2012 EarthAction Report
Image Source: RIANOVOSTI
100,000 Acres Protected in Old-growth Cambodian Forest: In a great victory for activists, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen cancelled four economic land concessions in August 2012, thus protecting 100,000 acres in the heart of Cambodia’s Prey Lang forest, the largest low-land contiguous evergreen forest in Southeast Asia.
For eighteen months prior to Hun Sen’s announcement, EarthAction worked closely with the Prey Lang Community Network, an activist group of mostly indigenous villagers who live and work in the Prey Lang area.
Through its international campaign, EarthAction brought global attention to this issue and mobilized international action to defend this forest and the rights of its local villagers. The Phnom Penh Post, Cambodia’s largest newspaper, described Hun Sen’s turn-about as “a rare and great victory for activists.”
Goldman Environmental Prize awarded to Evginia Chirikova: In April 2012, the Goldman Prize for Environmental Leadership presented its prestigious award to Evginia Chirikova, one of EarthAction’s ‘Save Khimki Forest’ campaign advisors in Moscow. As part of its Khimki Forest campaign, EarthAction played an important role in getting two major European Banks to withdraw their financial support from the proposed highway through the heart of this beloved Moscow forest. In awarding the prize to Ms. Chirikova, the Goldman Foundation noted that getting the banks to withdraw their financial support was "the most significant victory" in this campaign.
World Community Forum on Desertification and Citizen Action—Saving the Life-Giving Soils of the World: In the Spring of 2012, working in collaboration with The Global Citizens Initiative and the secretariat to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, EarthAction hosted a one week online World Community Forum on Desertification and Citizen Action—Saving the Life-Giving Soils of the World. The Forum led to the publication of A Primer on Citizen Advocacy and Desertification designed to help governments, NGOs, businesses, and other groups reverse the loss of soil and soil fertility in the dryland regions of the world.
Ancient Cameroon Forest on the Chopping Block: In the Fall of 2012, EarthAction began our work with villagers in Cameroon whose forest is on the chopping block. They are bravely standing up to a big U.S. based corporation that has promised jobs, schools, and ‘environmental stewardship’ to the government of Cameroon in exchange for a 99-year lease on the land. The corporation plans to destroy this ancient rainforest and turn it into an oil palm tree plantation and an oil refinery. This forest is home to 45,000 villagers, and many species of animals and plants including endangered primates and elephants. EarthAction initiated a global campaign to mobilize international support on behalf of the local people to save this forest. We will continue our campaign into 2013.
Elephants, Military Spending & Nuclear Weapons: Throughout the year, EarthAction also addressed a wide-variety of other global issues. We sent Action Alerts to our network encouraging action to protect endangered elephants, end human trafficking, reduce global military spending, and reduce the threat to the world from nuclear weapons. We also invited our Partner Organizations to sign and implement the Amherst Declaration and become active participants in building a better world.
In 2012 EarthAction was home to the following projects
In every month of 2012, 2020 Action produced and sent out over 3,000 Action Postcards. Each month’s card focused on a current and critical U.S. environment or peace issue. Victories included:
- President Obama continued to use diplomacy instead of bombs for U.S. foreign policy with Iran.
- The Department of the Interior rejected a permit for a massive expansion of an open-pit coal mine close to Bryce Canyon National Park.
- The EPA finalized the first-ever nationwide standard for mercury and toxic air pollution from power plants. These standards are expected to cut mercury emissions by 90%.
- The EPA approved new standards to regulate CO2 emissions from power plants. The new regulations will significantly reduce our CO2 emissions.
- The EPA approved new standards that will reduce the "fine particulate matter” or “soot” in the atmosphere. These new regulations are expected to prevent thousands of premature deaths every year in the U.S.
The Elders Project: In 2012, The Elders Project (TEP) continued with it’s mission to work with and provide assistance and support to the traditional authorities (Mamos) of the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta (SNSM) in Colombia for projects aimed at strengthening their traditional practices. We collected video and photographic documentation of the destructive mining operations in the SNSM and traveled to many communities in Kogui and Arhuaco territory to present this data to the people. This helped motivate many people to give greater support to the traditional elders’ efforts to mount a “spiritual” defense of their homelands. During our visits to these communities we distributed hundreds of copies of the book “Ordenamiento Ancestral y Permanencia Cultural” (published by TEP in 2010). TEP also provided critical support to the Arhuacos’ efforts to revive the Tani dance, a fundamental part of their tradition. We also provided support for the traditional education of young Arhuaco boys and girls under the tutelage of 98 year old Mamo Isael.
TEP made great progress in the process of publishing the wisdom of Mamo Mayor Zareymaku (Juan Marcos Pérez), who passed away in 2007 at the age of 94. He was the last great cacique (traditional leader) of the Arhuaco people. Between 1995 and 2006, Jesus Ortiz and Nora Diaz recorded more than 20 hours of conversations with Mamo Zareymaku who wanted his knowledge to be written down and published for the benefit of his people. His desire was to safeguard and preserve the pueblos' history and wisdom and to guarantee that this information would be available for future generations. These recordings have now been transcribed in Arhuaco and translated into Spanish.
This will be the third book of an ongoing process to transmit traditional knowledge previously unavailable in written format. The Mamos say that publishing this book; “Our Leader, The High Mamo Juan Marcos Pérez”, will provide the four pueblos with an even more powerful tool for the strengthening of the traditional practices and the unification of the four pueblos in defense of their homelands: la Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, “The Heart of the World”.
Note: The Colombian Constitutional Court (Auto 004/2009) has declared the four indigenous communities of the SNSM, (Arhuacos, Koguis, Wiwas and Kanquamos), to be at risk of cultural extinction. This reality, coupled with economic development plans (mining, dams, tourism, etc.), threatens the very existence of these rich cultural traditions that have endured for millennia.
