Green Eco Services

Return To Offender- Get Rid Of Junk Mail

Welcome back!

I am a little late with this, but not to worry, you can do this anytime, in fact I highly recommend it.

From Forest Ethics:

Well, it’s time to take a stand against the waste and annoyance of the junk mail industry. That’s right, the Return to Offender Day of Action is here!

Today, take that junk mail you’ve been collecting, write RETURN TO OFFENDER in bold letters on a postage-paid return envelope from one of our biggest offenders–Capital One, Bank of America, or American Express–and drop that junk back into the mail.

Want to share your action and find out what other folks are doing? Tell us about your action and upload a photo. Be sure and check back later to see what other supporters are up to.

By joining this day of action, you are strengthening the campaign to stop junk mail and protect Endangered Forests. In the coming months, we’ll be meeting directly with these biggest junk mail offenders. Keeping the pressure on Capital One, Bank of America, and American Express is an integral part of the strategy to shift the industry towards something greener and less annoying than junk mail.

Thank you for taking part. Together, we’ll make sure these companies get the message loud and clear.

Do Not Mail supporters across the country are sending junk mail back to the most annoying offenders–Capital One, Bank of America, and American Express. Will you join the Return to Offender Day of Action?

Just stuff your junk mail into a postage-paid envelope from the worst offenders, write “Return to Offender” on the envelope, and mail it back.

Then, tell us about your action!

How To Get Rid of Sears Catalogues

From Forest Ethics and this is very easy to do- follow the clicks and it’s easy to email your protest!

When Sears started their catalog twelve decades ago, they pioneered the practices that have left us overwhelmed by junk mail. Now, Sears sends over 425 million catalogs a year (including 270 million Lands’ End catalogs). That’s enough paper to completely wrap the Sears Tower six times a day, every day, for an entire year.

And all of that paper has a high price. These catalogs are printed with almost no post-consumer recycled content. While Sears has talked about adopting a new paper policy, they have been stalling for over two years– refusing to make any real commitment to protect the Endangered Forests that are cut down to create their catalogs. This puts animals, plants, and the people who depend on these forests at risk.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Will you tell Sears that if they’re going to send you catalogs, at the very least they must follow the environmentally responisible footsteps of companies like Victoria’s Secret and Crate & Barrel?

Send your message to Sears CEO Edward Lampert, now.

To reduce their impact on Endangered Forests, Sears/Lands’ End must:

• stop purchasing paper that come from Endangered Forests,
• stop sourcing from off-limits threatened caribou range,
• maximize the post-consumer recycled paper in catalogs and junk mail,
• ensure that all remaining virgin fiber has Forest Stewardship Council certification, and
• implement strategies to reduce paper use, overall.

It’s time for Sears to adopt a strong paper policy that protects forests, reduces paper use, and respects our mailboxes!

Opting Out of Stuff- Junk Mail and Catalogues

Photo:onlygreengear.com

The hardest part about opting out of stuff, junk mail, catalogues, is taking the time to do it.

• Keep your junk mail for 1 month (gather names)
• Return to sender as much as possible on envelopes.
• Take an agency-direct mail solicitor a day and either call or send a letter.
• Call your credit card companies and ask to be taken off their list.

Who to call or Write

Request to have your name removed 888.5opt-out (888.567.8688

DMA- Direct Marketing Association- offers the DMA Choice is an online tool to help you manage your Mail.

Privacy Rights -

Opt Out- links to opt out forms for banks, direct mail and telephone solicitors

Opt Out Prescreen- Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Consumer Credit Reporting Companies are permitted to include your name on lists used by creditors or insurers to make firm offers of credit or insurance that are not initiated by you (”Firm Offers”). The FCRA also provides you the right to “Opt-Out”, which prevents Consumer Credit Reporting Companies from providing your credit file information for Firm Offers.

Through this website, you may request to:

• Opt-Out from receiving Firm Offers for Five Years – (electronically through this website).
• Opt-Out from receiving Firm Offers permanently – (mail Permanent Opt-Out Election form available through this website).
• Opt-In and be eligible to receive Firm Offers. This option is for consumers who have previously completed an Opt-Out request – (electronically through this website).

