whos-the-bossIn less than the amount of time it takes to watch a re-run of Who’s the Boss, Global Exchange intern Naomi Hill set up a fundraising page on Firstgiving.com to raise money to address climate change as part of Global Exchange’s Beat the Heat campaign. (In case you’re not a Tony Danza fan, an episode of Who’s the Boss runs roughly 23 minutes).

Naomi is currently the leading fundraiser in this Beat the Heat fundraising contest! Contest participants include Global Exchange supporters, staff, interns and board members who are each creating personal fundraising pages just like Naomi.

A small commitment of time for set up, and then a bit of follow up, and Naomi has been able to raise more than anyone else thus far to support our ongoing efforts to make sure the planet remains inhabitable for future generations of humans. We think that’s a worthy way to spend a few minutes, what about you?

Here’s the whole story, straight from the source:

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Our source, seen here smiling about a funny limerick from her childhood

I was initially a bit nervous about jumping into the Beat the Heat campaign, but a few particular things I did helped me feel more comfortable with the process and become excited about promoting the great campaign:

1. Share the love: I’m letting my family and friends know what I am up to this summer and how I’m so enthusiastic and getting involved in issues that I’m becoming increasingly aware of and passionate about. By sharing my experience with people and asking them to read about what I’m doing, I’m involving them in the direction I’m taking and sharing this process with them.

2. Don’t just ask for donations: This might seem counter intuitive, but hear me out. I am excited about sharing what I’m doing, and I want to share with the people I care about, even if they can’t contribute. By taking a little pressure off the people I’m inviting to my donation page, hopefully they’re taking the time to read the page and get inspired. Even if people can’t give right away, it’s good to get them inspired too.

3. Prepare to be surprised: I was somewhat skeptical that my Facebook friends would step up to the fundraising plate, and was even a bit worried that they’d be annoyed. But I was pleasantly surprised to see how many people had ‘liked’ the page, and even brought it up in later conversation. A few even donated, which blew me away! If 20 year old college students working unpaid summer internships can give 10 or 25 dollars, well, anyone can.

4. Make it fun: People have told me the fundraising incentives I put on my page have helped draw them in. One of my supporters reminded me that she didn’t need a prize to give to a good cause, but she found the incentives clever and would forward the page to her friends to spread the word. While I’m sure the promise of a hand-made cookbook won’t light a fire for everyone, it certainly made things more fun for some.

So, has jumping into the Beat the Heat campaign been worth the uneasiness associated with fundraising? Absolutely!

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Beat-the-Heat-CampaignThanks to Naomi for sharing!

Would you like to give Naomi a run for her money? We encourage you to join us as we Beat the Heat this summer. It only takes a few minutes to set up a page on Firstgiving.com, and all the donations you receive will be put to immediate use as we address climate change this year.

Biggest Prize Ever (Seriously!) Global Exchange is giving away the biggest prize we’ve ever given away to the person who raises the most funds. So visit our Beat the Heat page to see what the big prize is and how you can take part.

Questions? If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me, Corey Hill.

 

 

 

 

Beat-the-HeatWe’re looking for the bold, the adventurous, and the dedicated to help us Beat the Heat this summer and address climate change!

We’re doing everything we can to make sure the planet is inhabitable for generations to come, and we want you to join us.

So we’ve put  put together this five point plan of action to address the climate crisis in the coming year:

1)    Safeguarding our water by passing community ordinances to ban fracking;
2)    Halting the Keystone XL Pipeline, and saying NO to more dirty Tar Sands oil extraction;
3)    Protecting the world’s working class by promoting Fair Trade;
4)    Exposing lobbyists and corporations who undermine our democracy and prevent law makers from taking meaningful steps to address climate change;
5)    Stopping the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), slated to become the biggest ‘free trade’ agreement of all time that would have devastating effects on ecosystems and labor movements across the globe if ratified.

In order to make this plan into a reality, we’re going to raise $40,000.  And this year, for the first time ever in our 25 years, we’re reaching out to members, supporters, and blog readers (hint hint) to lend a hand with our fundraising efforts.

Take-ActionTake Action!  You tell your story, tapping into your strengths to make an impassioned request on behalf of our ailing planet, and ask your community to join us as we Beat the Heat this summer. Making use of Firstgiving.com, you’ll be able to set up personalized fundraising pages to share with friends and family, whose donations to Global Exchange will be put to immediate use supporting our ongoing work to address climate change.

