MISSION: Southwest Research and Information Center is a multi-cultural organization working to promote the health of people and communities, protect natural resources, ensure citizen participation, and secure environmental and social justice now and for future generations

2008 Issues and Topics

Volume 9; Number 1 -- Educating Legislators in New Mexico and Beyond

Many public policy issues important to communities have – or should have – legislative aspects. Laws need to be made or revised to better reflect community interests and concerns. This issue of Voices from the Earth covers a gamut of issues and geographically diverse areas where legislative action was wanted and opposed by communities.

Volume 9; Number 2 -- People Helping People

Since 1971, Southwest Research and Information Center (SRIC) has been working with communities, from assisting them with reclamation of their lands, to helping them prevent unwanted industries coming into their communities. But an important part of those efforts is helping these communities learn to help themselves. From these efforts come new organizations. But to have even stronger results, these communities are now mobilizing into coalitions or collaboratives, working together to keep their people, and their environment, safe.

Volume 9; Number 3 -- Community Collaborations

Collaboration is the latest buzzword for what many in the environmental/social justice community have been doing for decades — working together toward a common goal. From a group of neighbors getting together to protect their street, to a group of organizations working together to clean up a community, each are an example of a collaboration. Organizations even collaborate together to push for funding to help their common goals. Collaborations make it clear that there is power in unity.