Creative Writing with a
Global Perspective
Rainforest Foundation US
Writer & Editor
Yes to Yasuní: Democracy Survives
Latest Threat in Ecuador
By Cullen Heater
On August 20, the people of Ecuador made history by voting to protect Yasuní National Park from further oil drilling.
Less than two weeks after the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, Ecuador demonstrated the power of direct democracy. Despite the increased risk of political violence, 75% of the electorate turned out to make their voices heard.
About six in 10 voters said yes to the Yasuní referendum and voted to leave nearly 726 million barrels of crude oil in the ground.
When ordinary people have the strength and the courage to make their voices heard, they can enact real change on seemingly intractable issues.
Through direct democracy, the people of Ecuador have been able to take on the power of big oil, and secure an astonishing victory for the future of the Amazon.
Read the full blogpost at RainforestFoundation.org
RFUS Quarterly Newsletter
By Cullen Heater
As summer heats up, we are experiencing the undeniable effects of the climate crisis. The southern US is trapped in a record-breaking heatwave, and our offices in Brooklyn were shrouded for weeks in smoke from the Canadian wildfires. Many of us in North America felt these effects acutely, because they directly impacted us. But this is only a small taste of what our partners in South America have to live with—every year.
Read the full newsletter at RainforestFoundation.org
"The process of securing land titles ranges from slow and bureaucratic to extremely dangerous. According to de Vasquez, “There are Indigenous leaders who have demanded legal recognition of their territories, and the only response has been murder—more than 30 Indigenous leaders murdered just for seeking the titling of their territories and the recognition of their ancestral lands.
Land titles have proven to be the most effective way to protect Indigenous land from deforestation, with titled land experiencing a 66% decrease in deforestation. Legal land ownership allows Indigenous communities to hold illegal loggers and land-grabbers accountable. Additionally, these titled lands act as a buffer zone, protecting adjacent Indigenous territories from invasion."
Read the full blogpost at RainforestFoundation.org
"Restoring the territorial integrity of Indigenous communities is not only an ethical imperative, but also the most effective solution to the climate and biodiversity crises. Indigenous peoples are our best hope for the conservation of the Amazon rainforest.
Our shared future depends on the health of the Amazon, the world’s largest tropical forest and one of the major contributors to the climate’s maintenance. As the primary and best guardians of the Amazon rainforest, Indigenous peoples and their lands play a crucial role in mitigating climate change..."
Read the full blogpost at RainforestFoundation.org
Fundraising Campaigns, Communications, and
Content Marketing Strategy for Non-Profits
Native Future:
Results:
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Total of $68,107.98 raised in first year.
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$18,251.73 raised during Spring Fundraiser.
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$49,856.25 raised during Year-End Fundraiser.
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1000% increase in Linkedin following, +450 organic followers in 12 months.
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1500% increase in Instagram following, +700 organic followers in 12 months.
Spring Fundraising Campaign: "Stop the Invasion of Wounaan Lands."
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Co-ordinated Social Media and Content Marketing Strategy.
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5-month Spring Fundraiser (April to August 2022).
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Article published in Yale Environment 360 online magazine (see below).
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3 Blogposts, 24 Social Media Posts (Instagram/FB), 14 Linkedin Posts, 6 email marketing blasts (Mailchimp), 6-page newsletter
Year-End Fundraising Campaign: "Support Indigenous Conservation."
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Social Media and Fundraising Strategy.
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5-week Year-End Fundraiser (November 29th to January 3rd).
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10 Blogposts, 12 Social Media Posts (Instagram/FB), 12 Linkedin Posts, 3 email marketing blasts (Mailchimp), 6-page newsletter.
Article Published at Yale Environment 360:
Panama's Indigenous Groups Wage
High-Tech Fight for Their Lands
By Jim O'Donnell and Cullen Heater
With help from U.S. organizations, Panama’s Indigenous people are using satellite images and other technologies to identify illegal logging and incursions by ranchers on their territory. But spotting the violations is the easy part — getting the government to act is far harder.
Social Media:
Check out my work on Native Future's Instagram
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Check out my work on Native Future's Linkedin
WEFTA: Water Engineers for the Americas & Africa
Fundraising Campaign: "What would your life be like without water?"
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3-month Social Media Consultation (July-September 2021).
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24 social media posts with captions submitted for campaign managed by WEFTA social media manager.
Social Media Consultation:
🚰You turn on the tap and the water flows... Ah... Safe, refreshing, clean water.💧
You don't question where it comes from, or how. You may not even think about it at all.
But what if it stopped? What if it weren't safe to drink?
What if your only water source were over 3 miles away?
What would your life be like without water?
Nearly 800 million people throughout the world lack access to safe drinking water.
Help us bring clean water to the world.
Visit wefta.net and consider a donation today.