Environment charities Friends of the Earth and Resurgence & Ecologist will now offer a stronger voice for the environment following the launch of a one-year public partnership. 

The strategic partnership, launched today (12th March 2013), will combine the strengths of the two organisations to reach more people with news and comment on climate change, biodiversity loss and resource use; opening up further debate on these pressing issues by providing a larger forum for information, thought and action.

The two organisations plan to hold joint events, share editorial content and combine resource to promote some key campaigns to supporters and subscribers. 

Friends of the Earth’s Executive Director, Andy Atkins, said:

“It has never been a more important time for environment organisations to work together on some of the critical challenges that we face. 

“Together we have over 80 years collective history of campaigning and work on the environment – through this exciting partnership we will be able to shine a bigger spotlight on the issues we face and help our mutual supporters to take action.”

Friends of the Earth has recently had significant increases in support for its major campaigns, including persuading large retailers to remove pesticides linked to bee decline from their shelves; and growing support from MPs across the parties in favour of a decarbonisation target in the forthcoming energy bill.

Resurgence & Ecologist editor-in-chief, Satish Kumar, who this year celebrates 40 years of editing the publication, said:

“Friends of the Earth and Resurgence & Ecologist share a common vision. We humans are not the rulers of the Earth, not even its guardians or its stewards. We are all friends of the Earth. Friendship with the Earth implies a deep respect and this is something that is also central to The Resurgence Trust, which has published Resurgence & Ecologist magazine for over 45 years.

“Both our organisations share a common value and are natural partners. Informally we have worked together for many decades. I am delighted that we have agreed to work together in a more focused way and are forming a proper partnership."

The Resurgence Trust is an environmental charity which last year merged with the Ecologist. It publishes Resurgence & Ecologist magazine six times a year. It holds an annual festival of Wellbeing, which this year will take place on 12 October at the Bishopsgate Institute - speakers will include Rowan Williams and Ruth Padel. The Resurgence Trust has been instrumental in the creation of Schumacher College as well as Green Books.

Both organisations share similar values, which put people at the heart of solutions to protect the environment.  Consequently both organisations’ brands have been recently refreshed to reflect how the wellbeing of people and the planet go hand in hand.

ENDS

Notes to editor:

1. For more than 40 years we’ve seen that the wellbeing of people and planet go hand in hand – and it’s been the inspiration for our campaigns. Together with thousands of people like you we’ve secured safer food and water, defended wildlife and natural habitats, championed the move to clean energy and acted to keep our climate stable. Be a Friend of the Earth – see things differently. For further information visit www.foe.co.uk.

2. For further information about Resurgence and the Ecologist visit www.resurgence.org or www.theecologist.org.

3. Resurgence and the Ecologist are published by The Resurgence Trust (no.1120414) an educational charity registered at Ford House, Hartland, Bideford, Devon, EX39 6EE, UK.