Things You Can Do

"It's Alive!"    Back To Top

Be a Smart Shopper

Supermarket activism was extremely important and effective in forcing genetically engineered (GE) food off the shelves throughout Europe. In the U.S., we are starting to see some of those same results. Read More

Join Organic Consumers Association

Help mobilize one million consumers to end Monsanto's global corporate terrorism. Read More

Join the True Food Network

Make your voice heard on current actions and sign up for action alerts. Read More

Shop "GE Free"

The True Food Shopping List was compiled because you have the right to know what's in your food! Today, thousands of products on supermarket shelves are made with ingredients from genetically engineered (GE) crops. Read More

A New threat to Rainforests    Back To Top

Don't Let Agribusiness Destroy the Rainforest

How to send a message to the CEOs of these companies telling them that you won't put up with the destruction of rainforests, displacement of Indigenous communities, and destruction of our climate for agribusiness profits! Read More

Educate!

The Rainforests in the Classroom program educates and inspires students to take an active role in protecting the Earth. A network of over 5,000 teachers receives a monthly email newsletter, which provides opportunities for classrooms to get involved and highlights how students and teachers are learning about the environment and helping to make a difference. Read More

Get Involved

Call for an Immediate Moratorium on U.S. incentives for agrofuels, U.S. agroenergy monocultures and global trade in agrofuels Read More

Protect-an-Acre-Program

The Protect-an-Acre Program contributes directly to forest communities struggling to protect their rainforest homelands through small grants to local groups. Read More

All Aboard!    Back To Top

Citizen Rail Groups

Find a local group from this list, and advocate for rail where you live. Read More

Explore New Trains

Learn all about high speed rail and how it can transform transportation in the U.S. (and how it is already transforming Europe). Read More

National Association of Railroad Passengers

NARP is the largest national membership advocacy organization for train and rail transit passengers. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger rail in the United States. A primary resource for info & actions. Join them Read More

Smart Transportation: High Speed Rail

Help Environmental Law & Policy enact a high speed rail network. Read More

An Invisible Threat    Back To Top

Get Tested for Mercury Contamination

To determine your own mercury level, all it takes is a small amount of hair. Read More

Protecting Yourself -- And the Fish

Certain fish, even some that are low in mercury, make poor choices for other reasons, most often because they have been fished so extensively that their numbers are perilously low. Read More

Sign up for Action Alerts

Want to make your voice heard? Earthjustice Action Alerts generate important victories. Read More

Born to Be Wild    Back To Top

Explore a Wilderness Area

Find a Wilderness area near you, or explore one online with this interactive map of the Wilderness Preservation System. Read More

Join a Wilderness Group Near You

Whether there is an active Wilderness campaign in your state or just some areas that need looking after, you can volunteer. Here are some state, local, and national contacts to help you find a group near you." Read More

Saving Endangered Wild Places

Through NRDC's BioGems initiative, citizen activists can join the fight to preserve threatened wild places, from Alaska's Tongass National Forest to the Tahuamanu rainforest of Peru. BioGems Defenders have sent more than 7 million messages to corporations and government officials, helping score a series of critical victories in the battle to defend great wild places in the Americas. Read More

Sign up for Wild Alert

The Wilderness Society's Wilderness Action Center: join our online community of wilderness activists in protecting and restoring America's wilderness. Read More

Bring Back the Electric Cars    Back To Top

Automakers v. the People

Take action as part of this Union of Concerned Scientists campaign against automakers who, under the guise of their legal and lobbyist groups (the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers), have repeatedly filed lawsuits to block individual states' laws to reduce global warming emissions from cars and trucks. Read More

Plug-In Partners National PHEV Initiative

Plug-In Partners is a national grass-roots initiative to demonstrate to automakers that a market for flexible-fuel Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) exists today. Read More

SMARTT Kids, Clean Cars, Green World

SMARTT is an acronym for "Students Making Advancements in Renewable Transportation Technology." For over a decade, the nationally recognized SMARTT Challenge (formerly called the EV Challenge) has been introducing students and the communities they live in to the important environmental, energy and economic issues associated with alternative transportation fuels. Each year thousands of high school students experience a unique opportunity to design and convert gasoline vehicles to electric power, while middle school students design and build model solar race cars. Read More

Talk to Automakers

Tell the leaders of the big automakers that you want the option to buy all-electric cars and plug-in hybrid cars, trucks, and SUVs. Contact info here. Read More

The Home Plug In Hybrid Kit

A group of hybrid enthusiasts at an organization called the California Cars Initiative, or CalCars, based in Palo Alto, have converted their Toyota Priuses to plug-ins that can go 32 kilometers with only electrons as fuel. Now CalCars is selling a do-it-yourself conversion package for just under US $5000 that will allow anyone to turn a Prius into a plug-in. Read More

Who Killed the Electric Car?