And just to make things interesting, we’re offering prizes for your participation! From June 7th to July 15th, we’re hosting the Beat the Heat contest with an amazing top prize.

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A beautiful cemetery in Oaxaca, Mexico. One of the amazing destinations on the 25th Anniversary trip!

Everyone who raises over $500 will be entered into a drawing to win an all expenses paid* Reality Tour to Oaxaca, Mexico in October of 2013. You’ll celebrate Global Exchange’s 25th anniversary in a region of rich culture and a history of organizing against repression.

Other great prizes include:

  • Top Fundraiser: a prize package valued at over $500, including a one-year subscription to the Earth Island Journal magazine, a $300 Gift Certificate to Pave Fine Jewelry, a gift package from Little Moon Essentials, and a five DVD set from Focus Features
  • Most Creative: An Equal Exchange Fair Trade prize package including Fair Trade coffee, chocolate, tea, and a unisex hoodie from American Apparel..
  • People who raise $150 and up: Everyone who raises $150 or more will recieve a 2 month supply of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream**
  • EVERYONE: Just by setting up a Firstgiving.com fundraising page, you’ll be entered to win a Fair Indigo prize package, including a hand embroidered travel sling and rattan.

Act Now! Contest begins June 12th and ends July 17th.

If you’re interested in learning more about the contest, visit beattheheat.globalexchange.org or shoot an email to corey@globalexchange.org.

Good luck!

*Return airfare and ground expenses for the Anniversary trip to Oaxaca available to entrants within the contiguous 48 United States. For those outside of this area, a prize of 2 ground expenses for the Anniversary trips to Oaxaca is available.

** Two month supply consists of two Ben&Jerry’s gift certificates

 

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Is this Mordor or Tar Sands?!

Tar Sands extraction in northern Alberta is called many things – an environmental disaster, a carbon ‘bomb’, and it’s often likened to Tolkien’s Mordor. For someone who has been there, I think it’s an apt description. This summer, First Nations and Metis communities living at ground zero are inviting people to come together to join the fourth Healing Walk.

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Forward on Climate rally in DC, Feb 2013

As the Summer Heat actions begin across the United States, “from where fossil fuels leave the ground, to the halls of power…” to challenge the fossil fuel industry and as activists prepare “…to stand up – peacefully but firmly — to the industry that is wrecking our future,” the Healing Walk invites us to, “come and see the impacts of the tar sands and be a part of the healing.”

I’m honored to be going. Sharing solidarity, ceremony and the Walk with communities on the frontlines of the tar sands is essential for me to re-commit to fight to stop the tar sands alongside those impacted by it. And also to recognize that those in power, often supported by immense corporate interests have failed to protect land, air, and water for future generations.

As the Healing Walk site says,

“No one feels this more then the people that have lived in the Athabasca River region for generations. They have watched their land get destroyed, they are forced to breathe dirty air, and in many communities they can no longer drink the water. The wildlife they have traditionally harvested are getting scarce, the fish they harvest have tumours, and the medicinal plants are disappearing along with the permanently changed landscape.”

Sign up to join the Healing Walk here.

When you join the Healing Walk, you will see the tar sands for yourself and have the opportunity to join others to heal the communities and land, and return home to take action with passion and determination. You will be amongst those directly affected by the tar sands who stand up everyday to speak on behalf of the land. You will march with Beaver Lake Cree Nation mother and tar sands fighter, Crystal Lameman, who was honored just last month at Global Exchange’s Human Rights Awards and inspired everyone in the audience with her telling words,

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Crystal Lameman received the Grassroots Award in San Francisco, May 2013

“When disaster strikes it is not going to know race, color or creed. I’m here to tell you, when that happens, the greed is going to see that it cannot eat money and you cannot drink oil.  And that we all bleed the same color. …If the government and industry think that throwing money at us is going to make this better, I choose life and my children’s lives and I choose health over money.”

And with the news of the planet hitting 400 parts per million of CO2, a number way beyond the limit of what is needed to maintain a healthy planet, her words are even more prescient.

Take-ActionTAKE ACTION!

Details about the events and logistics for July 5th and & 6th are straightforward and lots of support is being provided for accommodations and transportation. Sign up now.

  • Please be in touch if you want to join me July 5th & 6th on the Healing Walk. Together we’ll come back ready to Beat the Heat this summer, fight the Keystone XL pipeline, work for climate justice and stop the tar sands.