Costa Rica Eco-Tourism

Forest Ethics- Training Camp- Sign Up

Press Release- Our annual summer leadership summit is just around the corner! Every year we bring our most committed grassroots activists together for three days to build skills, strategize, and get to know each other. This year, we’re partnering with Greenpeace for our most exciting training camp yet!

Apply online to attend the Activist Training Camp, 
August 13-17 just outside of Chicago, Illinois.

Experienced environmental campaigners from Greenpeace and ForestEthics have created a comprehensive agenda to prepare our grassroots leaders (that’s you!) to hit the ground running for the next year of campaigning. We’re gearing up for major victories at a pivotal point in history: our political atmosphere has shifted, the climate is heating up, and campaigns to protect Endangered Forests need strong leadership now more than ever before.

Who should apply: 
New volunteers who are interested in joining ForestEthics’ dedicated activist core.

Interested? 
Apply online now, and look for my follow-up email in the coming weeks.

Cost:
This training is FREE. We’ll even cover your meals! All you’re responsible for is your travel expenses to and from the training. For folks who need a little extra help, we have travel scholarships available. Just be sure to note any financial needs when you apply.

Deadline to apply: 
Monday, May 25

I look forward to this summit all year–it’s a powerful way to connect with activists across the country who are running campaigns and organizing in their communities. I can’t wait to see you at the 2009 Activist Training Camp!

For the forests,
Linda

Linda Wells
Organizing Manager
ForestEthics

P.S., Apply online for the 2009 Activist Training Camp now!

iPhone App offers Discount- Coupon Sherpa

Now you don’t have a reason to not get rid of your junk mail. Coupon shoppers now have a way to get their discounts without using a piece of paper.

Introducing Coupon Sherpa- allows shopper s to access in store coupons on their iPhone or iPod Touch. All you have to do is show the coupon to the store clerk and

I just Gotta Tell Ya

• Advertisements create 51.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gases each year.” That’s equivalent to the emissions generated by heating about 13 million homes or mowing more than 20 billion lawns.
• About 28 billion gallons of water are wasted to produce and recycle junk each year.
• You waste about 70 hours a year dealing with junk mail.
• The average adult receives 41 pounds of junk mail each year. 44% goes to the landfill unopened.
• $320 million of local taxes are used to dispose of junk mail each year.

ATT- Kills Trees with Stupid Junk Mail

I received this email from Elizabeth about ATT. It’s a good question- I receive at least 1 junk mail from ATT a week, although they never come to my house. 

‘Hi, I would like some advice on how to attack a problem in getting junk mail from AT&T regarding U-verse.  I receive weekly items from them, each time in a different format/envelope, each extolling the virtues of U-verse.  Fine & dandy but I’m not getting the service now.  If they do this to everyone they’re wasting an amazing amount of paper/trees.  They come to my door every other week and i mention this to them and one even said, ‘yes, folks joke that we just kill trees’.  I am not a tree-hugger, per se, but this bothers me as I do try to do my best to recycle and reuse things.  Who could I contact that may assist me, is there a green organization or group of some sort, with enough pull to make a difference?  or must i just toss it all in the recycle bin and forget about it.’

In solving Elizabeths (and my problem) I went to the ATT U-verse website privacy policy . 

To Opt Out: From ATT WebSite:  

• Contact Information to address concerns- clicked on contact us- NO PHONE NUMBER. -but buried in text is a list of phone numbers -Contact
• Email-Please e-mail us at privacypolicy@ATT.com or write to AT&T Privacy Policy Manager, 208 South Akard, 27th Floor, Room 2750.04, Dallas, TX 75202 to address any concerns you may have about our privacy practices and policies.
• If you have questions or concerns regarding this policy, you should first contact us via e-mail atprivacypolicy@att.com. If you do not receive acknowledgment of your inquiry or your inquiry is not satisfactorily addressed, you should then contact TRUSTe through the TRUSTe Watchdog Dispute Resolution Process and TRUSTe will serve as a liaison to resolve your concerns. You may also contact BBBOnLine at www.bbbonLine.org.