This acclaimed expose chronicles the life and mysterious death of the GM EV1. Film critics nationwide have rated this film a top pick. See electric cars, the people who love them, the companies that built them and fuel them, governments that regulate them, and the fight for our future. Find out why Ebert & Roeper gave it two thumbs up, and why film festivals from Sundance to Tribeca made this film a run-away hit. Read More

Build It Green    Back To Top

Educate Your Community

Whether you're new to green building or already deeply involved in shaping the future of green design, USGBC is your best connection to the people, knowledge, and tools you need to leverage green building throughout your business. Read More

Educate Yourself

There are many very real benefits to living in a green home, and every day, more and more Americans are discovering those benefits. Read More

Go Green

Download USGreen Builder Council''s "16 Great Ideas for a Greener Life" for ways to start making your home green right now. Read More

Join a USGBC Chapter

Individuals who want to become involved with green building on a local level can join their USGBC local chapter. Chapters are the local voice of USGBC, and chapter members are key to raising awareness about green building. Read More

Clean Up The Mines    Back To Top

Recycle My Cell Phone

The potential human health and environmental impacts of cell phone waste is grim. Cell phones are potentially hazardous waste because they contain lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic. If thrown in the trash and sent to incinerators or landfills, environmental contamination can occur from combustion and leaching into soil and groundwater. Sadly, less than 2% of old cell phones are being recycled today -- we are calling on the public to help raise the profile of this important issue! Read More

EARTHWORKS' Mining Reform Campaign

The western United States has greatly changed since the 1872 Mining Law was passed. Gold used to be the most precious western resource -- now clean, abundant water is what is needed. Mining has had significant impacts on the water, land and wildlife of the region. A new law is needed to improve how mining takes place on public lands to protect other natural resource values, especially water resources. Read More

No Dirty Gold Campaign

Learn about the one of the world's dirtiest industries, and see how you can help clean it up. Read More

Receive EARTHWORKS Action Alerts

We really need to increase public awareness about mining. So add you voice. Check out current campaigns, and sign up for alerts for future campaigns. Read More

Consider the Alternatives    Back To Top

Learn Your Area's Energy Potential

The Energy Information Administration compiles the official energy statistics from the U.S. government. Read More

Take Action!

The Union of Concerned Scientists Action Center makes it easy for you to communicate directly with the people currently making critical decisions that affect our planet. Read More

The Power Scorecard

The Power Scorecard is a rating mechanism that assesses the environmental impact of different types of electric generation. The Power Scorecard makes it easy for you to plug into cleaner power for the future of the planet. Read More

Utilities Offering Green Power

The following investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities, and cooperatives have either implemented or announced plans to offer a green pricing option. You can find descriptions of individual utility green pricing programs by following the links below. Read More

Do Your Share(s)    Back To Top

Align Environmental Values with Finances

What makes a company socially responsible? Learn how some companies make a big difference, and find out how you can make good money investing in them Read More

Become a Shareholder!

Dialogues...proxy voting...resolutions. What does it all mean? How can you use your investments to join shareholder advocacy for corporate responsibility? This gives you the basics about how shareholder action works, and how you can get involved. Read More

Get Involved!

There is no such thing in my mind... as an innocent stockholder - He accepts the benefits of the system. It is his business and his obligation to see that those who represent him carry out a policy which is consistent with the public welfare Louis Brandeis Read More

Get the Facts!

Confronting Companies Using Shareholder Power: A Handbook on Socially-Oriented Shareholder Activism. Read More

Down the Drain    Back To Top

Protect our Water Resources

Sign on to this statement to ask Congress to provide the funds needed to protect our water sources and keep our water clean and safe.
Read More

Stay connected!

Sign up for updates from the Take Back The Tap Campaign at Food & Water Watch
Read More

Use Alternative Cleaning Products

A list of alternative household cleaning products. This site also has compiled a variety of other alternative ways of dealing with household hazards. Read More

Well Water Testing

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) rules that protect public drinking water systems do not apply to privately owned wells. Most states have rules for private wells, but these rules may not completely protect your private well Read More

Drop by Drop    Back To Top

Inspire a Child

Try EPA's new interactive online quiz! Move the water-efficiency hero Flow through water pipes and answer water-efficiency questions while avoiding water-wasting monsters such as Sogosaurus and Drainiac. Read More

Use Your WaterSense

By making just a few small changes to your daily routine, you can save a significant amount of water, which will help you save money and preserve water supplies for future generations. Read More

Watchdog Your Water Utility

The Utilities Watchdog Project was created in response to utility providers'' aggressive pursuit of profits at the expense of the public''s interests in affordability, access and the environment. Sign the Energy Fairness Petition Read More

For The Birds    Back To Top

An Invitation to a Healthy Neighborhood

When you and your neighbors join together to create habitat for birds, bats, and butterflies, the impact of your individual efforts will be multiplied many times over. Your combined efforts can create a healthy refuge for wildlife and people by connecting isolated patches of habitat and by restoring the ecological integrity of your community. Read More

Backyard Birding

You can never have too much information on backyard bird habitat and feeding. Read More

Backyard Ornithology

A dozen useful links on birdfeeding, backyard habitats, and more. Read More

Be a Citizen Scientist

The very first citizen science program may have been National Audubon Society's Annual Christmas Bird Count. The development of the Internet opened the door for the private citizen's increased participation in the observation and collection of data relating to wild birds. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has taken the lead in developing programs that are built around the participation of individuals with an interest in birds. There are several programs currently underway in which you can play a valuable role. Read More

Great Backyard Bird Count

The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent. Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds. Read More

How to Design a Bird Garden

Like all wildlife, birds need reasons to be attracted to our property. Stocking a winter feeder or providing a few birdhouses or a birdbath is a good start. By adding a few basic requirements in the form of landscape plantings, we can attract and keep birds of many species close to our homes. Read More

Project Prevent Collision

The facts about window-bird collisions are startling. In North America, between 100 million and 1 billion birds die in collisions with windows each year. To put this into perspective, on average every building in the United States has 1-10 fatal collisions per year! You can help find out why and help determine ways to prevent collisions by participating as a citizen scientist in this campaign. Read More

