Both ENDS - Information Fact Sheet C

Online Advocacy - Internet Action Alerts and E-mail Petitions

Both ENDS offers a wide range of services to NGOs in Africa, Latin America, Asia and Central and Eastern Europe, who are working in the field of environment, development and social justice.

Our standard information service includes Information Packages on a wide range of topical environment issues. We also produce Information Fact Sheets on a number of environmental topics and on issues of capacity building. The aim of these fact sheets is to provide brief overviews and contacts on the mentioned subjects. This is ideal for NGOs who want a short guide on a particular issue.

Contents:

a brief overview of the theme
a listing of useful contacts
a list of publications
a list of websites

We make an effort to update the information included in these packages and fact sheets. However, since people and developments move fast, we inevitably lag behind somewhat.

The information presented is meant as an introduction. If you require more specific information, please feel free to contact us.

You can download the information packages and facts sheets from our Website or you can request an e-mail printed version. They are free of charge to NGOs in the South and Central/Eastern Europe.

We welcome any suggestions or comments which will help us improve these information packages.

Both ENDS

Environmental and Development Service for NGOs

Nieuwe Keizersgracht 45

1018 VC Amsterdam

the Netherlands

Phone: +31-20-6230823

Fax: +31-20-6208049

E-mail: info@bothends.org

Website: http://www.bothends.org

This activity has been made possible thanks to the financial support of the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment (VROM).

Online Advocacy - Internet Action Alerts and E-mail Petitions

1. Brief guideline for writing an action alert

The internet is a low-cost yet highly effective medium for mobilising public support against ecological destruction. Posting information on the internet, you can reach many of the people you want to participate in your protest. A tried and tested method of asking people to send protest e-mails or to sign to petitions is the “action alert”. The e-mails sent as a result of such an action alerts puts pressure on project developers or decision-makers to change their actions or policies.

Because of the great speed by which action alerts can spread over the internet, an opponent may quickly receive huge numbers of e-mails that drawing his/her attention to a specific abuse. But, bearing in mind the power of your protest depends on the number of sympathizers you mobilize, be aware that e-mails or web forms that do not come from an organisation’s direct constituent can be perceived as spam, especially when they come in large numbers. Your opponent’s mail administrator can just filter those e-mails in which case nobody will take notice of your arguments.

Sometimes flooding someone with protests is exactly what you want to do, but if you hope for a longer dialogue you should avoid spamming your opponents mailbox. In such a case it might be better to collect the responses first by yourself. If you or your organization have a website, you can use it as a platform to collect letters or signatures and send them collectively to the person you want to address. You can send all contributions by e-mail, traditional mail or fax, but you could also make an action out of actually delivering the protest. Especially in cases where your opponent resides in your own vicinity, it is effective to present the petition in person. When doing so, make it into something of an event and invite the press. This ensures that your action doesn’t take place unnoticed and increases the public pressure.

An effective alert or petition is the end result of careful planning. It is of the highest priority that your action takes place precisely when the subject is pending on the agenda of the decision-makers. The earlier you intervene in the decision making process, the better your chances. Make sure that the person you address has the power to make the kind of decision you want. And try to find out more about your target person: what is his/her position and what arguments might change his/her mind? Make sure that your alert is released in time to gather the support needed to offer a strong catalysing effect when the day of decision, often involving either a legislature or corporation, is at hand. Name the d-day deadline in your alert so that sympathizers are aware they need to mobilize their friends to join in time. Always make sure to clearly mark the date of issuing the alert and the final date for contributions.

To convince your opponent as well as your sympathizers it is important to use the strongest possible arguments. But realize that slander, exaggeration or off-topic wanderings don’t do your case any good. A powerful action alert presents a brief background of the issue, mentions the current threats, and articulates the goals that have to be achieved to improve the situation. When you write an alert, be concise and compelling, limit your alert to its essentials and, if possible, use images to emphasize your argument (e.g. show the beauty that might be lost, or a cleared forest as the consequence a previous assault on the environment). If you want to provide your readers with more information refer them to related books, brochures or websites. If organizations or experts support your action, be sure to mention them as well. It will give your alert more authority and enhance the chances of your efforts meeting success. The most important thing is, however, that no matter what medium you use to mobilize people, make sure you have a strong case. If your issue matters, people will follow you.

As the chain letters you sometimes encounter are ineffective for many reasons, the websites listed below give you more ideas how to set up an effective action alert. Several sites provide the technical know-how needed to mobilize public support. Of course they also give you an opportunity to respond to alerts. If you know about other websites issuing action alerts on environmental topics, you can contact us at info@bothends.org. If it’s appropriate, we will add your contribution to our list.

