Secrets of our success - caught on film

Joe Jenkins

09 July 2012

Being part of Friends of the Earth is incredibly exciting. But the pace of life here often means we leave little time to celebrate our successes. We're always seeking the next adventure.

That's why it felt important to me, in our 40th anniversary year, to draw breath and recognise what our efforts are actually achieving.

So we've made a film which tells the story of our first 40 years.

And what a story it is. So easy to forget that it's only thanks to Friends of the Earth (and the hundreds of thousands of people who are Friends of the Earth) that we have clean drinking water, vast swathes of protected countryside, species that might otherwise be extinct, action to prevent acid rain and the world's first climate change act.

From the beginning, we showed how ordinary people can make a real difference. We brought a fresh perspective to some of the world's biggest issues and enabled change to happen.

The challenges ahead can sometimes feel overwhelming. So I find it inspiring to be reminded that we've faced many big issues before, and proved that when people get together to protect what they value, anything is possible. Just think - before Friends of the Earth no one believed households would regularly recycle their waste. Now doorstep recycling is the norm.

If you've been on this journey with us I hope you'll share in our successes. If you're new to Friends of the Earth, then this is a great way to find out what we're all about.

What I love about Friends of the Earth is the way people are hardwired into our approach to campaigning for the environment. Our anniversary film is a celebration of those people - I hope you enjoy it.

Joe Jenkins

Director of Fundraising, Communications and Activism

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