Go Organic    Back To Top

15 Ways to Celebrate Organic Everyday

You and your family can celebrate organic during national Organic Harvest Month in September and every day of the year! Here are some creative ways… Read More

17 Tips for Buying Organic

Money saving tips, plus info on joining a co-op or community farm. Read More

Eating Organic on $7 a Day

Skepticism about this is understandable, but even if you can't do it, here are some helpful tips. Read More

Eating Organic on a Budget

No matter who you are, this is a challenge, so here are a few tips. Read More

Sign up for Action Alerts

Stay up to date with action alerts, policy updates, and ways you can help with the National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture. Read More

SOS: Safeguard Organic Standards

Join the Organic Consumer's Assoc. (OCA) in protecting organic standards. Read More

God's Green Earth    Back To Top

10 Things You Can Do Right Now

A quick rundown of ways for you and your congregation to take action on global warming. Read More

Green Study Guides

From Georgia Interfaith Power & Light, study guides for Hanukkah, Lenten, Advent and more! Read More

Home Energy Saver

A do-it-yourself energy audit, and resources to implement energy changes. For home and place of worship! Read More

Lighten Up! Documentary

Lighten Up!: A Religious Response to Global Warming, which helps explain the complex issue of global climate change and offers ideas on what each of us can do to help. Order a copy today, and share it with your congregation Read More

The Congegational Covenant

This 6-point plan from California Interfaith Power & Light can help your congregation go green. Read More

The Regeneration Project in Your State

Use this map to locate an Interfaith Power & Light program in your state. If you are interested in starting an Interfaith Power & Light in a state that does not have one or want to learn more about how your existing organization can become an affiliate see our Guidelines, then contact The Regeneration Project. Read More

Going, Going...    Back To Top

Become a Biodiversity Activist

Use your mouse to save a grouse. Or a sea otter. Or a Mexican gray wolf. The Center for Biological Diversity''s Biodiversity Activist Network makes the first step simple. Read More

Captive Breeding and Reintroduction

Increasing numbers of animal and plant species are becoming rare, or even extinct in the wild. In an attempt to re-establish populations, species can - in some instances - be re-introduced into an area, either through translocation from existing wild populations, or by re-introducing captive-bred animals or artificially propagated plants. Here is a search of many reintroduction programs around the world. Read More

Find Endangered Species in your State

Mouse over a region on the map and find out more about some of the endangered species in your area. Read More

Join the Wildlife Volunteer Corps

Defenders of Wildlife's Volunteer Corps gives wildlife a helping hand by connecting people with fun volunteer opportunities. The volunteers work on unique projects to protect, monitor and recover endangered and imperiled wildlife and the habitats and ecosystems they need to survive.   Read More

Ribbit! Ribbit! Frogwatch USA

This is a frog and toad monitoring program that gives YOU the opportunity to help scientists conserve amphibians! With as little as 20 minutes a week you can collect essential information to protect frogs and toads. Read More

Green Collar Jobs    Back To Top

Get Hot!

Watching Everything's Cool is sure to get your community hot to take action locally and nationally. Use the film to educate your organization or citizens group - from elementary school kids to new parents to senior citizen upstarts - and join what is sure to be the energytransformation/citizens movement of our lifetime. Read More

The Workforce Alliance

President Bush's FY 2009 budget cuts employment and training funding by more than $2 billion. Urge your Senators to sign a Dear Colleague letter seeking to maintain current funding levels for WIA and the ES in FY09, along with appropriate increases to match rising costs. Read More

You're Never Too Young to Go Green

Energy Action is a coalition of more than 40 organizations from across the US and Canada, founded and led by youth to help support and strengthen the student and youth clean energy movement in North America. Join One! Read More

Greener By the Dozen    Back To Top

Eco-Eval

The North American Green Purchasing Initiative''s Self-Assessment Tool (Eco-Eval) is designed to help professional purchasers evaluate their organization's environmental purchasing initiatives and identify opportunities for improvement. Read More

Greening the Office

Clean Air-Cool Planet's office sought to minimize our contribution to the waste stream, support environmentally-responsible companies, and conserve energy and natural resources. We offer the information here to help you in your own efforts at creating healthy, sustainable, "green" spaces. Read More

NRDC's Business Greening Advisor

When your organization makes a commitment to try to operate more sustainably, you´re helping to create a cleaner and healthier environment for future generations of people, as well as a more efficient economy for future generations of businesses." Read More

Responsible Purchasing Guides

Explore products and practices for cleaners, computer equipment, lighting and more. Share them with those in charge of procurement at your business, your school, your municipality. Read More

Watch RPN's EPP Video Online

This nine minute video explores the emerging realm of EPP, an innovative, market-based strategy that is saving money, protecting human health, creating jobs and reducing adverse environmental impacts. Read More

Grow a Green Marketplace    Back To Top

Behind-the-Scenes: Things We Buy

Worldwatch Institutes Online Green Consumer Guide Read More

Co-op America's National Green Pages

Find Green products Read More

Conscious Consumer Marketplace

Tips, links, and more for everything from home computers to groceries to energy choices. Read More

The Green Guide

Green living tips, product reviews, downloadable guides, news, etc. from National Geographic. Very useful. Read More

Growing Warmer    Back To Top

Create a Certified Backyard Habitat

Make your garden a source of food for local wildlife: Everyone needs to eat! Planting native forbs, shrubs, and trees is the easiest way to provide the foliage, nectar, pollen, berries, seeds, and nuts that many species of wildlife require to survive and thrive. Read More