2. General Resources

http://www.eactivist.org

eActivist.org works to encourage electronic activism and civic participation by providing a collection of simple, easy-to-use progressive electronic actions and tools for the eActivist. eActivist.org is a project of the Tides Center that works to encourage electronic activism and civic participation by providing a comprehensive, issue-based collection of progressive electronic actions and tools for the electronic activist. eActivist.org is a timely, useful resource to activate social change and unite the global community.

http://www.earthaction.org

EarthAction’s goal is to mobilize growing numbers of people around the world through the building of a global action alert network to press governments (or sometimes corporations) for stronger action to solve global problems. EarthAction’s strategy is to create a global action alert network made up of individuals, groups and legislators who are prepared to act together on global problems.

http://www.moles.org/ProjectUnderground/alerts/index.html

Project Underground exists as a vehicle for the environmental, human rights and indigenous rights movements to carry out focused campaigns against abusive extractive resource activity.

http://www.MoveOn.org

MoveOn is working to bring ordinary people back into politics. MoveOn is a catalyst for a new kind of grassroots involvement, supporting busy but concerned citizens in finding their political voice. When there is a disconnect between broad public opinion and legislative action, MoveOn builds electronic advocacy groups. Examples of such issues are campaign finance, environmental and energy issues, impeachment, gun safety, and nuclear disarmament. Once a group is assembled, MoveOn provides information and tools to help each individual have the greatest possible impact.

3. Environment

http://actionnetwork.org http://actionnetwork.org/domain-open-alerts.tcl

Take action for the environment… just by replying to your email!

http://www.blackrhinoceros.org

BlackRhinoceros is a non-partisan, unaffiliated collective. It produces a directory for environmental activists wishing to campaign on these ecological issues: biodiversity, conservation, energy, environmental justice, habitat and pollution. Use the hundreds of cross-referenced and regularly updated links gathered here on the BlackRhinoceros site to act on green issues.

http://www.care2.com http://www.care2.com/takeaction

Care2 is the largest Environmental Network connecting over 2 million Consumers with Nonprofit Organizations and Eco-Oriented Corporations.

http://www.milieudefensie.nl/earthalarm

Friends of the Earth Netherlands’ Earth Alarm: Writing Letters for a better Environment (Attention: Dutch language site)

http://www.environmentaldefense.org/actioncenter.cfm

Environmental Defense is a leading national nonprofit organization representing more than 400,000 members. Since 1967, they have linked science, economics and law to create innovative, equitable and cost-effective solutions to society's most urgent environmental problems.

http://earthhopenetwork.net/

Earthhope Action Network is a networking organization for the gathering and exchange of environment & social justice information, action alerts, news & protest.

http://www.cwac.net/actionalert.html

Clean Water Action Council has worked on several environmental issues, or shared information about them, since 1985. They all relate to water quality or water quantity to some degree.

http://forests.org/action

Forest Conservation Action Alerts. “Your Email Action Center - The best Internet forest conservation action alerts.”

http://www.gefoodalert.org/pages/home.cfm

Genetically Engineered Food Alert is a coalition of seven organizations united in their commitment to testing and labeling genetically engineered food.

http://www.globalresponse.org

Global Response (Environmental Action and Education Network) 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.

http://www.gracelinks.org

GRACE (Global Resource Action Center for the Environment) works to form new links with the research, policy and grassroots communities to preserve the future of the planet and protect the quality of the environment.

http://www.irn.org/index.asp?id=/sub/lists.html

IRN (International Rivers Network) maintains several email lists that provide information on campaigns to stop dams and protect rivers worldwide.

http://passport.panda.org

Panda P@ssport is for the genuinely concerned individual who, when she or he has the time, takes on-line action for on-the-ground results. Passport is a site full of environmental campaigns from all over the world. One can visit these campaigns and take action. The idea behind Passport is that it makes it easier for people to have a big say in critical issues.

http://www.peta-online.org/alert

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the largest animal rights organization in the world. PETA is dedicated to exposing and eliminating animal abuse wherever it occurs through the use of public education, litigation, research and investigations, media campaigns, lobbying and grassroots organizing.

http://www.ran.org/action

Grassroots action is the backbone of campaigns by the Rainforest Action Network. Around the world, dedicated activists and community members support the rainforest movement by writing letters, distributing information, contacting decision-makers, organizing demonstrations, and participating in nonviolent civil disobedience.

4. Social-Political

http://www.aviva.org/index.html http://www.aviva.org/action.htm

AVIVA is a monthly free listings service of women's groups & events worldwide which enables women all over the world to make contact with each other.

http://www.citizen.org/action

Public Citizen is a US consumer advocacy organization (founded by the illustrious Ralph Nader) which represents consumer interests in Congress, the executive branch and the courts. PC fights for openness and democratic accountability in government, for the right of consumers to seek redress in the courts; for clean, safe and sustainable energy sources; for social and economic justice in trade policies; for strong health, safety and environmental protections; and for safe, effective and affordable prescription drugs and health care. Public Citizen is an independent voice for citizens in the halls of power.

http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/index.htm http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/alert.htm

PMA (Peace Movement Aotearoa) is a networking organisation based in New Zealand for those concerned about peace and related issues. PMA is committed to social change through non-violent means. PMA provides news and views on armed conflict, the arms trade and human rights abuses; suggestions for alternative ways of thinking and peaceful resolution of conflict; information on peace initiatives, peaceful protest and preventing war. Through its email lists, one can reach the people who are most likely to act on your information, support your campaign, and attend your meetings.

