Friends of the Earth Birmingham Action Briefing Oct 98/Nov 98

Membership

What does membership mean to groups like ours?

Firstly, there is a financial dependence on funds raised through membership fees. At both local and national levels, members are essential to safeguard the future of Friends of the Earth financially. Secondly, and more importantly, is the fact that more members gives FOE more political strength when taking on local, regional and national government. With no real political opposition to 'our' government, pressure groups, like Friends of the Earth, are more important now than they ever were. We need to show not only government, but industry too, that our campaigns for better policies to protect the environment are backed by thousands of concerned individuals.

To maximise membership at both local and national levels, any new members to Birmingham Friends of the Earth will have the opportunity to join national FOE free for one year. Existing members will be offered the same on renewal of your membership. This will get you 4 issues of the award-winning magazine, Earth Matters, which is essential reading for anyone interested in green issues.

This provides the opportunity for you to be kept informed as to what is happening at a national level, as well as your local membership, which means you can take advantage of the 10% membership discount on services we provide at the Warehouse, including hemp products (plug) and the Warehouse Cafe. To the more cynical amongst you, this may seem that we are getting more and more 'commercial', but the simple fact is we need your support to continue our campaigns, and we are able to provide you with these services and environmental products in such a way as not to hinder the running of the campaigns.

Andy O'Callaghan