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Savvy environmentalists challenge corporations to go green An Interview with Michael Brune, executive director of RAN Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com January 29, 2007
Initially engaging firms with dialog, RAN is not afraid to employ traditional activist tactics -- including boycotts and protests -- to win over targeted companies that are slow to respond. "Our corporate campaigns seek to push companies to balance profits with principles, to show that it is possible to do well by doing good," explains RAN on its web site. "We publicly applaud and support political and corporate leaders who show strong leadership and innovation in advancing sustainability. Sadly, many companies require more motivation, and our campaigns leverage public opinion and consumer pressure to turn the public stigma of environmental destruction into a business nightmare for any American company that refuses to adopt responsible environmental policies." While some of their tactics may be controversial, they are certainly effective. To date RAN has won over Citigroup, Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Home Depot, and Boise Cascade.
"I believe that we can find solutions to environmental problems that can benefit multiple sides," he said. "[RAN believes] that corporations and governments can transform themselves, and can actually play an important role in slowing down climate change and protecting forests." Brune, who may not seem like the stereotypical environmentalist with dual degrees in Economics and Finance from West Chester University, says that he is cautiously optimistic for the future when it comes to corporate interest in the environment. "The debate has shifted: it's no longer a question of whether the environment is in trouble, it's a question of how bad the damage is and what must be done to reverse it. Environmentalism is becoming mainstream, and the challenge ahead will be to keep offering solutions that the public, big business and governments around the world will embrace and implement." Brune elaborated on RAN's tactics and broader philosophy in a January 2007 conversation with Rhett A. Butler of mongabay.com. Mongabay: How did you come to be so passionate about rainforests?
Mongabay: What is RAN's approach to saving rainforests? How does raising awareness through education here in the U.S. rate as a priority? Brune: RAN believes that the only way to permanently save rainforests is to transform the underlying economic and social factors that are causing their destruction. We believe that large corporations, supported by government, find it too easy to liquidate rainforests for short-term gain. We also believe that protecting rainforests is a smart economic policy. Our primary approach has been to challenge Corporate America to stop harming, and start helping, to protect rainforests. One of our campaigns has been to push the logging industry to stop its logging in old growth forests and shift to more sustainable logging practices. Along with a coalition of environmental groups, we've had some early success in convincing major wood and paper retailers — from Home Depot and Lowe's to Kinko's and others — to not sell or use any wood or paper from old growth forests. This change in demand from the marketplace has helped to protect millions of acres of rainforests in western Canada, Chile, Indonesia and elsewhere.
Underlying all this work is grassroots organizing and education. We think education is vital, and is the first step in a two-step dance for social change: education and action. Both are necessary to make the world a better place. Mongabay: Since the 1990s RAN seems to have shifted from an emphasis on "civil disobedience" and other traditional activist approaches to sitting down with executives in boardrooms discussing issues and airing concerns face-to-face. Do you think this portends a wider shift in strategy on the part of green advocacy groups or merely diversification of tactics? Has this made RAN's efforts for effecting corporate change more productive? Brune: I don't think we've shifted from one to the other, but have more fully embraced both elements in our strategic campaigning. RAN continues to run hard-hitting campaigns that occasionally use civil disobedience to highlight an injustice against people and the planet. At the same time, we think it is equally important to engage in thoughtful, tough discussions with corporate and political leaders to develop practical solutions to the world's most pressing problems. I think that it's true that more environmental groups are becoming savvy to the culture and language of business, and are adapting their programs accordingly. Mostly, this is a good thing. I sometimes like to think of RAN as "hopeful skeptics"; we believe that corporations and governments can transform themselves, and can actually play an important role in slowing down climate change and protecting forests and the rights of their inhabitants. At the same time, we won't be fooled by double-speak and false promises of future action. This attitude is the motivation behind much of our work. 
Mongabay: On a broader level, how can the green movement better position itself to avoid being just another "special interest"? Brune: I don't think this is as much of a problem as it was even just 5-10 years ago. Environmentalism is becoming more popular again, and the environmental movement is becoming much broader and more inclusive. Just in the past year, we've seen evangelical Christians become much more vocal and organized as they fight to protect the environment — fighting mountaintop removal mining practices in the southeastern United States and taking a stance on climate change. We're seeing a lot of business leaders taking stands on environmental issues. The main theme of the recent L.A. Auto Show was alternative fuel technology, which certainly wouldn't have been the case 20 — or even five — years ago. There's a very strong trend here of the environmental movement not just being limited to activists on the coasts of the U.S., but being embraced by all sectors of society. Environmentalists have fought an uphill battle in public policy circles the past several years, but this last election gives us all hope that better times are ahead. The debate has shifted: it's no longer a question of whether the environment is in trouble, it's a question of how bad the damage is and what must be done to reverse it. Environmentalism is becoming mainstream, and the challenge ahead will be to keep offering solutions that the public, big business and governments around the world will embrace and implement. Mongabay: Since Katrina and the spike in energy prices have you noticed a shift in public sentiment with regard to environmental concerns? Has this helped RAN? Brune: One trend we've seen over the last year or so is a dramatic increase in awareness about climate change. A number of factors explain that; the first being that most people are simply noticing changes in the weather and seeing more extreme weather events on the news. Americans and people around the world saw what happened with Hurricane Katrina and how violent weather events can wreak havoc on the lives of millions. I also think that Al Gore has done a fantastic job at making these environmental issues — and climate change in particular — more central to people's lives. He has really presented a strong case for the dangers of climate change. Any time there is a heightened focus on environment and climate concerns, it helps us get our message out, though it is unfortunate that such extreme, tragic events like Katrina are so often the catalyst for increased awareness. The hope is always that increased awareness will lead to stronger efforts to improve the environment so we can mitigate the effects of extreme climate events in the future. Mongabay: What are some basic steps to being better stewards of the environment in general? Brune: The first step is to become aware of the major issues in your backyard, state, country and globally. There are a variety of ways to get involved and to take action. We can act as consumers, by voting with our dollars to support sustainable business — whether it's buying FSC-certified wood or paper with the highest recycled content, or organic food, sweatshop-free clothing, etc. We can vote, as if our lives depended on it. We can act in our workplace, helping the companies with whom we work to be more environmentally responsible in the way they do business. We can also act as citizens, by helping corporations and political leaders (who need all the help they can get) to wake up and start taking real action to protect rainforests and the rest of the planet, before it's too late. There are plenty of ways to take action Check out RAN at www.ran.org, and get involved. Mongabay: Do you have any advice for students wanting to pursue a career in environmental advocacy. What do you look for in candidates seeking to work for RAN?
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