FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
San Francisco, CA --The Earth Island Institute (EII), a non-profit international
umbrella organization founded by environmental veteran David R. Brower, has
recently launched a web site that provides extensive resources and tools for
social change. Concerned citizens, students, educators, and seasoned activists
will find the site a valuable resource.
Located at www.earthisland.org, the site provides users with the resources
needed to become an effective environmental advocate. This includes access to
timely environmental information, opportunities to send targeted e-mail messages
to key environmental decision makers, and a free membership program that enables
participants to get more actively involved both on- and off-line.
Earth Island Institute consists of more than thirty issue-focused projects
working to develop an ecologically sustainable and socially-just society. In
addition to the above, site visitors have access to thirteen stand-alone web
sites from EII Projects like ReThink Paper, Global Service Corps, and Sea Turtle
Restoration Project.
"The internet is a powerful medium that can put resources and information into
the hands of a large public audience that has not had this kind of access
through traditional media outlets" said John Knox, EII's Executive Director.
"Not only can they read and learn about very important issues, they can take
immediate action on them."
"In an era when corporate dollars and interests dominate the political
landscape, it is more important than ever that citizens be heard. That is what
democracy is about, and the internet is an important tool that can help restore
today's political imbalance. Our web site was designed to do just that"
continued Knox.
The entire site ties directly into Earth Island's core belief that real change
in the social and environmental arena will come about by drawing together
committed citizen activists to take coordinated action.
The web site's activist center provides action alerts on breaking environmental
crisis' with opportunities to take immediate action, an 'Activate-the-Web'
banner campaign that enables individuals to place a mini-banner on their own web
site that links to Earth Island's activist site, and the opportunity to join an
e-mail activist network.
Earth Island's award-winning international environmental magazine, Earth Island
Journal, will also be available. Each week, several feature stories from latest
issue will be released online. The Journal was recently awarded Best of 1997 -
Science and Environment coverage in Utne Reader's Alternative Press Awards.
One of the more unique features of the new site is a free, internet-based
membership program -- e*Membership. By joining, 'e*members' will be provided
with resources to help them make a difference for the planet.
"Though we'll continue to rely on the financial support of members, we
recognize that there is nothing more powerful than a large grassroots network of
supporters to achieve social change. The e*member program is an ideal way to
expand our membership and thus the influence of our organization" said site
developer, Brian West.
Partnership
The site was developed in collaboration with Stone Ground Solutions
(www.stoneground.com) and is an early outcome of a four-year, $1 million dollar
grant awarded to Earth Island Institute in 1998 by the Richard and Rhoda Goldman
Fund. The grant has been earmarked for the development of tools and skills to
maximize the effectiveness of Earth Island's Project Network.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Brian West, Website Manager
(415) 331-6232
E-mail: mbwest@bigfoot.com
Web: www.earthisland.org