How to Get Started at Home

Even before you begin to think of changing your landscape design, change your management practices for your existing landscape. Read More

Take A Healthy Yard Pledge

Create healthy habitats in your backyards and other spaces by planting native species, removing invasive plants, reducing pesticide use, conserving water, protecting water quality, and keeping birds safe. Read More

Here Comes the Sun    Back To Top

ASES Chapter Membership and Listings

ASES has chapters serving most of the United States. Each chapter is an independent organization with its own membership and dues structure, its own board of directors and its own vision, mission and programs. Read More

Find a Solar Company

Search for solar and other renewable energy companies where you live, and see what kinds of products and services are available. Read More

National Solar Tour

The ASES National Solar Tour is the largest tour of sustainable energy features for buildings in the U.S. People across the nation see how neighbors are using clean sources of energy, reducing energy bills and protecting the environment. Read More

Home on the Refuge    Back To Top

Visit a Wildlife Refuge

An hour's drive from every major urban area in the country is a National Wildlife Refuge.   Take family and friends and enjoy some of our wildest, most intriguing public lands. Most have free admission - if not! Use your Duck Stamp! Read More

Become a Friend!

With The National Wildlife Refuge System in crisis, The NWRA is working to build a powerful national network of Friends and individuals to fight for the needs of the Refuge System. The Friends Affiliate Program is a way that Friends groups as a whole can stand together as a force for the Refuge System. Read More

Contact Congress

The President has proposed an effective $15 million cut to the Refuge System budget in the FY09 budget. This at a time when the backlog of critical wildlife, public use and law enforcement programs exceeds $3 billion! Take action today by following these 3 easy steps! Read More

Volunteer!

About 20% of all work on refuges is done by volunteers.You can make a real difference by volunteering your time, from planting native grasses to guiding tours you become part of the solution to protect and recover endangered species and their habitat. Read More

Hook, Line and Sinker    Back To Top

Eat Right

These recipes from NRDC staff and some of our chef friends feature sustainable seafood -- fish that's abundant, caught or raised in an environmentally friendly manner, and low in mercury. Bon appetit Read More

Promote Sustainable Cuisine

At Chefs Collaborative, our growing community of chefs, farmers, fishers, educators, and food lovers is dedicated to promoting sustainable cuisine. Read More

Save a Precious Resource

We are working for healthy and well-managed fisheries, as well as for fishing practices that no longer negatively impact on marine habitats and other marine species. Read More

It's a Plastic World    Back To Top

Imagine Life Without Plastic

Steps Towards Eliminating Plastic From Your Everyday Environment Read More

Green Guide to Plastic Containers

What to look for, shopping & usage tips, ""backstory,"" product comparisons, and related articles about different kinds of plastic containers. Read More

PVC: The Poison Plastic

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic, commonly referred to as vinyl, is one of the most hazardous consumer products ever created. PVC is dangerous to human health and the environment throughout its entire life cycle, at the factory, in our homes, and in the trash. Our bodies are contaminated with poisonous chemicals released during the PVC lifecycle, such as mercury, dioxins, and phthalates, which may pose irreversible life-long health threats. Take Action to phase out PVC! Read More

TreeHugger Picks: Best of the Bioplastics

TreeHugger just wants to say one word to you -- just one word. Are you listening? Bioplastics. Read More

Make New Dirt    Back To Top

Find a Good Role Model!

San Francisco was the first large city in the U.S. to collect food scraps for composting. Today, hundreds of thousands of residents and about 2,000 businesses send over 300 tons of material each day to Norcal's Jepson-Prairie composting facility. Read More

International Compost Awareness Week

Across the United States and Canada, composting advocates will be encouraging everyone to Compost! Those who believe in the Compost Message will be planning events in their community to promote the value of compost. All types of composting events -- from ""do it yourself"" composting in your backyard to large-scale community-wide composting -- is promoted during the week. Read More

Involve kids and schools

It's gone rotten!! A handy guide for starting a School Composting program. Read More

Let worms eat your waste!

This is a fascinating, fun, and easy way to recycle your organic kitchen wastes. Worm composting, or vermiculture, requires very little work, produces no offensive odors, and helps plants thrive. Read More

Over The Top    Back To Top

Become Part of Energy Justice Network

With oil and gas prices rising due to depletion and electric demand continuing to increase, coal is becoming increasingly popular, causing coal prices to rise with increased coal demand. As of June 2006, an estimated 255 new coal power plants and coal to oil refineries have been proposed. Leading the way with the most proposals are Illinois, Kentucky, Montana, Ohio, Texas, Colorado and Florida. Energy Justice Network runs the only national network of grassroots community activists fighting the new wave of coal power plant proposals. Read More

Take Action to Stop Mountaintop Removal

You've seen the pictures, read the stories and heard the tales of how mountaintop removal mining is destroying Appalachia. Now is the time for you to TAKE ACTION and start letting your elected officials, energy providers, and government agencies know that mountaintop removal mining must stop now! Read More

Watch, Learn, Host a Screening

There are a number of documentaries on Mountaintop Removal like Burning The Future: Coal In America, and The Mountain Mourning Collection. Here are links to where and how to watch them, plus how you can host a screening. Read More

What's My Connection to Mountaintop Removal?

If your home or business is on the electric grid, chances are you are connected to mountaintop removal in the Appalachian Mountains. Find out how — and then find out what you can do about it. Read More

Park it Here    Back To Top

Connecting With Nearby Nature

A few easy ideas for adults and kids to explore nature in a nearby park or backyard everyday. Read More

Find a Campaign in your State!