Not quite good enough- to get rid of ATT Junk Mail and people coming to your house! 

• If you are in California- Here is the Attorney General Complaint form 
• For A List of Companies and ways to deal with Junk Mail – Go to the Junk Mail Category 

Or My suggestion- use Viral Media- send this post on to your friends who uses ATT- have them deluge the ATT privacy policy@ATT.com with complaints. Digg or Tweet this post and hopefully millions will see it! 

Other Resources  

• Privacy Rights

San Francisco Passes Do Not Mail Resolution!

Just received this update from Forest Ethics - San Francisco Passes Do Not Mail! 

Yesterday, San Francisco made history by becoming the first city in the country to officially support a national solution to junk mail: the Do Not Mail Registry. Is your city next?

Well, that’s up to you! Passing a Do Not Mail Resolution in your city is an important next step towards ending the waste and destruction of the junk mail industry. That’s why we’re offering a free call-in training on how you can pass a Do Not Mail Resolution where you live.

Do you want to stop junk mail in your town?

Sign up for a free call-in training.

On the training call, we will cover:

• an inside look at how we passed the San Francisco resolution,
• the ins and outs of how to craft a municipal Do Not Mail Resolution,
• a step-by-step guide to organizing support in your community, and,
• how to work with your local representatives. 

Junk mail proponents have been raising money, training their volunteers, and lobbying our representatives for six years–ever since Congress passed the Do Not Call Registry. This is the first time we’ve been able to break through their money and lobbying power. Together, we’re creating a powerful movement to make our world a better, less wasteful place. 

News From Green Dimes

Green Dimes- New Name 

Greetings from GreenDimes, where this month we unveil a new name…

“GreenDimes by Tonic” is becoming Tonic MailStopper

Today, we are officially changing the name of GreenDimes to Tonic MailStopper. Nothing else about your service has changed – same company, same service- just under the MailStopper name. When you go to greendimes.com, you’ll be redirected to mailstopper.tonic.com – and other than a new logo, you’ll hardly notice the difference. 

Why the change? Tonic (which began as GreenDimes back in 2006) just re-launched a new and improved online experience– and with a whole new universe of Tonic users who don’t know who GreenDimes is, we’re changing the name to make it clear what we do, and to highlight that we’re part of the same company. (You have to dig way back in GreenDimes history to know that the “dimes” came from our original pricing plan, which was a dime a day; we wanted a name that more readily communicated what the service delivers.) MailStopper is part of Tonic’s vision of enabling effortless activism: by providing content that inspires, products that support worthy causes, and services that make it easy to do good in the world. 

Fundraising pilot: what a response!

We were blown away by the response from so may of you to the fundraising pilot invitation we sent out with last month’s newsletter. More than 300 of you responded, and the refrain was loud and clear: you want to support your schools and other non-profit organizations with something more inspiring than wrapping paper and cookie dough. And MailStopper gift cards fit the bill, especially with Earth Day around the corner. 

We’ve got a few dozen schools and other organizations already committed to the pilot, and we’re hearing about some really great ways that schools are combining the fundraiser itself with educational programming wrapped around it (no wrapping paper pun intended.) 

We are so excited about this opportunity that we’ve decided to expand the pilot, which will run during the months of April and May. Interested? .

This month’s newsletter is brief, as we’ve got a lot going on – but stay tuned for next month’s edition, which will be full of tips, updates, and information for all of you. And if we can help, as always, drop us a line at our new email address:. Our old email address will still work, too. 

