Dear Elisa and Leta,
Thank you so much for writing in to DC Ecowomen. What a wonderful opportunity for the women on our list.
1. How do you put your passion into positive action to restore our planet?
Working at Endangered Species Coalition allows me to protect wildlife and wild lands. As a coalition organization with more than 400 groups, I celebrate the successes and mourn the setbacks of not only the work of our staff, but also the many colleagues that we work closely with. Every day, I learn something new about what is happening with wolves, lynx, red knots, black abalone, salmon and more. And, while the news out of Washington, DC, in the past eight years, has not been good for endangered species, it hasn't been all bad for species, especially with some encouraging signs at the state and local level.
Washington state was able to welcome in the first confirmed wolf pack in the state since the 1930s--complete with a litter of 6 pups! Oregon will have one of its own running NOAA--the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, University of Oregon professor, Jane Lubchenco--an outspoken scientist who has been a strong supporter of conservation. In Maine, adult Atlantic salmon returned to the Penobscot River in numbers that haven't been seen in years. In Montana, a lawsuit settlement provides hope for the Kootenai River white sturgeon--a species that has been around since the dinosaur age and can live to be 100 years old, growing to nine feet and 300 pounds. (Imagine brushing up against one of these big fellas when you're going for a swim.) A part of my work is helping to translate events such as these into policy positions in Washington, DC.
But, in addition to my interest in conservation, I have also been an advocate for women's rights. And, for that reason, I co-founded EcoWomen with a couple of friends. It allowed me to join two of my passions--environmental and women's issues. We created a special place where women could get to know each other, build supportive networks, and be inspired by all that has been done by women to protect our planet. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that our community would grow to more than 1,000 women. And, while I had been thinking of how this would be a great benefit for "other" women, I never stopped to take the time and consider how it might benefit me. What a pleasant surprise it was for me to realize that my own circle of incredibly, capable, talented, and beautiful women friends has just exponentially increased.
2. What can everyday women do to participate in your mission?
There are always opportunities for everyday women to help us with our mission. I would stress finding opportunities that fit in with your lifestyle and your own needs for personal enrichment. A couch potato can become an incredible e-activist. By signing on to our activist list, she'll be notified about opportunities to email and call her Member of Congress about the need for protecting endangered species. And, by telling all of her friends and family about our work, she can help us expand our influence. An outdoorsy woman can volunteer at a local nature center or wildlife refuge. A super-mom can get her children's school participating in our annual Endangered Species Day. See our website at www. stopextinction.org for the 10 Easy Steps at Home to Protect Endangered Species.
For women interested in networking with other conservation-oriented women, join our growing EcoWomen community at www.ecowomen.org. Our DC chapter has been running for almost 5 years. And, in 2009, we plan to add a chapter or two around the country.
3. Why should everyday women be concerned and involved?
It is hard to take the time out of our busy lives to think far beyond our friends, our family, our work and our home. However, helping to protect wildlife and wild lands has direct benefits to each of us--providing us with the air we breathe and the water we drink. How is it possible that we have thought it was okay to put these things into jeopardy?
As a mom of a 20-month old, it is always striking to me that most of the baby and children's products sold--books, linens, tableware, clothes, flashcards, and toys--have animal images splashed all over them--giraffes, elephants, tigers, bears, birds, and fish. While we surround our children with images of beautiful and majestic animals, we are simultaneously driving many of these species to extinction. Obviously, these other creatures strike a strong a chord with us. And, if we don't work to protect them now, there are no second chances with endangered species.
4. What does this inauguration mean to you? Are you celebrating with other women?
Clearly this inauguration represents great hope for any of us concerned about wildlife. The department heads who have been chose so far by President-elect Obama have stressed the need to follow the law and to follow science. It seems so simple, but for those of us working on conservation (or women's issues or health care or foreign policy, for that matter), it is an incredibly refreshing change. We've all been holding our breath for 8 years, and now finally we can breathe again. Given the excitement about the incoming President, the inauguration is being celebrated all week long. People will have the opportunity to do a sort of bar-hoping celebration, going from one event to the next over the week. So, I'll be going to a couple of different events to mark the occasion, raising a toast with men, women and children to a time that we hope will be guided by lawfulness, science and reason.
5. Do you blog?
My organization has The Stop Extinction Blog at: http://stopextinctionblog.blogspot.com/ where our staff (including me), board and occasionally member groups post entries. I can't wait to write about more positive happenings in 2009!
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Leda Huta
Executive Director
Endangered Species Coalition
PO Box 65195; Washington, DC 20035
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