NGO's & How to Get Involved

Doctors without Borders:

• Doctors without Borders is a worldwide organizations that works in need-based areas. 
• Doctors without Borders trains local and international staff. They run mainly on individual donations and between 81-88% of funding goes directly towards the program.
• Doctors without Borders won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999 for its work with populations in danger. They also helped wounded civilians in Afghanistan, treat malnutrition in Ethiopia, and gave medical care to those fleeing conflict in El Salvador and Nicaragua.
• The solutions is offers is emergency medical care in crises, assists those who face discrimination or neglect from local health systems. 
• There are no local connections to Doctors without Borders, but the way to get involved is through applying to become a volunteer. 

Food Not Bombs:

• Food Not Bombs is active in 60 countries and has 500 chapters within the United States.
• Food Not Bombs ground work is collecting locally wasted food from groceries stores through the stores donations, the food is then cooked and served those in need by volunteers. There’s no training involved in the process or financial needs. 
• Food Not Bombs organized the “Walk for Peace” in Massachusetts, “Free Concert for Nuclear Disarmament”, and shared food at its first protest in 1981. 
• Solution it offers is protesting war and violence, collecting food that would otherwise be wasted, and feeding those who need it. 
• Austin has a Food Not Bombs chapter, they have a volunteer day every Saturday at a local co-operative housing. One can also donate to Food Not Bombs via their website, or join on protests put on by the Austin chapter.

Sierra Club:

• The Sierra Club focuses on the United States and has chapters across the nation. 
• Their main financing is through member’s monthly contributions, and they also have trainings within all of their different programs. 
• The Sierra Club has protected millions of acres of wilderness and helped pass the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act. 
• They have 17 main programs they focus on and find solutions to, one I’ll focus on here is borderlands. Some solutions they have in regards to borderlands is to stop and resist Trump’s proposal for a wall due to its environmental impacts.
• There is a branch of the Sierra Club in Austin that is a part of the Lone Star Chapter.

Environment America:

• Environment America has a branch in every state within the United State of America.
• Helping out requires no training to do simple tasks like signing petitions, writing emails or letters, making phone calls to those in positions of power. They do offer training for each campaign they do, mainly focusing on how to effectively canvass. They rely on funds through a membership based donation. Around 65% of their income for projects comes from citizens, 21% from grants, and the rest of the 14% is listed under “other.”
• Historically Environment America has reviewed more than 100 environmental policies. They have also joined up with other environmental organizations to support the Climate Security Act in 2007 and the National Ocean Policy in 2010. The Environment Texas branch has filed lawsuits against Chevron and Shell for alleged violations of pollution limits. Later Environment Texas sued Exxon Mobil for violating the Clear Air Act in the Gulf coast. 
• Some of the main solutions they are pushing for within the environmental sector are to Keep the Clean Water Act working and accountable, reduce global warming pollution through the Clean Power Plan, and helping America go solar through advocacy.
• There is an Environment Texas branch which includes a local office here in Austin. You can get involved as an intern, through a fellowship, or apply for a job as a Campaign Organizer, State Director, or Environmental Campaign Staff.  

Greenpeace:

• Greenpeace works internationally, with a large number of organization in European countries. They are located in more than 55 countries.
• Greenpeace does not accept governments or corporations contribution and solely relies on individuals for money. Regional offices provide training for those who want to be activists. They also provide a how-to guide for starting a petition through Greenpeace.
• Historically they have pushed food companies to stop buying forest-destroying palm oil, the tech industry to phase out toxic chemicals. Greenpeace has also helped the banning of radioactive waste dumping at sea, end commercial whaling, pioneer greener fridge technology, and help create the Antarctic Treaty.
• Their solutions offered are: catalyzing an energy resolution, defending our oceans, protecting the world’s ancient forests, working for disarmament and peace, creating a toxic free future, and campaigning for sustainable agriculture. 
• The local connections to Greenpeace in are located in Washington D.C. and San Francisco, but they have Greenpeace Greenwire that lets allow people to connect and create their own voluntary work for environmental campaigns. 
• In order to become involved you can volunteer your time to campaign for them, you can become activist to get people talking about solutions through protesting or unveiling banners, or you can even become part of the staff as a Senior Political Advisor, Chief Scientist, or Engineer. 
• In order to get involved you just simply need to get in touch with your local Greenpeace office about volunteering, otherwise you can apply online for jobs. 
• Some contributions you can make are your time as a volunteer, starting your own campaign for an issue you’re very passionate about, sailing aboard a Greenpeace ship, or working for Greenpeace. They also accept donations from individuals, but do not accept funding from governments or corporations.