The Conservation Campaign provides leadership, expertise, and resources to mobilize public support to win ballot measures and legislation that create more public funds to protect land and water resources. Read More

Find your Friends!

A growing database of nonprofits, friends-of-parks groups, city parks departments, and related organizations and institutions. Read More

Raising Money for a Neighborhood Park

The neighborhood park isn't just a safe place for your kids to play. It's where you meet the people who live in your community. It's where your kids make new friends they don't see every day at school. It's a little piece of nature in a concrete world. A multichannel approach is the best way to raise money for your park. Read More

Turn Brownfields to Parks!

The Trust for Public Land understands that the lack of "new" developable land within cities presents a challenge to urban planners who are striving to turn park-poor areas into more livable neighborhoods. The solution could be close at hand: turning previously industrial properties, referred to as brownfields, into recreational spaces. Read More

Save the Coral Reefs    Back To Top

50 Simple Things Coral Reef Project

Seacology preserves coral reefs by entering into win-win agreements with island villagers, providing them with something tangible they request in exchange for establishing a coral reef reserve. Seacology is devoting the following project to the readers of 50 Simple Things. For a total of just US$33,000, 50 Simple Things readers can save a coral reef and the dugongs and turtles that live there while improving the quality of life of the local villagers. Read More

Coral Reef Alliance's Resource Library

Read or download these useful guidelines to Sustainable tourism, including diving and snorkeling, whale and turtle watching, as well as Best Practices for Marine Recreation, and a Seafood Watch Card-all of which help protect corals. Read More

International Year of the Reef 2008

The ICRI International Year of the Reef 2008 is a worldwide campaign to raise awareness about the value and importance of coral reefs and threats to their sustainability, and to motivate people to take action to protect them. All individuals, corporations, schools, governments, and organizations are welcome and actively encouraged to participate in IYOR 2008. Read More

Make Public Comments

NOAA Seeks Public Comment on Two Proposed Protections for Threatened Elkhorn and Staghorn Corals: NOAA is seeking input from the public on this proposed designation through May 6, 2008. Read More

National Marine Sanctuaries

The National Marine Sanctuary Program serves as the trustee for a system if 13 sanctuaries, encompassing more than 18,000 square miles of marine and Great Lakes waters from Washington State to the Florida Keys and from Lake Huron to America Samoa. Click on the map to go to the sanctuary nearest you, and see what volunteer opportunities there are. Read More

Save the Living River    Back To Top

Become a Friend of the River

There are several easy ways to find a local river group to join: Through a national organization like Waterkeeper or American Rivers, through your state fish & wildlife department, or just do a search for ""Friends of the River"" and your state or locality. Add the name of your river. Read More

Join the National Rivers Clean Up

Volunteer with a Friends of the River group near you, or organize a clean-up yourself with guidance from American Rivers. Read More

Living River Fund

Santa Fe, New Mexico has an innovative program, where municipal water customers can "check off" a one-time or monthly donation on their water bill for a Living River Fund. Their contributions go directly into a fund, managed by the city, that keeps water flowing in the river. Sample water bills and other info can be used to establish such a fund in your municipality. Read More

Save the Wetlands    Back To Top

Adopt-a-Wetland

Wetlands vary by state and locality, and so do protection and restoration efforts. Before you join or start a Wetlands group, find out who does what in your state. Here are links from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to every state's Dept. of Environmental Quality, State Fish & Wildlife, and other state natural resources agencies. Read More

America's Wetland Youth Patch Program

This is a program designed by a Louisiana wetlands organization for Boy Scouts age 12-18, but it is also an excellent blueprint for any group of students or adults to explore and gather information on local wetlands. Read More

Become an Earth Team Volunteer

In 1981, Congress authorized the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), formerly Soil Conservation Service, to accept volunteers to increase soil and water conservation efforts, and to do this by working closely with Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The mission of the Earth Team is to provide an effective volunteer workforce within NRCS to help people conserve, improve and sustain our resources and environment. Volunteers can help expand efforts in soil and water conservation. Anyone 14 years or older and interested in saving our precious soil and water can join the Earth Team. Volunteers may work part-time, full-time, outdoors, or in an NRCS office. Read More

Celebrate American Wetlands Month

Every May is Wetlands Month, but many of these fact sheets and project ideas from the Isaak Walton League can be used all year long. Read More

NRCS Plants Database

Read More

Wetland Resources

The Association of State Wetland Managers (ASWM) has links to many state programs, to the U.S. EPA regions, and other resources about state and local wetlands programs.
Read More

Save the Whales...Again    Back To Top

Get your local School involved!

So far, over 250,000 school children have learned about whales, and how they can help save sea life through Whales On Wheels (WOW™) , an innovative hands-on educational program offered in English and Spanish. Read More

Join Earth Island Whale Watchers

Get action alerts and other info on campaigns to save the whales Read More

Join the Orca Recovery Campaign

Ten Things You Can Do to Help Stop the Decline of the Southern Resident Orcas Read More

Write Now!!

