SB&L iForum Category: NON-PROFIT/Sustainable Organizations & NGOs

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2000

Answers

Let me first qualify that I work with "environmental issues" on a daily basis as an employee of two resource-based grassroots groups. Our modest funding as non-profits comes soley from memberships, interest and local fund-raising activities. My primary function is public comment on the various regulatory schemes affecting land and resource use. I represent small, local, multi-generational family farmers, ranchers, loggers and property owners.

A debate is currently raging on the sources of grants supporting various so-called "environmental groups." Some of these groups, such as the Nature Conservancy, appear to rival large real estate companies in their holdings and brokerage income. Some are funded by large Trusts from oil and banking families. Some are funded by our tax money, which is then directed toward funding lobbying activity or suits. Is this appropriate?

If you are receptive to knowing more about these groups, you can look them up on Ron Arnold's site and find out about their funding sources http://www.undueinfluence.com/greendex.htm

We have found one local group funded by one of these Trusts to be very disruptive in the community processes we have established over the past decade to voluntarily address terrestrial practices that may affect anadromous fish. Other local grassroots "environmental" groups have not been as agressive in polarizing the community. They have worked on a collaborative basis to facilitate restoration projects.

If you operate an "environmental group" as a business, it is tempting to villanize the property owner in order to solicit funding and gain members. However, until such groups realize and accept that landowners can be environmentalists too, they have started a win/lose battle that works entirely against what they allegedly wish to accomplish.

I am a "property rights activist, yet I "juice;" have solar and wind power; grow my own food organically; made a solar dehydrator and oven. Why do these things have to be associated with a "green" political agenda as its exclusive domain? Can't we share these ideas and goals together? Isn't THAT what is really important?

-- Anonymous, February 18, 2000

marsh,

I stongly feel it's going to take a cooperative effort beteen all stakeholders to help all aspects of the environment heal.

Sustainable, for me, means you honor the limited resources and shift the attitudes to one of caretaking of our collective home. But... that's not an opinion shared by all. Frankly, I place more hope on eco-aware businesses to create a "shift" in prevailing thought and practices, than I do die-hard environmental groups.

Some things just "make sense." Like not polluting your drinking water... etc.

Diane

-- Anonymous, February 18, 2000