network of environmental activists and
organizations that work together to preserve the environment and
sustainable economies;
· Educate young people and adults about critical environmental issues and
motivate them to take personal action as responsible global citizens and
earth stewards;
· Form a new generation of environmentally conscious young people who know
how to collaborate with people of all countries and cultures to solve
environmental problems.
"The earth is not dying – it is being killed.
And the people who are killing it have names
and addresses." ---- U. Utah Phillips
Global Response issues printed and e-mail Actions to an international
network of environmental organizations and to its letter-writing
membership:
· Global Response Actions (GR Actions) for adults
· Eco-Club Actions (ECA) for high school students and youth
environmental clubs
· Young Environmentalist's Actions (YEA) for elementary school students,
families, teachers, and classrooms. Teacher’s Packet accompanies the YEA.
FOCUS ON YOUTH ACTIVISM
This year Global Response focused on involving more young people in GR’s
letter campaigns. Why? Because of letters like this from Brooks
Stapleton:
"I would like to help the Earth. I love the Earth,
and it is my favorite thing."
The Earth is our favorite thing, too. Through our unique youth "Actions,"
young people practice working in partnership with communities around the
world to protect the Earth. Their letters to decision-makers are
especially
effective for their sincerity and directness. This year, Venezuela’s
Senate
Commission on the Environment displayed ECA and YEA letters at the
National
University as inspiration for their campaign to save the Imataca Forest
Reserve.
We are seeking funds to hire a Youth Program Coordinator who will
bring many
more young people into our exciting environmental education & action
programs.
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Jeffrey Kodish, chair
Leslie Crawford, Environment and Education
Kane Hollins, Science teacher
Linda Moyer, Native American educator
Barbara Werner, ESL teacher
Jeff Writer, Science teacher
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Maki Iatridis, Chair (Sept 97-Mar98)
Environmental attorney
Jeffrey Kodish, Interim chair (April-Aug98)
Environmental attorney
Beryl Beauchamp
Environmental activist
Denise Bebbington
Researcher, Environment and Behavior
Arden Buck
President, Buck Research, Inc.
Robert Golten
International human rights attorney
Jennifer Kraemer
Consultant
Alan O’Hashi
President, Environmental and Cultural Organization Systems (ECOS)
Roy Young
Owner, Nature’s Own
STAFF
Paula Palmer, Executive Director
Trey Beck/Susan Kamins, Office Manager
ACTION - IMPACTS - ACTION - IMPACTS - ACTION - IMPACTS - ACTION - IMPACTS
Global Response members in three age groups – adults, teens, and
children –
participated in these "Actions" during the 1998 fiscal year. For the full
texts, please visit our website: http://www.globalresponse.org
* * *
ECUADOR #6/97 PRESERVE CLOUD FOREST, STOP MITSUBISHI MINE We wrote
letters to Ecuador’s Minister of Energy and Mines and to Mitsubishi
International Corporation, seeking to stop construction of the Junin
copper
mine in an ecologically unique and important cloud forest region. The
cloud
forest provides rare habitat for many threatened species, including the
lowland tapir, giant anteater, boa constrictor, plate-billed toucan and
Andean cock-of-the-rock (Requested by Acción Ecológica, Defensa y
Conservación Ecológica del Intag, Rainforest Action Network)
IMPACT: Mitsubishi International Corporation responded to GR
letters saying that so far Bishimetals has only participated in the
exploration phase of the copper mine project in Junin; it has no intention
to participate in the exploitation (mining) phase. Although Mitsubishi
won’t say so, we think our letters influenced this decision!
"For a small, grass-roots environmental organization like
DECOIN, it
really means a lot to receive this sort of support. We are all very
impressed and very, very grateful for your valuable collaboration."
– Carlos Zorrilla, DECOIN
* * *
# 7/97: STOP PORT CONSTRUCTION IN ECOLOGICALLY FRAGILE ZONE / INDIA: P&O
Ports wants to build India’s largest industrial port in an ecologically
protected area where tribal Warli people live. We sent letters to India’s
Prime Minister and Minister of Environment and Forests, and to the
Chairman
of P&O Ports, urging them to uphold India’s Supreme Court Orders to
protect
the Dahanu coast from industrial development. (Requested by the People’s
Alliance for Implementation of the Law, Thane, a group of 14 Dahanu
organizations.)
IMPACT: VICTORY!! In November 1998, P&O announced it will NOT
build the port at Dahanu, citing uncertainties arising from the Supreme
Court orders for environmental protection of the Dahanu region.
"We commend Global Response and all your members for being
responsible citizens of the world by keeping an eye on your companies and
taking action when they undermine our democracies…. We are
distributing your
Actions to some of our schools in India, in the hope that they will
join the
Global Response network." – Shabnam Merchant, PAIL
* * *
BRAZIL Emergency Action 10/23/97: Letters to Brazil’s president,
minister
of justice, and governor of Santa Catarina state, asking for
protection for
Wigold Schaeffer and Miriam Prochnow, two of the most active leaders
of the
campaign to protect the Mata Atlantica Rainforests in the South of Brazil,
who are receiving death threats. (Requested by Fundacao Francisco,
Brazil).
