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| Who and What
We Are The Blue Ridge Environmental
Defense League is a regional, community-based,
non-profit environmental organization. Our
founding principles are earth stewardship,
environmental democracy, social justice, and
community empowerment.
Working in rural and disadvantaged areas, our
staff and volunteers put into practice the ideals
of love of community and love of neighbor. BREDL
is a grassroots organization: each community
group solves pressing local problems by
developing a citizens' campaign with goals,
strategies, activities, and assessments. The issues center on industry's
dependence on toxic chemicals, utilities' refusal to
adopt sound energy alternatives, industrial development
and highway construction at the expense of public health,
intensive livestock operations' effects on agriculture
and the environment, and huge waste dumps. These are
social problems with devastating environmental and public
health effects. They are also the clarion call for
community action. Our mission is difficult. But, in the
words of BREDL Co-president James Johnson, "We don't
quit; we find a way to do it."
Why “Grassroots”
campaigns
Nothing creates hopefulness out of
helplessness like a successful grassroots campaign. BREDL
chapters and the independent organizations we serve have
a history of winning. In fact, so far we have never lost
a campaign. Some communities which have organized to
oppose an existing facility have an image of themselves
as victims.
Establishing small steps, incremental
goals, and short-term projects helps to develop a sense
of power. Celebrating victories elevates the human spirit
and creates unity of purpose.
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QUICK LINKS:
Nondiscrimination Policy
Organizational
Flow Chart
Membership & Donations
Contact Us
BREDL Annual Reports
BREDL Resolutions
Nature Sanctuary
Earth Stage
MEMBER NEWS:
BREDL Stewardship Award: Bonnie and Claude Ward Honored
Betty Tesh has written a new novel Raising Sand
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Environmental Democracy
BREDL has prevented the deterioration of
the quality of life in communities. The preservation of
local control and the promotion of clean industry have
enhanced social and economic aspects of human life. Our
blocking of the divide-and-conquer strategy of our
opponents with the unifying theme embodied in the slogan
"not here, not there, not anywhere" has created
stronger, safer, and more ethical communities.
"We would heartily recommend to all
persons of this community not to engage in any routs,
riots, or licentious attacks upon the properties of any
persons whatsoever, as being subversive of all order and
government; but, by a steady, uniform, and persevering
opposition, to convince our enemies that in a contest so
important--in a cause so solemn, our conduct shall be
such as to merit the approbation of the wise and the
admiration of the brave and free of every age and of
every country.”
- The Suffolk Resolves, 1774
The BREDL creed:
We believe
in the practice of earth stewardship, not only by our
league members, but by our government and the public
as well. To foster stewardship, the Blue Ridge
Environmental Defense League encourages governmental
and citizen responsibility in conserving and
protecting our natural resources. BREDL advocates
grassroots involvement to empower whole communities
in environmental issues. BREDL functions as a
"watchdog" of the environment, monitoring
issues and holding government officials accountable
for their actions. BREDL networks with citizen groups
and agencies, collecting and disseminating accurate
and timely information. BREDL sets standards for
environmental quality and awards individuals and
agencies who uphold these standards in practice.
- So adopted by BREDL Board of
Directors July, 1984
Blue Ridge
Environmental Defense League
PO Box 88
Glendale Springs,
NC 28629
Phone:
336-982-2691
Fax: 336-982-2954
email:bredl@skybest.com
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