Government agencies and universities are two good sources of environmental information for Web surfers but for other points of view on the issues, visit the growing number of nongovernment organizations (NGOs) that have gotten caught up in the Web. Organizations that once fought for members for financial support and readership with mass mailings of promotions, newsletters, alerts and magazines, now display sophisticated and well-organized Web sites well worth visiting..
When you visit these sites, keep in mind that a nongovernment organization voices its point of view and that it doesn't necessarily have a lock on truth. Still, we'd be one heck of a lot worse off if we didn't have these watchdog organizations fighting for our environment and us. When you visit these organizations, also remember that they are not-for-profit. If you value the strength of our democratic system and the health of our environment, support the ones you like. Don't take NGOs for granted. They used to be called nonprofit or not-for-profit organizations and they are still non-profit. We need them to represent us and they need us to help them do it.
One good first stop is the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). NRDC has four major sections at the moment: environmental news and information; the online voice of Amicus, its excellent journal; technical materials on the environment; and links to various topics. NRDC gives you background information on its project interests, offers ways you can subscribe to help, highlights what is in its Amicus journal, and provides in-depth technical materials. Well worth a visit and return.Another site worth visiting is the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). With research and management operations around the world, WWF offers you a news room, global action alerts, publications and research, information about WWF campaigns, resources for kids and teachers, and a "Green Web Directory." WWF's focus is not solely on wildlife, but also on other environmental issues that affect wildlife. WWF is another one of the "good guys" recommended for return visits.National Wildlife Federation. NWF is a long-time educational and lobbying voice on behalf of wildlife and environment. The site's main offerings include issues and actions, adventure and entertainment, "in the classroom," "for kids," magazines and publications, action alerts, "send free fax" to Congress about the Human Population vote, and "Hot News." NetGuide magazine picked this as a "Gold site."The Nature Conservancy is worth a visit not because it offers you a free Nature Conservancy screen saver (it does) but because this is one of the premier conservation organizations in the country. Quiet and unassuming, rarely if ever taking sides on issues, it goes about its business of researching biodiversity and buying heritage-quality open space. TNC owns or has turned over to government agencies for management, "gazillions" of acres of land all over the country and, relatively recently, in Latin America and the Caribbean.
