In January 2008, following a three-year campaign spearheaded by NRDC with Overbrook's support, the New York City Council overwhelmingly passed the nation's first municipal comprehensive electronic waste (commonly referred to as "e-waste") recycling law. The measure is based on the producer responsibility model, which requires that manufacturers of electronics take back their products - many of which contain such toxic materials as lead, mercury and cadmium - for recycling at the end of their useful lives. The enactment of this law means that New York City's e-waste will now be recycled rather than being disposed of in landfills or burned in incinerators, from which its toxic components can pose public health and environmental risks.

Two years ago, on January 12, 2006, the Carbon Coalition brought 45 people representing business, conservation, science, and energy interests, as well as federal and state policy-makers, together to map out a two-year public education and civic engagement effort on global warming leading up to the NH Presidential Primary. In the years that followed, political experts and pundits continued to insist that global warming was not an important issue for politicians to address with their constituents. Carbon Coalition members – from conservation groups to chambers of commerce – continued to work hard to connect hundreds of citizens with the candidates in every corner of the Granite State to discuss, from different points of view, concerns over global warming impacts and support for responsible solutions.

For years, ForestEthics has fought to protect Canada's Boreal Forest, and they are now taking on one of the greatest challenges yet - oil development in Alberta's Tar Sands. In what is believed to be the most environmentally destructive petroleum project of all time, Tar Sands oil production generates almost three times as much greenhouse gas as conventional oil production. In addition, the project's planned expansion would create a clear-cut the size of Florida. ForestEthics joined allies in Washington, D.C. and Vancouver for major protests in January that criticized Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach for promoting his province's "dirty oil."

Voter Action is gearing up for their Watch the Vote program in the Pennsylvania Primary Election. They are working to identify counties for targeted oversight efforts; partner with national and state-based civil and voting rights organizations which have an existing network of volunteers in these counties; enhance their problem reporting system; and develop and distribute tip sheets based on specific state election code and county election practices. Their activities will help inform voters and observers of their rights if voting machines should fail or if they are denied access to vote due to malfunctions with electronic poll books or voter databases.

Minnesota RCRC Executive Director Kiely Todd Roska recalls her "breakthrough moment." At the end of a workshop, a minister stood up and said, 'I believe that abortion is wrong, but after today, I think that we need to work together to prevent abortions from happening - by supporting birth control access and education - rather than just talking about how abortion is bad and banning it.' I realized that the Religious Coalition can be a real catalyst in broadening the dialogue about reproductive choice. We define reproductive choice in the broadest possible sense, believing that it encompasses the many choices that people make about how and whether to become parents. We faithfully support comprehensive sexuality education, family planning, contraception, and other reproductive health services, as well as maintaining that abortion can be a morally responsible choice.

Pulling into Lake Andes, South Dakota to begin a RRASC internship, an intern realized exactly what "small town" means. The area of Lake Andes is less than one square mile - so small that there is not a single traffic light near the town. The "business district" consists mostly of empty storefronts converted into homes, a grocery store, a gas station and a pharmacy. About a half mile down the main highway is the tribal housing of the Yankton Sioux (Ihanktonwan Oyate in the Dakota language) reservation - a few streets of trailer shaped houses that are either boarded up or in disrepair next to powwow grounds. The reservation itself is about 62 square miles (although the tribe is currently involved in defending its jurisdiction) and subject to extreme rural isolation.