Latest Victories by Nonprofit Campaigners

Once again, it is time to celebrate several recent advocacy victories by nonprofit groups that are known for their skillful use of online campaign techniques -- which is something we write about often on Frogloop. In each case, online petitions played a major role, and

Care2 also was privileged to have mobilized some of its millions of "do gooder" members to help these nonprofits win their wide-ranging struggles.

1. Europe Bans Products Made from Seal Fur (HSUS and IFAW)

Working tenaciously and steadily, the Humane Society of the United States, the International Fund for Animal Welfare and other animal welfare groups have dealt a major blow to Canada's barbaric annual commercial harp seal hunt, which in most years kills hundreds of thousands of baby seals. The recent victory came in the form of a vote by the European Union to ban seal products, starting next year. HSUS reports that the mere threat of the EU ban was enough to drive down the price of seal fur so much that fewer than 60,000 seals have been killed so far this year, out of a quota of 280,000 seals. This is an

86 percent decline since 2006. Care2 is proud that over the past four years, Care2 activists have generated more than 700,000 petition signatures for IFAW and HSUS campaigns to end the seal hunt forever.

This year, almost 90,000 Care2 members have participated in this ongoing campaign to support historic legislation in Canada's Senate that would end the hunt:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/877541637

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Congratulations to Nonprofit Campaigners on Three Recent Victories

1. Environmental Groups Prompt EPA to Block Five Mountaintop Mining Projects

For several years, Sierra Club, EarthJustice and Appalachian Voices have campaigned strongly to end mining projects that involve blasting away entire peaks, then dumping millions of tons of waste rock in the valleys below, causing permanent damage to the ecosystem. These three leading nonprofit organizations at various times enlisted Care2's support to help them in this great cause -- and as a result more than 100,000 of Care2's activist members took action to support the campaign. The great news is that the effort seems to have paid off: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has now raised concerns about five different mining permit applications, because of the risk that these projects would threaten water quality, and has asked the Army Corps of Engineers to place holds on the projects. While not a complete victory, this is a very positive development that these three tenacious nonprofits can all take pride in!

2. Civic Ventures Wins House and Senate Passage of the Serve America Act

Nonprofit organization Civic Ventures has long campaigned in favor of boosting government support for public service in America. Specifically, Civic Ventures advocated for passage of the Serve America Act, to create 175,000 new opportunities for young people and retirees to volunteer in the USA and overseas by feeding the hungry, greening communities, helping students in school, and more.

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Care2 Helps in Law of the Sea Win

Congratulations to Citizens for Global Solutions in their big victory – helping push the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to vote in favor of sending the Law of the Sea Treaty to the full Senate for possible ratification. 

This is a huge step forward for ocean conservation and international law. Care2 was honored to play a part in this effort, in partnership with CGI, by mobilizing thousands of Care2's civically active members to send emails to their senators in support of the treaty. Once again, Care2's members proved that they "make a difference!"

CASE STUDY: Marine Conservation Group Wins Victory with Care2

The Challenge:
In the closing weeks of the 110th Congress in late 2006, lawmakers were readying for a vote on legislation that would weaken protection of key fish populations in U.S. waters. The Marine Fish Conservation Network (MFCN), a coalition of over 190 organizations dedicated to ocean conservation, wanted to educate members of Congress and ask them to reject proposals that might do irreparable harm to several fish species. MFCN decided to mount a swift, targeted campaign mobilizing many thousands of citizens to contact their representatives and urge them to cast a vote to protect fish. At the same time, MFCN hoped that the campaign also would serve a second purpose, namely, to identify people who might become loyal donors in support of MFCN’s vital work.

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CASE STUDY: Care2 Recruits 10,000 for CHEJ Campaign

The Challenge:

The 25-year-old nonprofit Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) wanted to recruit civically active women from across the USA to serve as grassroots advocates against products containing a toxic material -- polyvinyl chloride (PVC) – found in many household and baby products. CHEJ also hoped to boost public awareness about safer alternatives to PVC, which it calls a “poison plastic.”

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Care2 Petition Helps Prevent National Park Service Changes

The American people can send loud and clear messages to the government, and when they do, officials are often responsive. Last August, a draft of policies and rules for National Parks was leaked that emphasized commercialization, tourism, and motorized recreation within the parks. In response, more than 50,000 people commented on the proposed changes in the management style of the National Park Service, including a petition from Care2 and The Wilderness Society that was signed by over 11,000 people. These outcries put an end to the possibility of any radical changes.

Through this experience, Americans now realize not only that they cannot take their parks for granted, but how powerful they can be within our democracy when they have a consensus opinion and take action.

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Incentives and Prizes – Do They Improve Activism Rates?

Care2 and Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund recently celebrated Earth Day with a bang – we gathered over 100,600 activists for a "Virtual March to Leave NO Species Behind." One of the hooks we used to encourage people to march, and especially to encourage people to invite their friends, was a special Activist Award – an iPod Nano with wildlife wrapper. Does advertising the award increase CTR's? Does it increase friends invited? Could the results be tied to cognitive dissonance? Read on...

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