Help 2020 Action Grow in Strength and Influence

“The role of citizens in our democracy does not end with your vote.”

      --- President Barack Obama

January 2013 - The reelection of President Obama, and the increased number of Democrats in the U.S. Senate and the House is good news for peace, justice, and the environment. But as President Obama reminded us in his Victory Speech, “The role of citizens in our democracy does not end with your vote.” We, as citizens and members of 2020 Action, now need to do our part in this precious democracy and make our voices heard—loudly, clearly, and persistently—by our nation’s policymakers.

 

Numbers count. The greater the number of personal messages we can help to generate each month, the more effective we will be in protecting the environment and promoting peace. Policymakers say personal messages count more than petitions.

 

That is why this month we are asking you to help 2020 Action grow in numbers and strength.

 

If each 2020 member finds just one new member, we will double in size and influence. It will be even better if some of us find more than one. Think of people in community, political, or religious groups you belong to, or people you may have met or volunteered with during the recent campaign.

 

Money from wealthy individuals and corporations couldn’t buy the White House, but it will continue to try to influence our nation’s environmental and military policies. For now, our best defense against the corrupting influence of big money on our democracy is to engage more citizens in ongoing, effective, communication with those in political office. You can help us do this. We’ll all be stronger.

 

Contact friends, family, environmentalists, political organizers, colleagues, neighbors, acquaintances, or even perfect strangers—like-minded and like-hearted people who care about peace, the environment, and our democracy.

 

Find one new member to join 2020 Action. Give a gift membership, and invite someone to become a 2020 member. Collect their $20 and send it to us with their contact info, or, invite them to join at 2020Action.org/join. Or give them our mailing address: PO Box 63, Amherst, MA 01004. Thank you so much.

 

Please make an announcement about 2020 Action at a gathering or group meeting you attend and invite people to join.  Here is some sample language you can use in a letter or conversation to invite people to join 2020:

 

Dear (name of friend), 

 

     I would like to tell you about an organization I belong to—2020 Action—that is one of the best ways I have of putting social action into my life.

     The organization sends me a card each month focused on one U.S. environment or peace issue of strategic importance at that exact moment. In only 300 words, each card provides background on the month's issue, and describes how to urge a specific policymaker to take a specific action. All contact info is provided. Each card comes wrapped in a beautiful photograph that celebrates the beauty and wonder of the natural world.

     I sincerely recommend that you join me in belonging to 2020 Action. It costs $20 a year. You can sign up at 2020action.org/join. If you're like me you'll feel a lot better taking one brief action each month that can help make the world a better place.

 

Photo credit:  Pink fireworks chrysanthemum, 2010, Lois Barber