Start your letter-writing campaign NOW to those Government Officials whose countries still hunt whales. It is important that you remind those in a position of power that the killing of whales is not acceptable in the 21st Century. Read More

Save Your Energy    Back To Top

Blackle

Check this out! Blackle is a Google custom search page created to remind us all of the need to take small steps in our everyday lives to save energy. Blackle saves energy because the screen is predominantly black. You can set Blackle as your home page. This way every time you load your Internet browser you will save a little bit of energy. Remember every bit counts! You will also be reminded about the need to save energy each time you see the Blackle page load. You can add it to your Google toolbar too. Read More

Calculate Your Home's Energy Rating

If you have five minutes and your last 12 months of utility bills, use the ENERGY STAR Home Energy Yardstick to compare your home's energy efficiency to similar homes across the country and get recommendations for energy-saving home improvements from ENERGY STAR. Read More

Energy Action Center

Want to help save energy? Sign up using the form below to receive Alliance to Save Energy Policy Updates and Action Alerts and you will receive emails enabling you to communicate with your elected representatives and advocate for the energy-efficiency issues that are important to you! Read More

Home Energy Assessments

A home energy assessment is the first step toward improving the energy efficiency of your home. An energy assessment generally consists of analysis of your home to determine its energy usage and costs as well as to identify specific energy efficiency projects that would save energy and money. Read More

Saving Energy

For kids and their parents: I'm Professor Questor, inviting you to join me on an "Energy Quest." How many ways can you think of to save energy around your house? Read More

Support Fair Trade    Back To Top

Advocate for Fair Trade

Fair Trade Resources Network Action page. Read More

Fair Trade for Your Congregation

Across the country, congregations are serving Fair Trade refreshments at their worship services. Read More

Hold a Fair Trade Fundraiser

From Equal Exchange, ideas & materials on using Fair Trade certified products like coffee and choclate for your fundraising events. Read More

Host a House Party

Teach your friends and neighbors all about Fair Trade certification, while enjoying delicious drinks & treats! Read More

Support Sustainable Forestry    Back To Top

Don't Buy SFI

Developed by the industry group American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) program claims it ''is based on the premise that responsible environmental behavior and sound business decisions can co-exist." What do you think? Read More

Find Certified Products and Companies

Purchases of sustainable forest products make a difference. By choosing products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), anyone can support forest practices that protect biodiversity and promote decent conditions for workers and their communities. Read More

Forest Ethics: Take Action

Endangered Forests such as those in the Canadian Boreal, British Columbia''s Inland Temperate Rainforest, Chile, the U.S. South, and on U.S. public lands are being destroyed to make copy paper, catalogs, pallets, and other disposable products for multi-national corporations. In order to protect Endangered Forests from being destroyed for U.S. consumers, we need your help. Read More

Paper Industry Laying Waste to Forests

Kimberly-Clark and other top U.S. manufacturers are sacrificing our most ecologically rich forests to make disposable tissue paper products. Take action to change their practices and hold them accountable. Read More

Search for FSC Certified Products

FSC is a voluntary, market driven certification and trademark system that allows customers to choose products that promote responsible management of the world's forests. When a forest manager or chain of custody producer is certified as complying with FSC standards, their details are listed in a database. Read More

Target: Zero Waste    Back To Top

Campus Zero Waste

As important community institutions, colleges and universities can serve as effective role models of how large organizations can reduce waste and conserve resources. Colleges and universities provide a training environment on effective recycling and waste reduction practices that can be implemented in other organizational settings. A large number of U.S. and Canadian college and universities have extensive recycling and waste reduction programs, some well over a decade old, and many of these are now examining how they can be transformed into completely sustainable institutions targeting Zero Waste as one of their long range goals. Read More

Secret Life of Cell Phones

Where do old cell phones and mobile devices go when you recycle them? Why should you recycle them? Watch this video. Read More

The Story of Stuff

Host a screening of The Story of Stuff, a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. Read More

Zero Waste as a Design Principle

Welcome to the new recycling movement for the 21st Century and to the work of Sierra Club's new Zero Waste Committee! Zero Waste is a design principle for the 21st century; Producer Responsibility Recycling is the means for achieving a deep transformation of wasteful production and consumption. We aim to lead the transition from traditional end-of-pipe waste ""diversion"" programs provided by local governments to "cradle to cradle" recycling systems. Read More

Teach Your Children    Back To Top

Check the List!

Schools are our children''s workplaces where they spend six or more hours a day. To ensure that they are not exposed to polluted indoor air, toxic chemicals, allergens and other hazards that may lead to health and learning problems, such as increased hyperactivity, asthma, learning disabilities, and chemical sensitivity, walk through your school with this Environmental Checklist. Read More

Form a Green Flag Team!

Level 1-form a team and conduct the School Environment Survey Read More

Get Started!

Start working towards a safer, healthier, and more sustainable school environment today Read More

Yogurt Cups and More Help School

Schools and other community groups might want to check out an eco-friendly company that makes products out of reused materials. Called TerraCycle Inc., the company was started in 2001 by Princeton students Tom Szaky and John Bayer.... School kids and other participants can raise money for their favorite charity or other projects by collecting designated items for TerraCycle, which in turn pays roughly 2 to 5 cents per recycled item collected. Read More

The Cool Cities Campaign    Back To Top

Cool Cities Resources

Everything from activist tools to best practices to campaign handouts to help you start a Cool Cities Campaign where you live. Download the documents and get organized! Read More

Sign Up, Get Involved

By joining the Cool Cities campaign you can solve global warming one city at a time. Be in touch with other volunteers and get updates from around the country. Read More

What is your Carbon Footprint

Find out, then reduce it and offset it! A Carbon Footprint is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases we produce. It is measured in units of carbon dioxide Read More

The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea    Back To Top

Be a Surfrider Volunteer

Volunteerism is the life blood of the grassroots Surfrider Foundation USA with its 60+ volunteer-driven chapters located along the East, West, Gulf, Puerto Rican, and Hawaiian coasts. There are all kinds of volunteer activities to do, from beach cleanups to water testing to educational presentations to writing newsletters to attending city council meetings. Read More

