GET INFORMED

step #15

“We believe that an informed citizenry will act for life and not for death.”

ALBERT EINSTEIN

With all of the threats that modern living poses to rainforests, there’s a steady stream of important news information that will help our society and world make better decisions regarding the stewardship of the forests that remain. Find them, read them, share them. This is a critical action in saving them.

THE SCOOP

The news bites we receive from the media—whether from cable, radio, the major networks, the newspaper or the Internet—report first on what sells. And the unfortunate fact is that the challenges to the world’s rainforests are not as glittery or sexy as the latest celebrity gossip, world leader faux pas or weather-related tragedy. It takes a little effort to be informed about the state of our rainforests. Yet this tiny action— just to stay informed—is vital to their survival, and our own. We must sift through the barrage of oftentimes useless information that is thrown at us every day to focus on issues that merit our attention. Having some clear awareness of what is actually happening to the world’s rainforests is the very first step toward change. Staying tuned in to what’s happening is like throwing seeds in your psyche that will begin to grow and inform your choices and decisions, especially when it comes to making purchases and casting your ballot. It is the beginning.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Turn off the not-so-important news (although mindless distractions do have a time and place) and take a few minutes of your day or perhaps each week to tune into rainforest news.

One of the best sources we have found is Mongabay.com run by Rhett Butler. He sends out newsletters a couple of times a month filled with rich content about the latest rainforest conservation issues. You can sign up for the newsletter on the website at no charge.

Explore important topics. Have you heard of REDD+? It’s the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation mechanism in which wealthy countries pay impoverished countries to keep their forests in tact. It’s a complex issue that has been debated for years, and some experts believe it will be the ultimate solution to the deforestation issue. Read about it!

Sign up for updates from the Rainforest Action Network on its website. You will get an e-newsletter, “The Understory,” on a regular basis and be informed of the organization’s current campaigns. You’ll sometimes be asked to lend support by writing a letter or sending an email, often predrafted, to corporate leaders and government officials. The Rainforest Alliance’s e-newsletter, “The Canopy,” is a great resource too. Or better yet, “like” any of these organizations on Facebook to get regular updates in your newsfeed or follow them on Twitter.

You can do this with any number of rainforest conservation organizations. There are dozens more. Explore. Find the ones you like.

You can also get informed by choosing quality news sources that provide regular coverage of rainforest issues. National Public Radio (NPR) is an excellent choice. You can find a local affiliate by visiting its website (www.npr.org). BBC News provides a more global perspective. You can find reports on www.bbc.co.uk, or if you have satellite or cable television, go to the BBC channel. Other cable news channels, CNN and MSNBC, both provide coverage. In terms of newspapers, consider getting a subscription to one with a strong global perspective. The Guardian Weekly, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and the New York Times are excellent choices, as they all cover stories pertinent to the rainforest on a fairly regular basis.

So take a few minutes today to get informed. Just read one story. That’s all.

Repeat often.

RESOURCES

Mongabay.com
www.mongabay.com

Rainforest Action Network
www.ran.org

Rainforest Alliance
www.rainforest-alliance.org

National Public Radio
www.npr.org

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

ww.bbc.co.uk

CNN
www.cnn.com

MSNBC
www.msnbc.com

The Guardian
www.guardian.co.uk

The Wall Street Journal
www.wsj.com

The New York Times
www.nytimes.com

The Washington Post
www.washingtonpost.com