Social Media Outreach: In 2012 EarthAction ramped up its use of blogging, Facebook, and Twitter in order to educate and mobilize more people around the world. We increased our blogging from the previous year by 34%, our Facebook posts by 44%, and our Tweets by 67%.
The following issues were featured on EarthAction’s homepage, and blogged and tweeted about throughout the year
1. United Nations Humans Right Day: December 10, 2012 Dec 10, 2012 by Ariel
2. An Animated History of the Middle East, with Music Dec 5, 2012 by Ariel
3. From Illegal Logging to Timber Laundering: Organized Crime Trade Worth over US$30 Billion Responsible for up to 90% of Tropical Deforestation Dec 4, 2012 by Christine (UN Press Release)
4. Build a Better World and Sign the Amherst Declaration Dec 3, 2012 by Ariel
5. Give Back on #GivingTuesday Nov 27, 2012 by Christine
6. Women's Health and Climate Change Nov 21, 2012 by Ariel
7. Ocean Gyres Nov 14, 2012 by Chris
8. Happy World Vegan Month! Nov 14, 2012 by Chris
9. Great Ape Personhood: What and Why? Nov 9, 2012 by Xavier
10. Berdaulat secara politik. Mandiri secara ekonomi. Bermartabat secara budaya. Nov 7, 2012 by Ariel
11. Women, Water, Life Nov 5, 2012 by Chris
12. Extinction, Biodiversity Loss and Us Oct 21, 2012 by Ariel
13. "There will not be global security without food security." Oct 16, 2012 by Christine
14. UN Report Warns Ecological Foundations that Support Food Security, Including Biodiversity, Are Being Undermined Oct 16, 2012 by Christine (UN Press Release)
15. Welcoming the New Interns! Oct 15, 2012 by Chris
16. Don't miss "Too Young to Wed" tonight in the UN Headquarters in Observance of the International Day of the Girl Child Oct 11, 2012 by Christine
17. Two Birds with One Awesome Stone: Comic Books and Environmentalism Oct 11, 2012 by Christine
18. Syria Versus the World – Should others intervene? Oct 4, 2012 by Xavier
19. Open Letter to President Obama and Former Governor Romney: Defend America Against Keystone XL Oct 2, 2012 by Christine
20. Child Brides: Too Young to Wed Sep 18, 2012 by Ariel
2020 Action also increased its use of social media in 2012. Our number of blog posts increased 35%, Facebook posts by 11%, and Tweets by 67%.
2020 posted, blogged and tweeted about the following topics throughout the year
1. Sequestration, Defense, and the EPA Nov 27, 2012 by Ken (Postcard)
2. Give Back on #GivingTuesday Nov 27, 2012 by Christine
3. Democracy is More Than Voting Nov 27, 2012 by Pete
4. Climate Change’s Effects on New England Nov 5, 2012 by Christine
5. Obama vs. Romney Oct 24, 2012 by Ken (Postcard)
6. Global Warming's Terrifying New Math Oct 24, 2012 by Pete
7. Nobel Conference: Our Global Ocean Oct 22, 2012 by Pete
8. Iron Jawed Angels: The True Story Behind of the 19th Amendment Oct 20, 2012 by Pete
9. EarthAction Members Published! Oct 15, 2012 by Pete
10. Where is Matt? (Video) Oct 8, 2012 by Christine
11. 2,053 Nuclear Explosions in One Video Oct 5, 2012 by Pete
12. Declining Arctic Sea Ice and the Race to Drill Oct 4, 2012 by Pete
With gratitude to EarthAction Staff, Interns, Volunteers, Donors, Board of Directors, and Advisors
Lois Barber, Co-creator and Executive Director of EarthAction & 2020 Action.
Christine Chung, project and campaign coordinator. Christine graduated from the University of Massachusetts in December 2012 and won a Fulbright-Hays scholarship to study in China for eight months starting in January 2013.
Viviane Castro, Latin American Coordinator based in Chile. Viviane has been with EarthAction since our founding in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
Chris Daly, Promotions Intern and a student at Hampshire College. Chris’ focus is on Latin American studies, anthropology, and human rights work.
Jonathan Lobsien, web and tech administrator. John is a recent graduate from the University of Massahcusetts with a degree in Linguistics and German.
Ariel Stickles, Research Intern and a Junior at the University of Massachusetts studying Spanish and a Bachelor Degree with Individual Concentration (BDIC) focused on Civic Engagement and Human Rights Advocacy. Ariel will study in Spain for the Spring semester in 2013.
Peter Suechting, Research Intern and sophomore attending Amherst College. Pete is pursuing an Environmental Studies degree and possibly a Geology degree. Peter’s goal is to “serve the environment as well as it has served me.”
Xavier A. Torres de Janon, Research Intern focused on social media and fundraising. Xavier was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador and is now in his first year at Hampshire College where he plans to focus his studies in international relations and affairs, global conflicts, peace and security, and human rights.
Other interns and volunteers in 2012: Kim Finch, Yelena Kobilaya, Lazora Jordan, Gabe Katz.
Special thanks to the foundations and individuals who contributed to EarthAction’s Core Work and to our Projects in 2012. These include:
The Thomas. D. Hormel Trust, the Stewart R. Mott Foundation, the Peace Development Fund, the Samdhana Institute—Global Green Grants, the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Foundation, Louise Hoffman, Hal Litoff, Lucy Stroock, and numerous others.
EarthAction’s Board of Directors: Lois Barber, Tom Pelletier, Jan Roberts, Jackie Smith, Jakob von Uexkull (UK Board), Anne Zill
EarthAction’s Board of Advisors: Nicholas Dunlop, Robert Johansen, Ellen Miller, Michael Shuman, William Ury
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