Food and Water Watch

ecs55@duke.edu — Thu, 03 May 2018 03:09:18 +0000

Description:

Food & Water Watch is a nongovernmental organization that advocates for healthy food and clean water for all. With the intention to stand up against corporations that care more about profit than other people, Food & Water Watch advocates for a democracy that protects the environment and improves quality of human lives across the world. The organization acknowledges the inequalities present in our food, water, and energy systems and aims to build a movement with the political power to create a healthy future for future generations through democratic processes to allow all to access the resources they need.

Goals:

Food & Water Watch have goals to rooted in independence, democracy, human rights, and sustainability. They wish to remain a public interest organization, independent of corporate and government influence. Engaging and mobilizing citizens through various manners is a strong goal as they believe political involvement is critical to hold people accountable to ensure a sustainable world with safe food and clean water. The organization has the political will to secure and strive for adequate nutrition and drinking water for all. Additionally, they hope to protect the quality of the environment while trying to achieve access to resources because a sustainability is important to future generations.

Structure:

Wenonah Hauter is the founder and executive director of Food & Water Watch. She has three decades of experience with campaigning and writing on environmental issues relating to food, water, and energy. She trains and mentors organizers and activists around the country and has experience working at both state and local levels to develop policy and legislative strategies to secure accomplishments for communities and the environment across the country. The staff that comprise the team span across the country, in Latin America, and the European Union in offices to work closely with grassroots groups. They are wildly experienced. Membership is a core value of Food & Water Watch as well as individual donors and foundations that hold similar agendas. The organization takes no money from corporations or governments.

Genealogy:

In the Fall of 2005, 12 members of the Energy and Environment Program at Public Citizen created Food & Water Watch. The group first had the intention to create a grassroots movement with the power to protect our resources, and with the support of donors, foundations, and members, the organization has grown to more than 100 staff members. Food & Water Watch has offices across the country and, with the help of supporters and activists, in the last 10 years has achieved accomplishments spanning from helping allies in Europe to convince others to vote in favor of a moratorium on fracking to organizing communities across the country to stop the corporate takeover of public water systems.

Campaigns:

https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/campaigns

Oppositional Forces:

Corporations abusing power to privatize public resources, pollution, governments that enforce policies which do not hold corporations accountable, and a lack of penalties for prosecuted corporations. They are also fighting against factory farming, global trade, GMOs, and fracking.

Type of Organization:

NGO

Tatics Used:

grassroots organizing

events

advocate fair policies

organize for change

take legal action

research and policy analysis

forming coalitions

Information campaigns

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Web Exhibit Created By:

Emma Stein

Public:

true

Caption:

The Canary Coalition

kmj37@duke.edu — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 23:39:05 +0000

Description:

The Canary Coalition works toward phasing out fossil fuels and nuclear energy in North Carolina, replacing current energy usage and generation in North Carolina with renewable sources like solar, wind, geothermal, tides, and waves. They also work to halt fracking and mountain top coal removal in North Carolina. Their campaigns mainly focus on public health and environmental concerns, which they present to large companies, public officials, and regulatory agencies in hopes of promoting a healthier and more sustainable future.

Goals:

Goals of the Canary Coalition, as stated in their mission statement, include protection of public health and the environment, as well as the creation of a more sustainable future.

Structure:

The Canary Coalition is led by a governing board of dedicated activists. Avram Friedman co-founded The Canary Coalition and is currently the executive director. Under his leadership, the group earned a Clean Air Excellence award from the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Genealogy:

Formally created in 2000, The Canary Coalition began with a few people in North Carolina who saw a need for activism and increased public awareness on public health issues like clean air and water. Founding board members include Executive Director Avram Friedman, Chairman Larry Nestler, and poet and author Thomas Raine Crow. They played a major role in the passage of North Carolina Clean Smokestacks Act in 2002.

Campaigns:

North Carolina Clean Smokestacks Act (2002), Campaign for efficient and affordable energy bill , We the People petition Advocating for renewable energy in NC ( NC Climate Solutions Coalition)

Communication Strategy:

Social Media, outreach through events, communication through related groups.

Oppositional Forces:

Big industries, political leaders

Social Movements - events

Food and Water Watch

The Canary Coalition