On letter-writing campaigns

16 May 2005

Got questions about the environment? Ask Umbra.

Dear Umbra,

I just switched to all-natural cleaning products (Seventh Generation, it's great!) and I wanted my switch to have the most impact possible. I was thinking about sending emails to the companies whose cleaning products I had previously used, telling them why I switched, describing the nasty effects of their products, and encouraging them to change their products to be earth-friendly. I also thought I would send this email to all of my friends, encouraging them to send it to their friends, and cc'ing the company in question each time.

Since I have never sent a letter to a company before, I was wondering if this would be a good way to go about things. What do you think? Do you have any tips to make this project effective? Are there any other ways to make these companies take notice?

Rebekah
Seattle, Wash.

Ask Umbra continues below

ADVERTISING POLICY

Dearest Rebekah,

I seriously considered providing a two-sentence answer to this question. To wit: This rocks! You don't need me! Your plan is the very one used by grassroots activists around the world who want to effect change in the corporate sphere. (Or any sphere, actually: the tactic you describe is also Amnesty International's hallmark.)

Dig deeper to give your letters that extra oomph.

As for tips for refining your excellent project: First, be aware of how the brand you formerly purchased fits into the company's overall product line. For example, Tide is a Procter & Gamble brand; Procter & Gamble also owns Mr. Clean. Do a little research, using these tips [PDF] from Co-op America, so that you and your friends can be sure to mention each brand associated with the company in question. (The company might even sell some eco-friendly, biodegradable products, which you could mention as positive examples.)

The Co-op America tips can also help you find the specific person to whom you should direct your letters. Do what you can to make the letters personal, especially since they'll be sent via the relatively impersonal, easy-to-ignore medium of email. At the end of the letter, request a reply detailing the company's plans to lessen the nasty effects of its products.

One more tip: the company you choose may already be a target of an environmental campaign. If so, your letters may have more impact when coordinated with said campaign. Punch the company name plus "campaign" or "letter writing" into the search engine of your choice, and see what you can find.

Admiringly,
Umbra

Yours is to wonder why, hers is to answer (or try). Please send Umbra any nagging question pertaining to the environment -- but first check out her FAQs!

The claims made in this column may not reflect the views of this magazine. Neither the magazine nor the author guarantees that any advice contained in this column is wise or safe. Please use this column at your own risk.

Umbra Fisk is Grist Research Associate II, Hardcover and Periodicals Unit, floors 2B-4B.

Comments: (1 comment)

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Umbra please review this email? Too harsh?

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/17/opinion/17tierny.html

"something called biogas (you don't want to know)"

Dear john...It's called natural gas, the same stuff flowing in pipelines all over the place, but unlike the stuff from decomposing dinosaurs that drilling for is wrecking the groundwater of Wyoming..amongst other places.. to retrieve.

The biogas..biofuel version is derived from recycling all that animal waste destroying the streams and air quality of jesusland.

You need a whole lot of learning on the topic of energy policy.
Read.

http://amazngdrx.myblogsite.com/blog

And check out the aerial view of a huge feedlot (the sexy beef entry)

http://www.sprol.com/

...to see the result of business as usual letting the biogas and manure flow freely out onto planet earth...the same corporate power unlimited is leaking nuclear waste into the columbia, colorado, tennesse rivers and many more right now!!

have you heard about the 68 used nuclear fuel rod storage pools across the USA, each one of which if drained of water would release 8 to 17 times the radiation of chernobyl.

Do your homework. Your position at the NYT that gives you a voice, has a responsibility that comes with it. aum

ps. Make your choice..jesuslander or citizen of The United States of Canada.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin

by amazingdrx at 8:57 AM on 17 May 2005

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On letter-writing campaigns