IMPACT: " From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for all the
support and solidarity received. The letters you sent to the Brazilian
authorities provoked investigations from federal and state police. These
investigations caused a wide repercussion on the press and local public
opinion and made the threats against us stop." – Wigold Schaeffer
and Miriam Prochnow
* * *
BELIZE Follow-up Action, 12/11/97 (#1/97: STOP LOGGING ON MAYA
LANDS). We
sent faxes to the president and country directors of the Inter-American
Development Bank, urging them to postpone financing for Belize’s southern
highway until the Belizian government safeguards the Maya people’s land
rights, commits to carrying out environmental studies required by IDB
procedures, and ensures full democratic participation of the Mayas in
economic development planning for the Southern Zone.
IMPACT: On January 7, 1998, the Inter-American Development
Bank did
approve the loan to pave the Southern Highway, but only after the
government
of Belize gave assurances that the Maya people's concerns would be
properly
addressed.
"IDB officials told us that this loan application generated more
public comment and more discussions at the highest level of the Bank than
any other -- including applications for loans many times its size."
– Deborah Schaaf, Indian Law Resource Center
* * *
NICARAGUA #1/98: PRESERVE RAINFORESTS/STOP LOGGING Miskitu and
Mayagna
peoples as well as environmentalists asked for help to stop illegal
logging
in the North-Atlantic forests. We wrote letters to the president of
Nicaragua asking him to suspend logging concessions until indigenous lands
have been demarcated and titled as the constitution requires. We also
urged
the president of the World Bank to withhold funding for a Biological
Corridor in the same region, until the logging concessions are suspended.
(Requested by Centro CONADES, Indian Law Resource Center, and
Environmental
Task Force of the Nicaragua Network.)
IMPACT: VICTORY!! On February 16, 1998, Nicaragua's Minister
of the
Environment and Natural Resources declared the SOLCARSA logging concession
null and void, effective immediately. For the Mayangna and Miskitu
peoples
of Nicaragua, the evacuation of the Korean logging company is a first step
toward enforcing their constitutional right to demarcate and title their
forested lands.
"This was an important battle, hard-fought. We owe many thanks to
all the members of Global Response who fought alongside us."
-- Armstrong Wiggins, Indian Law Resource Center
* * *
EMERGENCY ACTION 2/6/98: We sent faxes to the U.S. negotiator of the
MULTILATERAL AGREEMENT ON INVESTMENTS (MAI) and U.S. senators, urging them
to withdraw from MAI negotiations because the agreement will undermine
environmental regulations, human rights, and national sovereignty.
IMPACT: VICTORY!! The US and other delegations to the Paris
meeting withheld approval of the MAI, citing objections raised by
environmental and human rights organizations. Campaigners against the MAI
credited our success to organizing through the Internet – including GR’s
Quick Response Network!
"High-powered politicians had reams of statistics and analysis on
why a set of international investing rules would make the world a better
place. They were no match, however, for a global band of grassroots
organizations, which, with little more than computers and access to the
Internet, helped derail a deal." –Madelaine Drohan, The
Globe and
Mail.
"I don’t think governments will ever be able to do these kind of
secret trade negotiations again." – Maude Barlow, Council of
Canadians
FOLLOW-UP ACTION, June/98: We made phone calls and sent faxes
to US
senators, urging them to oppose Senate Bill 778, the Subsaharan Trade
Bill,
a NAFTA-like agreement for Africa which would limit environmental
regulation
of corporations.
IMPACT: The bill died in committee!
* * *
HAITI #2/98 CLEAN UP TOXIC WASTE We sent letters to the mayor of
Philadelphia, PA and to the administrator of the US Agency for
International
Development, asking them to pay $200,000 to clean up and remove toxic ash
from Philadelphia that was dumped on a Haitian beach ten years ago. Copies
were sent to the Philadelphia Inquirer. (Requested by Greenpeace and the
Haitian Collective for the Protection of the Environment and Alternative
Development - COHPEDA.)
IMPACT: The Philadelphia Inquirer published an editorial saying
that the City "has a moral, if not legal, duty to help provide the ash, a
final, environmentally-safe resting place." Mayor Rendell told GR members
the City has no responsibility for the ash in Haiti and will not pay
for its
removal – but he finally bowed to citizen pressure by pledging $50,000
toward the clean-up.
"Congratulations! This turn-around is clearly due to the work you
have all done with your letters!" – Kenny Bruno, Greenpeace
FOLLOW-UP ACTION Oct. 21, 1998: We sent faxes to Mayor Ed
Rendell, urging
him to pay the remaining costs (about $125,000) to remove the ash from
Haiti. The cleanup and removal are underway, supervised by the Haitian
government.
