Grassroots versus Astroturf: Research Project

The Rainforest Action Network (RAN) is a campaign, run by Randall Hayes, “for the forests, their inhabitants and the natural systems that sustain life” through forms of illegal direct-action civil disobedience, forms of education, and grassroots organizing (ran.org).

I found this group to be a grassroots organization. The definition of grassroots claims that it is a group of people that “take collective action on their own behalf” (wikepedia.com). The focus on grassroots organizations is that they are real people protesting something. Although RAN is being investigated regarding whether or not it should still be tax-exempt, considering both its funding and its size, the group still performs true protests. The group is known for it’s negative campaigns and boycotts against corporations or anything it believes is dangerous to the environment. For example, in 2004 activists scaled a Seattle construction platform to protest against the Washington-based Weyerhaeuser logging company. The protesters apparently hung “a 2,400-square-foot protest banner” to condemn the company (discoverthenetworks.org). Their reputation precedes them to make negative comments about a company and boycott/protest, and continually perform acts of civil disobedience until they concede to their demands. This organization does put an emphasis on grassroots organization, education, and projects like their twelve-step program. This organization also appears to be grassroots because the members and activists are people: teachers, scientists, students and concerned parents who truly believe in their cause.


Works Cited:
Our Mission." Ranforest Action Network. 2007. Rainforest Action Network. 27 Mar 2007. http://ran.org/who_we_are/about_us/.

Hayes, Randall. "Rainforest Action Network." Friend of the Earth Affiliates. 14 Dec 2006. Friends of the Earth International. 27 Mar 2007. http://www.foei.org/groups/affiliates/ran.html.

"Rainforest Action Network." Anwers.com. 2007. Wikipedia. 28 Mar 2007. http://www.answers.com/topic/rainforest-action-network.

"Grassroots Organizing." Answers.com. 2007. Wikipedia. 28 Mar 2007. http://www.answers.com/topic/grassroots-organizing-1.

"Rainforest Action Network (RAN)." DiscovertheNetworks.org: A Guide to the Political Left. 2006. DiscovertheNetworks.org. 28 Mar 2007 . http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6904.