 VoiceYourself.com
is happy to highlight ShoreBank Pacific
as our second Stand Out organization. We would
like to thank Laurie Landeros for nominating ShoreBank
Pacific as a Pacific Northwest Stand Out. In her
nomination, Laurie stated that ShoreBank Pacific
is "the only bank in the nation that considers
the social and environmental impact of every loan
they make. We calculate and track the impact of
doing business, from our own internal policies
and procedures to loan quality decisions. We have
a scientist on staff and follow The Natural Step
Principles." She notes that ShoreBank Pacific
is also "developing a carbon offset program
to mitigate environmental impact caused by personal
and business travel and other energy consumption".
ShoreBank Pacific's CEO recently presented
their business model to the World Bank's Forum
on Sustainability.
For more about ShoreBank Pacific, click
here.
 VoiceYourself
is pleased to highlight the mission, work and
accomplishments of Riverkeeper,
the environmental organization dedicated to
the belief that it is the right of every citizen
to enjoy our nation’s water resources.
The Hudson Riverkeeper since its founding in1983
has doggedly pursued violators and polluters
that turned the majestic Hudson River into a
sewer for industrial waste. We commend Riverkeeper
both for its commitment to involve citizen’s
vigilance in the protection of waterways and
for its leadership in establishing more than
100 allied Waterkeeper groups from Maine to
Alaska. Among its many achievements, Riverkeeper
has investigated and successfully prosecuted
more than 300 environmental lawbreakers and
violators. The Hudson is cleaner today than
it was 50 years ago but the work continues.
This tribute is well timed as the UN proclaims
2003 as the International Year of Freshwater.
To learn more about their programs, what you
can do and the people behind the remarkable
achievements, click
here.
 VoiceYourself
is proud to introduce Earth Shaper, Diane Wilson,
a fourth generation shrimper who grew up in Seadrift,
Texas…population 1000, surrounded by idyllic
lakes, bays and rivers. Diane spent the first
40 years of her life, towing the lines, on the
water and in her life as a wife and mother of
five. But when her way of life, the lives of people
she loved and the life of her beloved San Antonio
Bay were threatened, she got fighting mad. Her
pursuit of justice started in 1989, when she learned
that her county,
the smallest in the state, was dubbed “the
number one toxic hot spot” in the nation.
Worse still, Formosa Plastics wanted to expand
its facilities just miles from her home. (The
battle against Formosa Plastics, the subject of
a short film by Ilana Trachtman titled, ‘Diane
Wilson: A Warrior’s Tale’. Media
that Matters, 2003 Online Film Festival was
awarded the Woody Harrelson Environmental Award)
Woody presented the award to Ilana and was thrilled
for the opportunity to meet Diane. Today Diane
is an inspiring speaker who urges everyone to
stand up for what he or she believes is right.
“If a fisherwoman with a high school education
that doesn't even like chemistry can get compliance
from a petrochemical plant, then anyone can.”
Over the past decade Diane has engaged in successful
campaigns including lengthy hunger strikes and
an attempt to sink her shrimp boat to get some
of the nations worst polluters; Alcoa, Dow Chemical
and Formosa Plastics to stop their polluting practices.
As Diane's voice for change grew louder she suffered
the abandonment by friends and paid a high price
at the hands of corporate bullies. Diane Wilson
is a true hero. Read more about this courageous
activist and her accomplishments.click
here.
|
It
is our honor to highlight Barbara Lee
as our Individual Stand Out. Barbara Lee is the
daughter of a retired lieutenant colonel in the
US Army. She was the only member of Congress on
September 14th to vote against the bill to give
Bush the green to go to war however he saw fit.