Fighting the good fight,

The Tonic MailStopper (formerly GreenDimes) Team 

Postal Works Mail is Junk

I don’t send out Holiday Cards anymore, and looking at my e-cards- it is certainly on the uprise! Then you read articles like the below from Newsweek- that writes about the postal office continuing to lose money. So how can the post office make money and trim costs? I had to check out what Postal Workers make first- to see if cutting salaries is a viable option. Based upon the below, doesn’t look good, although the benefit package of civil workers is phenomenal and worth thousands~ 

From Wiki How-Although current 2007 updated salary ranges of USPS carriers have not been released by the USPS the below figures from 2004 will give you a rough idea of the type of salary a carrier earns. Median annual earnings of Postal Service mail carriers were $44,450 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $37,590 and $50,580. The lowest 10 percent had earnings of less than $31,980, while the top 10 percent earned more than $54,240. Rural mail carriers are reimbursed for mileage put on their own vehicles while delivering mail. Median annual earnings of Postal Service clerks were $40,950 in 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $37,880 and $44,030. The lowest 10 percent had earnings of less than $36,040, while the top 10 percent earned more than $50,510. Median annual earnings of Postal Service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators were $39,430 in 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $36,240 and $42,620. The lowest 10 percent had earnings of less than $24,290, while the top 10 percent earned more than $44,540. Postal Service workers enjoy a variety of employer-provided benefits similar to those enjoyed by Federal Government workers. The American Postal Workers Union, the National Association of Letter Carriers, the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, and the National Rural Letter Carriers Association together represent most of these workers. 

From -Newsweek-

“These are tough times for the U.S. Postal Service. It’s being pummeled by high fuel costs. The soft economy is crimping the overall volume of mail, which fell 5.5 percent in the past year. Its business is also falling as Americans opt for e-mail over birthday cards and thank-you notes. Now comes another threat: consumers like Colleen Plimpton of Bethel, Conn. Earlier this year Plimpton became tired of the credit-card offers, catalogs and advertising fliers that clogged her mailbox. So in February she paid $20 to GreenDimes, a firm that helps consumers reduce their inflow of “junk mail” by contacting businesses on their behalf. “[Junk mailers] are cutting down trees willy-nilly, and that has got to stop,” says Plimpton.

To the post office, consumers like her are a serious threat. “Efforts to convince people not to receive mail are really going to hurt,” says Steve Kearney, a Postal Service senior vice president.

The Postal Service lost $1.1 billion in its latest quarter. That number would be even larger if it weren’t for direct mailings, which now constitute 52 percent of mail volume, up from 38 percent in 1990. Revenue from direct mail “is the financial underpinning of the Postal Service—it could not survive without it,” says Michael Coughlin, former deputy postmaster.

Both the Postal Service and the Direct Marketing Association say direct mail is a key source of customers for small businesses. “Advertising mail is a very valuable product to many consumers,” says Sam Pulcrano, Postal Service vice president for sustainability, who points to two-for-one pizza coupons as especially welcome surprises. To blunt opposition, the DMA recently launched the Mail Moves America coalition to lobby against the restrictions.

GreenDimes founder Pankaj Shah isn’t sympathetic. Not only is his company providing a service to consumers, he says, but it has also used its fees to plant more than 1 million trees. “We’re all about giving consumers choice, not about bringing down the post office,” he says. Still, as more consumers opt out of junk mail, rain, sleet and gloom of night may seem like the least of mail carriers’ problems.”

So what do we do to keep a valuable organization in place? Many people including older folks don’t have access to the Internet, they enjoy sending cards and gifts by mail. They pay and receive checks by mail. I know of one lady, who enjoys her trip to the post office. So what is the solution? Postal workers, good or bad do serve a much needed service, yet we the taxpayer continue to pay for the deficient- and that I don’t want! 

Resources 

Postal Blog 

Forest Ethics- Naughty and Nice Report

I  just grabbed a copy of the new Naughty/Nice Report on the environmental practices of the junk mail industry produced by ForestEthics, and I hope you’ll check it out, too. The report covers which companies have been protecting Endangered Forests, have been using recycled content, have used sustainable sourcing, and have reduced their paper use.

When you make your shopping list list year, keep in mind who’s naughty or nice: http://www.donotmail.org/scorecard08

Forest Ethics Report