A green pen.

Letter-writing is the key activity of Global Response members, a network begun in April, 1990, which responds to environmental crises in the Americas and around the globe. It focuses on the export of environmental problems and answers the requests of incountry groups to gain the attention of pivotal decision-makers on environmental matters.

In June, 1991, The Venezuela Audubon Society requested the assistance of Global Response in its fight against development in Venezuela's important wetlands and feeding areas for the Greater Flamingo. Two months after the Global Response action was mailed, Mary Lou Goodwin, Vice President of Audubon de Venezuela, wrote to the U.S. based group that the government had dropped plans to build a highway along the southern shore of Piritu Lagoon and to permit the development of an industrial salt complex in Piritu.

Global Response has also been involved in attempts to protect the Amazon basin from oil exploration. "An oil spill could devastate the slow-moving swamp waters," said Patricia Fernandez Davila, executive director of the Lima-based Asociacion Amazonia. The Peruvian Environmental Law Society (SPDA) asked Global Response to aid in its campaign against oil exploration in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. Faced with public pressure, Texas Crude decided not to sign the contract permitting it to explore the area. "The campaign clearly shows that people are no longer indifferent to environmental threats, and that large groups of people from different countries can be united to fight for a worthy cause," remarked Silvana Graf of the SPDA. Global Response has also protested exploration by Conoco in Ecuador's Yasuni National Park, citing the protection of the Huaorani Indians' homeland and traditional way of life.

In November, 1991, Stepan Company and General Motors were targets of a Global Response action bolstering the efforts of the Coalition for Justice in the Maquiladoras to improve conditions in factories on the U.S.-Mexican border. The Standards of Conduct proposed by this Mexican-based Coalition would create a model for fair and healthy practices by international companies in Latin America.

Global Response actions go to about 2,500 network members every month. The year-old, non-profit environmental network plans to expand its international membership and to create an advisory board with world-wide representation. Individuals can join the Global Response network free of charge. For information write: Global Response, PO. Box 7490, Boulder, Colorado 80306-7490, USA, or call [phone].