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Friends of the Earth (US)

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Friends of the Earth, U.S
FoundedSan Francisco, CAin 1969
TypeNon-governmental organization
HeadquartersWashington, DCandBerkeley, California
President
Erich Pica
Websitefoe.org

Friends of the Earth U.S.is anon-governmentalenvironmental organization headquartered inWashington, D.C.,founded in 1969 by environmentalistDavid Brower.Friends of the Earth U.S. campaigns on issues includingclimate change,pollution,nuclear technology,genetic engineering,deforestation,pesticides,food andagricultureandeconomic policy.[1]It is a founding member ofFriends of the Earth International.[2]

Background[edit]

Friends of the Earth U.S. was founded inCaliforniain 1969 byenvironmentalistDavid Brower after he left theSierra Club.[3]The organization was launched with the help of Donald Aitken, Jerry Mander and a $200,000 donation from the personal funds ofRobert O. Anderson.[4]One of its first major campaigns was the protest ofnuclear power,particularly in California.[3]

The organization merged with the Environmental Policy Center and the Oceanic Society in 1989.[3]

Friends of the Earth Internationalwas founded in 1971 and today is a network ofenvironmental organizationsin 75 countries.[5]In its early years, Friends of the Earth US was headquartered inSan Francisco,but it was a largely decentralized organization, giving significant power and freedom to its local branches.[3]

Friends of the Earth, Inc. v Laidlaw Environmental Services, Inc.[edit]

Main article:Friends of the Earth, Inc. v. Laidlaw Environmental Services, Inc.

In 1999, Friends of the Earth represented residents near theNorth Tyger RiverinSouth Carolinain a case against Laidlaw Environmental Services, Inc. The case addressed theindustrial pollutionof the river. Although Laidlaw claimed that the case wasmoot,since the factory responsible for polluting the river had been closed, theSupreme Courtheld that theplaintiffhadstandingto sue because the residents alleged that they would have used the river for recreational purposes, but could not because of the pollution.Ruth Bader Ginsburg,writing for the majority wrote that the "aesthetic and recreational values of the area" had been lessened because of thedefendant'srepeated violations of its clean water permit.[6]

Projects and campaigns[edit]

Friends of the Earth U.S. runs campaigns that generally fall into four major categories, supporting the organization's overarching principles: promoting sustainability, fighting for worldwide social and economic justice, and encouragingsystemic changefor lasting results.[7][clarification needed]Many of their efforts focus on lobbying policies.

Oceans and forests[edit]

The cruise industry has been criticized for theenvironmental impactsof their ships such as carbon emissions, air pollution, disposal of sewage and wastewater, and oil spills.[8]This campaign has worked to pressure theInternational Maritime Organizationto tighten and enforce international ship emissions standards including thePolar Code.[9]

Economic policy[edit]

The campaign also targets someWorld Trade Organizationagreements that are said to strike down environmental regulation to encourage profits.[10]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Projects".Friends of the Earth.RetrievedMarch 11,2015.
  2. ^"About FoEI Archives - Friends of the earth international".foei.org.Archived fromthe originalon March 16, 2015.RetrievedMarch 18,2015.
  3. ^abcd"The Decline and Fall of Friends of the Earth in the United States".lornasalzman.Archived fromthe originalon April 2, 2015.RetrievedMarch 11,2015.
  4. ^"The Big Bad Bank - Presented by George Washington Hunt".thebigbadbank.RetrievedMarch 11,2015.
  5. ^"History".foei.org.Archived fromthe originalon March 16, 2015.RetrievedMarch 11,2015.
  6. ^"FRIENDS OF EARTH, INC. V. LAIDLAW ENVI-RONMENTAL SERVICES (TOC), INC".cornell.edu.RetrievedMarch 18,2015.
  7. ^"What we stand for".Friends of the Earth.Archived fromthe originalon March 14, 2015.RetrievedMarch 11,2015.
  8. ^South Florida Sun-Sentinel (December 10, 2014)."Cruise ships dumped a billion gallons of sewage, Friends of Earth says - Sun Sentinel".Sun-Sentinel.RetrievedMarch 18,2015.
  9. ^"IMO adopts Polar Code which comes into force in 2017; environmental groups unsatisfied".MercoPress.RetrievedMarch 18,2015.
  10. ^"Law Scholars From 11 Countries Urge Reversal of Chevron RICO Decision, Saying Judge Kaplan Violated International Law - Business Wire".businesswire.July 11, 2014.RetrievedMarch 18,2015.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Friends_of_the_Earth_(US)&oldid=1209738529"