http://www.corpwatch.org http://www.corpwatch.org/action/PHA.jsp

CorpWatch counters corporate-led globalization through education and activism. It works to foster democratic control over corporations by building grassroots globalization--a diverse movement for human rights, labor rights and environmental justice.

http://www.fian.org

FIAN is the international human rights organisation for the right to food. FIAN’s mission is to assist national and international struggles to realize the human right to adequate food through concrete action. Hotlines and the Emergency Network are protest letter campaigns directed at the government of the country, in which the violation is taking place. The Emergency Network is a major instrument of the Campaign to promote the solidarity of all women and men working on the land who are victims of human rights violations.

http://www.hri.ca

Human Rights Internet posts news items regarding human rights, urgent alerts, actions, campaigns and news releases by human rights advocacy groups worldwide. HRI is dedicated to the empowerment of human rights activists and organizations, and to the education of governmental and intergovernmental agencies and officials and other actors in the public and private sphere, on human rights issues and the role of civil society.

http://www.iacenter.org

Information, Activism, and Resistance to U.S. militarism, war, and corporate greed. Linking with Struggles Against Racism and Oppression within the US.

http://www.ifex.org

IFEX's weekly webzine with the latest news from around the world on freedom of expression victories and violations. The International Freedom of Expression eXchange...linking freedom of expression groups around the world.

One of the central components of IFEX is the Action Alert Network (AAN). Member organizations report free expression abuses in their geographic region or area of expertise to the Clearing House which, in turn, circulates this information to other members and interested organizations all over the world. Importantly, the AAN also allows for a rapid, world-wide and coordinated response to press freedom and freedom of expression violations.

http://www.protest.net

Protest.Net is a clearinghouse of protests happening anywhere in the world. Protest.Net will also provide a syndicated version for other organizations working in particular issue or geographical areas.

http://www.wtoaction.org

WTO Action is a project of the Common Front on the World Trade Organization (CFWTO) which brings together over 50 national organizations and regional networks representing diverse sectors of society.

http://www.2020vision.org http://www.2020vision.org/resources/r_activists.htm

20/20 Vision empowers citizens to speak out for a clean environment and a world free of weapons of mass destruction. The Tools for Citizens provides tips and ideas for enhancing your political voice.

5. Tools & Resources:

http://www.apc.org/english/capacity/training/index.shtml

APC offers with ItrainOnline a one-stop source of ICTs training materials for people who want to learn how to use the Internet effectively for social justice and sustainable development.

http://www.ethical-business.com

Petition-them.com provides free space for public petitions. Our service is aimed at responsible individuals and groups who wish to promote a cause or campaign. The service is centred on the UK, but petitions can be included which have a global significance.

http://www.idealist.org/ip/idealist/CampaignSearch/default

Find Campaigns of Idealist.org

http://www.ipetitions.com/index.html http://www.ipetitions.com/about.html?wid=u76

iPetitions.com offers the physical space to host petitions, and they give the tools to gather signatures, collect donations, and host online discussions for campaign. iPetitions is neither left nor right, neither liberal nor conservative. We believe that all opinions deserve an equal hearing.

http://www.networkforgood.org/npo/advocacy/emaillobby.html http://www.networkforgood.org/npo/advocacy/petition.html

Network for Good is the first coalition of its kind to help nonprofit organizations become more effective and efficient. Network for Good will help them further their mission by integrating the full power of the online medium into their own operations.

http://www.petitiononline.com

www.PetitionOnline.com provides free hosting of public petitions for responsible public advocacy. It welcomes petitions on almost any subject, for almost any audience. The idea of PetitionOnline.com is to facilitate grassroots democracy, using its independent petition hosting system to give a high level of integrity to the process. Mind that free hosting means that every kind of petition can be submitted.

http://speakout.com/takeaction

SpeakOut.com's mission is to make activism as easy as possible. By connecting people who want to be heard with their political and business leaders, it promotes important dialogue, and creates a more informed, better organized public.

http://www.techsoup.org/articles.cfm?topicid=5&topic=Using%20the%20Internet&cg=nav&sg=content_topic5

A list of articles on using the internet by non-profits and activists provided by TechSoup.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/

ThePetitionSite is a project of www.Care2.com. Although Care2.com is a pro-environment site, it offers ThePetitionSite.com as a non-partisan tool for people working on a variety of issues and causes.

6. Background

Designing Effective Action Alerts for the Internet by Phil Agre:

http://dlis.gseis.ucla.edu/people/pagre/alerts.html

An Activists' Strategy for Effective Online Networking:

http://www.onenw.org/bin/page.cfm?pageid=42

The Virtual Activist:

http://www.netaction.org/training/

Outreach Via the Internet for Mission-Based Organizations:

http://www.coyotecom.com/promote.html

Anitra Freeman’s Effective Activism on the Internet:

http://www.scn.org/~alf1701

Email and Web Tips for Internet Activism: