RAN Grassroots

The Rainforest Action Network is classified as grass roots because it is an organization that defends its own beliefs. The members of RAN are concerned with the destruction of the environment by humans. Their purpose is to raise awareness of this issue and illustrate tomorrow’s consequences based on today’s behavior. RAN sends its messages worldwide to students, communities, organizations and companies. The focus is not only on education but on direct action, which results in publicity for RAN and the unfortunate company that has become their target. RAN exposes information that is not widely known and uses creative tactics to gain the attention of thousands of people. Consequently, this maneuver produces a negative image for the targeted company. Citibank, Home Depot, and Ford Motor Company are just a few of the unlucky groups to experience the wrath of RAN. Some of these tactics are considered radical, but produce the intended response that RAN craves- a change in policy.

A grass roots organization, like RAN, assists individuals and groups in organized protests, assemblies, and demonstrations. They recognize that individuals need to take a stand against corporations and push for legislation that forces them to change their ways. An astroturf organization is a small group of people that represent a larger organization’s wants and needs. They are told what to say (verbally and written) and how to act. People that work in astroturf are not considered true defendants for their cause because they are modeled according to whatever issue a company wants to publicize or hide at the time. Astroturf means fake and in this case, is considered a front group for companies who try to get what they want without putting their name on it- usually considered an unethical practice.

The Rainforest Action Network believes that public awareness makes all the difference. Their success depends on people (leaders, employees, residents, consumers) who realize that they do not want to be a part of the destructive process and therefore, take action to preserve the environment.


SOURCES:
www.ran.org
www.capitalresearch.org
www.sourcewatch.org
dc.indymedia.org