Earth Island Institute

December 2008

Dear Friend of Earth Island Institute,

This year marks another year of record achievements for Earth Island Institute, as its leaders create solutions for a sustainable future. We ask you to celebrate with us, and we ask for your support of our efforts growing environmental leadership.

Earth Island Institute’s people are passionate, and they step forward to make things happen. They run farms that show kids where food comes from. They turn cafés into educational centers. They monitor tuna fleets to protect dolphins. They lead campuses toward greener energy paths. They show policy leaders that global warming treaties also need to be fair. They keep your soils safe from toxic waste. They help other nonprofits get green and save money. They restore streams to bring local steelhead trout populations back to life.

Behind each achievement is the story of a leader with a vision and a strategy to make a difference. Thirteen-year-old Alec Loorz from our new project Kids vs. Global Warming received special recognition this year from Al Gore for his pioneering work with other kids on showing the potential effects of global warming. Fran Macy of the Center for Safe Energy is now in his fifth decade of running citizen exchanges involving Russians and Americans in joint problem solving. Camilla Fox of Project Coyote works with communities to enable human co-existence with coyotes.

To continue our support of the 50 projects under our organizational umbrella and to turn the strategies of our leaders into accomplishments, Earth Island Institute needs your annual member support today more than ever. The year 2008 will be remembered for the convergence of growing ecological threats, financial crises, and now — finally — dramatic and hopeful political change in the U.S. Earth Island very much needs your renewed support as we redouble our efforts on so many fronts at this pivotal moment in history.

With the new domestic political reality, and the growing consensus for action on addressing global climate change and other critical environmental issues, Earth Island Institute builds on our proven track record of challenging destructive public policies, restoring damaged ecosystems, advocating for environmental justice, investing in and mentoring young environmental leaders, and demonstrating the importance of building strong local economies and a safe food supply. Energized by your support we will continue to push our positive, solutions-focused agenda.

A thriving green economy — focusing on the needs of real people and the vital ecosystems upon which we all depend — creates a sustainable future for all of us. No one makes more of a contribution to growing environmental leadership for a sustainable future than Earth Island Institute. With multiple public interest strategies led by visionary innovators, we keep the environmental movement nimble. Your member support makes this happen.

By any test, Earth Island Institute has achieved record accomplishments in 2008. Please take a look at our Earth Island 2008 Highlights to see how you are supporting social innovators for a sustainable world. Our model for effective activism through shared organizational resources has never been more relevant and more crucial. We incubate and nurture the most exciting emerging leaders of our time, we shepherd our resources conservatively and efficiently to help our leaders succeed, and we give you ample social returns on your investment toward a thriving planet that serves all of us.

This coming March, Earth Island Institute moves its offices to the dramatic new Brower Center in Berkeley. Earth Island Institute has been a partner for eight years in creating this ambitious project and will be its largest tenant. Take a look at www.browercenter.org. You’ll be hearing much more about this landmark hub and its role in promoting the environmental movement that our founder David Brower did so much to create. We have been in our current offices for 21 years, and we’re now making the next big step to serve our leaders for the next generation.

In this season when we all dig deep to support the causes we love, we invite you to make as generous gift that you can in support for Earth Island Institute’s unique service to grassroots activists.

Please review our 2008 highlights and make as generous a 2008 year-end annual gift as you can. We know that we are in a climate of economic uncertainty, but time after time our members have made big things possible in challenging situations. More than ever, now is Earth Island Institute’s time to grow environmental leadership, build the green economy, and protect and restore our environment for a sustainable future.

We are always eager to hear your comments and questions. Please feel free to contact me at (415) 788-3666, ext. 108, or at johnknox(at)earthisland.org. I love hearing directly from our member supporters.

With best wishes for the exciting year ahead, and with thanks for the amazing support that has made possible Earth Island Institute’s service to activists with strategic visions, we look forward to welcoming you at the Brower Center next spring.

Sincerely,

John A. Knox
Executive Director

PS. For your donation of $100 or more, we offer you a copy of the inspiring book, Building the Green Economy, co-authored by our Earth Island Journal editor Jason Mark. Please note on the on-line donation page if you’d like us to send you a copy. Also, please consider an introductory gift membership or a gift subscription to our quarterly Earth Island Journal for only $9.95 for a friend. Nothing substitutes for members passing the word, and we would appreciate your sharing Earth Island Institute with your friends during this season of giving.