Blog Action Day--Blogs and Multimedia for Environmental Advocacy

Today is Blog Action Day and, as promised, I'm joining the international plan to take one day to blog on one issue--the environment.

In keeping with my own niche here at The Bamboo Project I thought it would make sense to use today to share some examples of how environmentally-related nonprofits are using blogs, videos,  photos, and podcasts to mobilize their supporters and advocate for greater environmental responsibility.

Blogs
Blogging, of course, is an excellent way for environmental organizations to:

• Update constituents on the latest news and science related to their cause.
• Engage stakeholders in conversations around various issues.
• Create a sense of community and shared purpose

Because blogging lends itself well to advocacy efforts, many organizations are exploring blogs as one of their main social media strategies. A few good examples:

• Enviroblog--This is a project of the Environmental Working Group, which--fittingly--is in the business of "using the power of public information to protect public health and the environment."

Our research brings to light unsettling facts that you have a right to know. It shames and shakes up polluters and their lobbyists. It rattles politicians and shapes policy. It persuades bureaucracies to rethink science and strengthen regulation. It provides practical information you can use to protect your family and community.

Blogging is obviously a perfect match for this kind of agenda. The Enviroblog is also an example of the power of collaborative blogging.

• Greencar Congress--The Green Car Congress’ mission is to "provide timely, high-quality editorial about the full spectrum of energy options, technologies, products, issues and policies related to sustainable mobility." They seem to be doing a particularly good job at getting people talking.

• Nature Conservancy--This is WAY more than a blog. These guys are doing a lot more with social media, including giving users a chance to build their own pages and providing a cool tool to calculate your carbon impact. (My estimated emissions are about 35 tons for my household, below the national average). They also do podcasts, Flickr pools and just about everything else Web 2.0.

Videos & Photos
Environmental causes also lend themselves to photo and video campaigns where the power of a single photo can do more than the longest blog post. Not surprisingly, a number of environmental organizations are using YouTube and Flickr to communicate their messages.

•  National Wildlife Federation --They have their own YouTube channel.

• Greenpeace Flickr Pool--Pictures of both events and some beautiful nature scenes.

• Environmental Impacts Flickr Pool -- Photographers are invited to document how human activities are having a negative impact on the environment. Some really gripping photos here.

• Nature Conservancy--I mentioned this above, but worth another mention for their Flickr photo contest.

Podcasts
Some people don't want to read--they want to listen. This is where podcasts come in and here are several to check out.

• Directory of Nature Podcasts --Links to several good shows, including Nature Stories from the Nature Conservancy (see above). Not all are from nonprofits, but still some good stuff here.

• NPR--In addition to their podcasts, you can also find news and articles related to the environment at the main NPR Environment site.

• Living on Earth--You can also send them your story ideas.

• EnvironMinute --5-minute podcasts that focus on the steps individuals and corporations can take every day to better their environment. The show is produced in cooperation with the Heinz Family Philanthropies and the Heinz Endowments.

Other Blog Action Day Supporters

I'm happy to report that several other bloggers joined me in posting Blog Action Day posts. Thanks to:

• Tom Haskins who writes about how our relationships with nature contribute to creating particular types of problems.

• Jeff Cobb who shares 22 environmental goals he's set for himself. 

• Kate Foy who ponders the various personal and professional ways she could make an environmental difference.

• Karen Pickett who writes about how Guatemalan families  are engaging in environment-friendly cooking practices to help reduce deforestation.

Wednesday I'll add more to the list with the Carnival of Nonprofit Consultant's Round-up of Blog Action Day participants.

Comments

[John Powers]

Over 15 thousand bloggers participated, so it's really hard to link to the posts to discover bloggers, except in a random way. There are a few bloggers, like you, who help the rest of us make sense of it all. Thanks.

Eric Hersman is collecting some Blog Action Day posts from the African Blogsphere

http://whiteafrican.com/?p=785

[Michele Martin]

Thanks John--glad this helped. Also, thanks for the link. Some good stuff there.

[Kermit Johnson]

Thank you for taking part in Blog Action Day.

Unfortunately, I did not participate.

However, I wrote a belated post about deforestation in Brazil. As a real estate agent in Minneapolis, I see a lot of people using a product in luxury homes that is very destructive to rainforests, and causes untold human suffering. Check out this post, please:

Brazilian Teak Hardwood Floors, Slave Labor, and the Destruction of the Rainforest.

You can find this post at:
http://www.realestatetwincities.net/brazilian-hardwood-floors-can-you-say-slave-labor/

Anything you can do to share this link or help promote awareness of this issue will be greatly appreciated. Most luxury home owners in Minnesota are unaware of the environmental and human cost of these products. Most Brazilian teak found in Minneapolis homes did not come from legal sources. I feel sort of ill every time I walk into a home that has Brazilian teak floors.