The Environmental Obstacle is dedicated to encouraging a community of involved citizens of all races, beliefs, and economic backgrounds. No one should feel alienated and no one should feel as if their part is not critical. The list below is but a small sampling of organizations who are dedicated to enacting change on our towns, states, country, and planet. While we are not affiliated with any of the organizations listed, each has a committed and varied history to protecting our natural resources for the well being of us all and can be considered a starting point in the greater understanding of caring for the Earth.
SIERRA CLUB is the oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization in the United States, founded in May 28, 1892 in San Francisco, California by the preservationist John Muir.
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND is a US-based nonprofit environmental advocacy group, known for its work on issues such as global warming, ecosystem restoration, oceans, and human health. It is nonpartisan organization, and often advocates market-based solutions to environmental problems.
ALLIANCE FOR CLIMATE PROTECTION was founded in 2006 by Nobel Laureate and former Vice President of the United States, Al Gore. A non-profit, non-partisan organization that is committed to educating the global community about the urgency of the climate crisis. Through its work with The Climate Project, Repower America, the WE Campaign, the Reality Coalition, and its affiliated organization, The Climate Protection Action Fund, the Alliance seeks to present choices and offer changes that will protect our planet for future generations
ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION is the world’s oldest and largest tree-planting organization. Its members plant millions of trees every year. The foundation began September 3, 1971 with a mission “to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees”. The Arbor Day Holiday was founded more than 120 years ago in Nebraska City, Nebraska, by J. Sterling Morton.
HEIFER INTERNATIONAL is a nonprofit charitable organization based in Little Rock, Arkansas, dedicated to relieving global hunger and poverty. It provides gifts of livestock and plants, as well as education in sustainable agriculture, to financially-disadvantaged families around the world.
WATERKEEPER ALLIANCE is an environmental organization founded in 1999, responding to a growing movement of organizations worldwide with the name Riverkeeper, Baykeeper, Soundkeeper, and other related “keeper” names that grew out of the original Riverkeeper started in 1983 on the Hudson River in New York state.
GREENPEACE is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over 41 countries and headquarters in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Greenpeace states its goal as to “ensure the ability of the earth to nurture life in all its diversity”. Greenpeace uses direct action, lobbying and research to achieve its goals. The global organization does not accept funding from governments, corporations or political parties, relying on 2.86 million individual supporters and foundation grants.
NEW YORK BASED ORGANIZATIONS
RIVERKEEPER Riverkeeper is an environmental non-profit dedicated to the protection of the Hudson River and its tributaries, as well as the watersheds that provide New York City with its drinking water. It was the first “keeper” to be founded; today, there are over 150 “keepers” around the globe, all members of the Waterkeeper Alliance umbrella organization.
THE HUDSON RIVER SLOOP CLEARWATER is an organization based in Beacon, New York that seeks to protect the Hudson River and surrounding wetlands and waterways through advocacy and public education. Founded by folk singer Pete Seeger with his wife Toshi Seeger in 1966, the organization is known for its sailing vessel, the sloop Clearwater, and for its annual music and environmental festival, the Great Hudson River Revival.
BEACON INSTITUTE OF RIVERS AND ESTUARIES is headquartered on the Hudson River in the City of Beacon, New York, and serves as one of the nation’s largest environmental research centers. With a focus on research as well as education, the center has many facilities to accommodate various advanced and state-of-the-art projects.
SCENIC HUDSON is dedicated to protecting and restoring the Hudson River, its riverfront and the majestic vistas and working landscapes beyond as an irreplaceable national treasure for America and a vital resource for residents and visitors. Scenic Hudson is credited with starting the grassroots environmental movement as well as winning the rights for citizens to act on behalf of their environment.