* * *
INDIA Emergency Action 6/19/98 We sent faxes to the Prime Minister of
India and the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, protesting excessive
use of
force against protesters at the site of the Maheshwar Dam, and calling
for a
halt to construction of the dam while alternatives are studied. (Requested
by Amnesty International’s Urgent Action.)
IMPACT: The Chief Minister visited the dam site and expressed
anger
that the construction company had not complied with safety requirements. A
review of costs and benefits of the dam project is now underway, with full
participation of local people and organizations. Protests ceased.
* * *
VENEZUELA #3 /98 PROTECT IMATACA FOREST RESERVE We sent letters to
the Supreme Court of Venezuela, copies to the Venezuelan Senate Commission
on the Environment, supporting environmental and indigenous groups'
challenge to Presidential Decree 1850. The decree would open 40% of the
Imataca Reserve to multinational mining companies, threatening many
endangered species and five tribal communities. (Requested by COAMA, a
coalition of Venezuelan environmental organizations.)
EMERGENCY ACTION8/4/98: Letters to the president of Venezuela,
urging him to guarantee the safety and civil rights of indigenous
people who
are blockading a road to prevent construction of power lines through the
Imataca Forest Reserve. (Requested by COAMA and Amazon Watch).
IMPACT: The Venezuelan Senate Commission on the Environment
officially joined the law suit asking for annulment of Decree 1850. The
Commission displayed GR letters at the National University. Negotiations
between indigenous leaders and government officials are ongoing.
"The letters from children are especially moving"
– Chair, Senate Commission on the Environment
FINANCIAL INFORMATION - FINANCIAL INFORMATION - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(September 1, 1997-August 31, 1998)
Global Response makes a few dollars go a long way – and their impacts are
felt around the world! Global Response is a 501c(3) organization; all
contributions are tax-deductible, and 85% of your money goes directly into
programs! Thank you for your generous support!
End of Year Balance Sheet
Cash Accounts $33,843.30
Property and Equipment (net) 5,260.43
Liabilities (228.84)
FUND BALANCE 8/31/98 $38,874.89
Revenue
Member contributions $23,825.16
Corporate gifts 49,921.31
Foundation grants 18,735.00
Other 4,449.21
TOTAL REVENUES $96,930.68
Expenses
Program services $62,029.34
Support services/ Admin 9,100.78
Fund Raising 1,787.03
TOTAL EXPENSES $72,969.15
THANKS to all Global Response members for writing the letters that
make our
campaigns successful, and for your financial support! We are especially
grateful to these contributors:
Over $20,000
Nature’s Own
$10,000-$19,999
Caribou Fund of the Tides Foundation
Natural Wonders
$1,000-$9,999
Rockefeller Financial Services
Colgate Palmolive Company
Cary Hopper & Susan Sypolt
Boulder Liquor Mart
David Manelski
Greenpeace
$250-$999
Anonymous - 1
Denise Bebbington
Martin & June Cobin
Sandra Frazier
Geneva Pharmaceuticals
Chet Tchozewski
Arden Buck
Will & Lorna Bernthal
Human-I-Tees
Will Murray
Mark Sebastian
$100-$249
St. Thomas Aquinas Church
Lisa Cross
Robert Daly
Robert Golten
Steven & Nancy Murray
Stephanie Smart
Loren Spector
James Gribin & Nancy Youell
Tod Young
Patrick & Lynn de Freitas
Maki Iatridis
Jeff Kodish
Beryl Beauchamp
Elizabeth Beauchamp
Edward Bellingrath
William Berley
Eric Boucher
Gail Bundy
Robert Canora
Wendy & Andy Cookler
Brendan Curtin
Pierre & Cynthia Erville
Evan Freirich
Harry & Kathleen Fulton
Mark Gross
Nora Jacquez
Walter Kingsbery
Baine Kerr & Cynthia Carlisle
Shelia Maloney
Ellen Moore
Joyce Neeley
Shirley & Charlie Paterson
Richard Simonelli
Michael Steinberg
Jane Westberg
IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS: GR keeps costs low, thanks to these businesses and
individuals:
Kingsbery and Associates CPAs, P.C.
– tax and accounting services
Roy Young – office space
Marti Matsch – retreat facilitation
Hayes Printing Service – folding, printing
Information Design – graphics design and production
Dixon Paper Store – paper
Patrick Whitehouse, Envelope Manager – software
Jim Morris – t-shirts
Andrew Smith – website design
George Blevins – drawings
Evan Schultz – drawing
InfiNETy Communications – website hosting and updating
VOLUNTEERS AND INTERNS contributed 1650 person-hours this year! Please
contact us if you’d like to help promote GR’s programs – for children,
teens
and adults – in your community.
STUDENT INTERNS bring youthful enthusiasm to GR; thanks and buena
suerte to:
Hope Albrecht, University of Colorado
Nani Aspinwall, University of Colorado
Laura Babcock, University of Colorado
Kim Carroll, Naropa Institute
Scott Murray, Vassar College
Katie Randall, University of Colorado
Katherine Spengler, University of Colorado
Julian Turner, University of Colorado
***** END of FORWARDED MESSAGE *****