Hands OFF

You can help protect oceans today by signing Greenpeace's petition to set aside 40% of the world''s oceans as marine reserves. In order to protect the world’s oceans, portions have to be left alone. That’s where marine reserves come into the picture. A marine reserve is like putting a giant “Do Not Disturb” sign around an area of the ocean. These protected areas are so important to the future of our oceans—giving wildlife a safe haven free from danger. Read More

Hit the Coast

Ocean Conservancy's Annual International Cleanup is the world's largest single day volunteer effort to improve the health of the ocean and its wildlife. In 2007 over half a million volunteers, in 100 countries, collected marine debris and important research data. Over the last 21 years more than 6 million volunteers have removed almost 116 million punds of debris across 211,460 miles of coastline. Volunteer and take your friends! Read More

The Law of Nature    Back To Top

Celebrate Endangered Species Day!

The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed a resolution supporting Endangered Species Day, a national celebration of America''s commitment to protecting and recovering our nation''s endangered species. Read More

Endangered Species Map

Learn about some of the most endangered species with this interactive map from Sierra Club. Read More

Sign the Lecacy Pledge

Help protect the act against threats in Congress or from an unfriendly Administration. Read More

Volunteer for Wildlife!

Generally, no special skills are required to be a volunteer. On-the-job training is provided if needed. Read More

Wolves in Danger

The wolf's amazing comeback in the northern Rockies is one of our country's greatest wildlife success stories. But it may be dangerously short-lived now that the federal government has issued a rule that permits wolf killing in the northern Rockies. This heralds the beginning of a larger plan to remove the animals from the endangered species list and allow large-scale slaughters of more than 80% of the wolf population.
Read More

The Right Tree in the Right Place    Back To Top

Celebrate Arbor Day

Every April 25th, Arbor Day is a nationally-celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care. Of course, we'd like every day to be a day like that. Read More

Simple Act of Planting a Tree

The original Citizen Forester's Guide to Healing Your Neighborhood, Your City, and Your World written by TreePeople's Andy and Katie Lipkis in 1990. Help with organizing your community, raising funds, and planting and caring for your trees. Read More

Take Individual Action

Here are a few ideas from TreeLink on what you can do as an individual to promote healthy urban forestry. Including taking a walk around the neighborhood (just in case you thought it was going all going to be hard to do). Complete with links & resources. Read More

TreeBank

TreeBank provides a proactive way for anyone, anywhere to support local urban forests and make a difference where we live. Join an existing branch, give a donation, or start a branch yourself. We suggest you begin on their local branch web page. Read More

They Paved Paradise    Back To Top

Install a Rain Barrel or Rain Garden

Collect stormwater before it becomes runoff, and use it to water your native plants. Read More

Join Team Mud Busters

A local Chesapeake Bay group shows you how to monitor construction projects for sediment runoff. Read More

Join your local Waterkeeper

Find a Waterkeeper Chapter near you, or get help to start one. Read More

Think Globally, Eat Locally    Back To Top

Buy Fresh, Buy Local Chapters

Through the Food Routes Network, a national nonprofit organization that provides tools, support, and resources to organizations nationwide, BFBL Chapters advocate for more than produce on store shelves, but seek to rebuild local, community-based food systems. Join one or start one where you live. Read More

Eat Local Challenge Week

An annual September event across the nation. Check back here for 2008 info when it becomes available. For now check out some 2007 successes. Read More

Take the Buy Local Challenge

Now you can show your support for local food and farms by signing on to FoodRoutes' "Buy Local" Challenge. Read More

Where to Buy Local Foods

Search a map for CSAs, Farmer's Markets, Co-ops and other sources for local foods. Read More

Too Much Gas    Back To Top

Automakers v. the People

Take action as part of this Union of Concerned Scientists campaign against automakers who, under the guise of their legal and lobbyist groups (the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers), have repeatedly filed lawsuits to block individual states' laws to reduce global warming emissions from cars and trucks. Read More

Just Say NO!

The coal industry is pushing Congress for huge subsidies to transform millions of tons of coal into transportation fuels. The farm bill currently contains liquid coal provisions, so urge your senators and representative to oppose this and any other proposals that promote liquid coal fuels. Read More

Send a Message to Car Makers

General Motors Blog: Virgin Atlantic Chooses Chevy for Going Green on the Ground- the airline will be using Chevrolet Equinox hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles as its limousines of choice for passengers landing at Los Angeles International Airport. Read More

Start Saving Gas Right Now

Tips from the Natural Resources Defense Council Read More

Turn Up The Heat    Back To Top

Wear BLUE for Earth Day 2008

...to VOTE for No Coal. An event organized by many groups including 1Sky and Architecture 2030. We're asking people to wear BLUE and call Congress to urge for a moratorium against coal.
Read More

Chill Out!

Kick off your Earth Day programming this year with something that will have them cheering! Host CHILL OUT: Campus Solutions to Global Warming on your campus April 16, 2008. Read More

Don't Just Sit There!

