There are dozens of organizations spanning a variety of areas from air, to water, to land, to energy conservation and protection. It is also essential to consider whether you want to get involved on a local, national or international level.
The initial factor is to decide what you are most passionate about, and then do your homework to research the options. It is necessary to educate yourself about the benefits of each organization and its impact on our planet. It is also necessary to protect yourself against online scams and cons and insure you make your contributions to a reputable organization.
Through sites like The Charity Navigator
you can see charity rankings, filter out so called 'non-profits' with overpaid CEOs, and also learn which groups rely on public donations vs. government funding or membership fees. After a free registration of your email address, you can also have access to historical data about various charity expenses and revenue.
Regardless of the cause you ultimately decide to support, it is your passionate persistence and dedication that will have the most impact. Although a one-time donation of time or money is generous and always appreciated, the biggest influence comes when you put your heart in the game with tenacity. You are more likely to dedicate more of your resources to an organization to you have confidence in and that provides a service or creates awareness for something you believe in. As with anything you do in your life, persistence is the fuel of your actions that results in change.
We often take for granted that which is the most important and closest to us. For many people, fresh air and clean drinking water are not considered luxuries. So unless you are directly affected by these issues, it is easy to overlook the effects of deforestation or the devastation of water pollution. However, consider how significantly your life would be effected if the air you breathe or the water you drink was toxic. It is critical, that as mere tenants on Planet Earth, we preserve and care for our temporary home so it can continue to provide a liveable place for us and many future generations.
Some startling statistics (from the Charity Navigator):
- Approximately 100 million people in the U.S. are breathing air that is below the federal air quality standard because of microscopic soot from power plants, diesel-burning trucks, cars and factories.
- Humans take up 83% of the earth's land surface to live on, farm, mine or fish.
- Human activities have caused some 500 bird species worldwide to become extinct over the past five millennia. The predominant cause of species loss is habitat destruction.
- Polar bears and hippos have joined the ranks of species threatened with extinction from climate change, unregulated hunting and other man-made dangers. More than 16,000 species of animals and plants are at risk of disappearing.
- Rainforests cover only 7% of the earth's land surface, but they contain more than half of the species on earth.
There are plenty of reasons to offer support to environmental charities. Without the support of each one of us, the basic necessities and resources we depend on won't survive. The problem is becoming too large to ignore with the drastic climate changes and the destruction of natural resources. Publicly advertised organizations get a lot of attention, however, the need for time and money exists in all sizes and types of organizations. Be persistent in your search for something that inspires you to get involved.
Here is a link to the Environmental Charities
listed on the Charity Navigator page. If money is tight, then check to see if a local organization is looking for volunteers.
Do you have a favourite environmental charity you would like to share with us?
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