Summary of Global Response Campaign History, 1990-2005

Based on Updated Report by Intern Danislava Marinova, July 2005

The question we're most frequently asked is, “How successful are your letter-writing campaigns?”

In the summer of 2002 we asked student intern Eddie Camp to analyze our record of campaigns from 1990 to 2002, and give us some statistical data. In 2005 another intern, Danislava Marinova, updated the report. What did they find?

Since our first campaign in 1990, Global Response already has celebrated VICTORIES in 43 percent of our campaigns!

Please see, below, a summary and interpretation of the statistical findings. But first we want to share some thoughts about "success."

For Global Response, what is “success?”

The most obvious success is when our letters achieve the desired result, whether that is shutting down an industrial polluter, creating a new protected area, passing or revoking specific legislation. Sometimes we ask for interim steps such as including a specific population in negotiations or conducting an independent Environmental Impact Study. When such efforts are successful, we count them as Global Response campaign victories because we accomplished what we set out to do, even if the ultimate goal has not yet been attained.

In 2001, for example, at the request of Brazilian organizations opposed to construction of the Belo Monte dam, we asked the president of Brazil to initiate a federal investigation of the murder of a prominent anti-dam activist. Our campaign was a success, although the dam project has not yet been stopped. In this case (and others like it) we issue follow-up alerts to our email subscribers, asking them to support successive phases of the struggle.

In some campaigns we can't point to an objective success, but we know our letters of support encourage and empower local activists and strengthen their resolve, making it more likely that they'll win the next battle for environmental protection. "Today you have lifted my spirits," doesn't show up in statistics, but it's a true expression in the hearts of many people who continue to be inspired and motivated by our solidarity.

Statistics also don't measure the impact our campaigns have on the people who receive our action alerts - adults, teenagers and children in over 100 countries. Through every campaign Global Response members learn more about our planet's wondrous diversity in ecosystems and cultures, and we deepen our connectedness to the earth and its peoples. Nine-year-old Amy Ryan doesn't appear in our statistics but she's part of the success of Global Response:

“I enjoy writing letters to protect the environment because it makes me feel good inside. I know that I cannot make all the difference in the world by myself, but one person can definitely help change things for the better.”

Who deserves credit for successful campaigns? The local groups that ask for our support usually deserve the most credit for courageously standing up for their rights, and for their long-term commitment to protect the ecosystems where they live. Sometimes other national and international organizations also get involved, offering local communities scientific, technical and financial support. Although it is impossible to calculate the exact contribution of each of these elements, local organizers often tell us our letters played a key role at critical moments in their struggles. We publish such comments in the Annual Report and on our website (see Successes and Campaigns Index).

With these considerations in mind, here's our record of campaign impacts, 1990-2005:

Overall Success Rate

We think an over-all success rate of 42.7% shows tremendously positive impact. Each letter you write has nearly a 50-50 chance of contributing to a significant victory for environmental protection. To what do we attribute this great success rate? Solid research into the issues, effective partnerships with local and international organizations, and a membership that is committed to letter-writing as effective citizen action for social change. We hope our excellent track record encourages you to write letters for every campaign.

Timing
Success in our campaigns can come quite quickly (3 campaigns were successful within 2 months) or after years of struggle (in 3 campaigns we celebrated victories 56 to 138 months after our first round of letters). In long-term campaigns we frequently issue follow-up alerts; we won victories in Burma and Louisiana after 4 rounds of letters each. The median time period for victories in our campaigns is 10 months.

Targets
Our letters are addressed to key decision makers in three categories: Business, Government, and Financial Institutions (e.g., the World Bank). Some campaigns have only one target (56%), while others target more than one institution (44%).

Successes by Target
“General Victories” count all victories where these Targets were involved, whether or not the Target was directly responsible for the success. “Direct Victories” count only those victories in which the Target made the decision. Example: We wrote to the president of Costa Rica and to Harken Energy Company asking them to stop oil development in Costa Rica. The president canceled Harken's concession for oil development. In this victory, both Business and Government targets count in the “General Victories” category; in the “Direct Victories” category, only Government is counted because the Government made the desired decision.

Additional data from this study are still under review. We are asking ourselves how we can apply what we learn toward maximizing our chances of success in future campaigns.

You can contribute toward future Global Response successes by:

• Writing a letter for our current campaign today
  
  
• Joining Global Response
  
  
• Giving a tax-deductible donation
  
  
• Getting involved in other ways