Join the Hot Seat Activist Program: When ordinary people act together, extraordinary things can happen. By acting now and by acting boldly we can kick global warming to the curb. Join us! From collecting postcards, to writing letters, to calling your Congressperson, or rallying at their office, you can help ignite an energy revolution. Read More

It's Getting Hot In Here

Dispatches from the youth climate movement. A community media project, it features the student and youth leaders from the movement to stop global warming and to build a more just and sustainable future. Read More

Rising Tide North America

Rising Tide is an international network born out of the conviction that corporate-friendly and state-sponsored solutions to climate change will not save us. Are you sick of government inaction in the face of the greatest threat to life on Earth in the history of humanity? Are you ready to take action and organize in your community? Join the Rising Tide North America network! There are several ways to get involved in RTNA; you can start a local group, become a local contact, or, if you''re part of an existing group involved in a climate related project or campaign, become a Rising Tide affiliate group. Read More

Spring into Action!

Visit your members of Congress in district! In Spring your Representatives and Senators will be home on recess to hear from constituents, giving you a unique opportunity to directly communicate with your Congressional district offices. Read More

Up The Creek    Back To Top

Adopt-a-Watershed

Find local stream groups, and other watershed volunteer opportunities in your community. Read More

Put up a Litter Skimmer

Made of recycled milk cartoons, a great project for kids to keep trash out of streams. Read More

Visit Conservation Advocay Center

Join IWLA and support important conservation legislation. Read More

Watershed Activities to Encourage Restoration

From Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, a set of activities organized by the 4 seasons, including stream clean-ups, planting, collecting native seeds, et al. A "regional" resource everyone can use. Read More

Vote for the Earth    Back To Top

Candidate's Environmental Voting Record

The Internet has made it much easier to check candidate's environmental voting records than in the past. With a little homework, you can see how closely a candidate's words match his or her voting record. Read More

Compare the Candidates

See at a glance where the presidential contenders stand on climate and energy issues. Read More

Project Hot Seat

Congress has a choice: They can stop global warming and ignite an energy revolution or they can keep doing nothing to stop the coming climate disaster. Everyone knows that Congress needs to act but they won't unless we turn up the heat. That's why we've created Project Hot Seat. Our mission is simple: Push Congress to become champions to stop global warming. Don't let Congress play with fire. Read More

Register To Vote

There are many resources for voter registration and get out the vote (GOTV) drives. Project Vote Smart is one of the best (you can explore candidates and issues here as well). For more info on voting and GOTV, see our section on Community Activism on the home page. Read More

Welcome to LCV's Action Center

Protecting our air, land, water, and wildlife requires citizen action. Please use the links on this page to let your representative know that you want strong environmental laws and regulations. Read More

We've Got Chemistry    Back To Top

10 Everyday Pollution Solutions

Your guide to going green, from Environmental Working Group. Read More

Join The Campaign For Safe Cosmetics

The Campaign has lots of information and resources, including issue alerts, an action kit, and even materials for you to Host a Healthy Cosmetics Spa Party. Get involved! Read More

Reduce Exposure: 7 Kid-Friendly Ways

Children are at greater risk from chemicals found in food, water, dirt and air. Here are the 7 best ways to reduce their environmental exposure—and yours! From the NY State Dept. of Health. Read More

Skin Deep: EWG's Cosmetics Safety Database

Did you know that the FDA doesn’t require companies who make cosmetic and personal care products to test their products for safety? Well, Environmental Working Group thinks someone should. Skin Deep is their safety guide which compares ingredients in 25,000 products to 50 toxicity and regulatory databases. Look up your favorite products to see how safe they are for you to use. Read More

Welcome to Solar City    Back To Top

Action Alerts

Welcome to Vote Solar's Action Center. While poll after poll shows that the overwhelming majority of Americans want to see greater investment in renewable energy resources like solar, that desire is not accurately reflected in policy. We aim to change that - and we need your help. Read More

DSIRE for Renewables!

Find out what incentives for solar and other renewables are available in your state from the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency. Read More

Make Solar Affordable Now

How to combine government incentives, future energy savings, net metering, and more to make solar an affordable clean-energy solution today. From Co-op America, all the how-tos and wherefores of making solar a reality for you and your community. Read More

The Solar Nation Strategy

Heighten awareness of Solar''s potential and make it a central part of our political dialogue. Across America, people are making important energy choices every day. Read More

What's Bugging You?    Back To Top

Fight Pesticide Drift

Pesticide drift is a serious problem for many people, especially those who live and work near sites of regular pesticide applications. Change is needed so that public health is taken into account when risk/benefit decisions are made about which pest control method is best. Local groups across the country have developed pesticide drift campaigns around environmental protection, community health, and workers'' rights. Read More

Go Organic!

The best organic food is what's grown closest to you. Find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area, where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and many other goodies. Read More

Join the Pesticide Action Network

Work with PAN to create healthy, environmentally sustainable, socially just approaches to food, farming and pest management Read More

Start at Home!

A list of products that are considered to be non-toxic or less toxic alternatives to conventional pesticides. Read More

Where, When, and How Many    Back To Top

Change Pharmacies that refuse Contraception

A growing number of pharmacists across the country have been denying women their birth control pills. In addition, many have refused to let another pharmacist fill prescriptions or to refer the customer to another pharmacy-effectively barring women from obtaining their prescriptions. These pharmacists attempt to justify their actions under the guise of moral or religious beliefs. Read More

Ensure your Schools get the Facts!

Population Connection''s Education Program is the only national, population education program with a strong emphasis on teacher training for educators of grades pre-K through 12. Read More

Support comprehensive Sexuality Education

Taking on the Role of an Advocate for sexuality education is a big step. There is a need for advocates like you and this Community Action Kit gives a step by step process for getting started and getting your community involved. Read More

Take 5 Minutes!

That's all it will take to learn the issues and send a letter to your elected officials. The actions of our government have an enormous impact so please educate yourself and take action Read More