Founder of Friends of the Earth dies

David Brower founded Friends of the Earth in the United States in 1969 after becoming frustrated at the conservative orthodoxy of mainstream nature conservation. Friends of the Earth combined nature conservation with a new and radical approach to protecting the planet. David Brower coined the phrase “think globally, act locally”, as the founding motto for Friends of the Earth. He set up FoE to work on solutions to environmental problems and encourage people to become involved through local group networks.

Today Friends of the Earth is the largest environmental organisation in the world with groups in 68 countries . Friends of the Earth, which was established in the UK in 1971, now has 216 local groups in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. A separate FOE Scotland, set up in 1978, has 10 local groups.
Charles Secrett, Director of Friends of the Earth, said:
“We mourn David Brower's death, while we celebrate his life. He founded Friends of the Earth on the slogan think globally, act locally, and that philosophy is central to all the work we do today. He was a truly visionary man whose radical agenda has now become the mainstream. David's death is a huge loss to the environment movement worldwide.But the legacy he leaves is a network of campaigning groups across the world that continues to fight for both people and the planet.”