Contact Your Representatives

Introduction

Contacting your local representative is just as important as voting, (if not more so[fact check this part]). Most representatives are voted for every few years, but don't always have time to fully learn about all the issues that effect their constituents. This is why community involvement should also include reaching out to representatives who may not understand how badly current systems, laws, etc. negatively impact people in the communities they serve.

Contacting the Right Person for the Right Job

Nothing is more frustrating than writing a letter or email, or making a phone call only to realize you've invested your time and energy in talking to the wrong person. Before contacting your rep, it's always a good idea to double check if they actually have influence over the your topic of concern. In some cases you need to find a person at the right level of government, other times you are looking for a company or person who is in charge specific utilities, districts, a local council or other position of power.


Passing a Law?  


If a law is going into effect, it is important to contact the people who will be voting on it, otherwise your message is probably a waste of time.


Community Issues? State/County/Parish/Panchayat, etc. Level


If your roads need mending, learn who maintains your roads. If you need help with a community specific issue, then check for local contact information. Many areas have hotlines for public works and maintenance. If these are not enough to fix your problem, then your local council or mayor may be the one to contact.


Water/Utilities


If you live in India, contact your local panchayat. In some countries water utilities may be run by the government or private companies. If a company refuses to do something or respond, then going up the chain to government, or contacting the news may be a good next step. To combat light pollution, you may want to focus on your local power utility provider or your local community council board.

Communication Tips for Success

Important Things to Keep in Mind

Being a clear communicator is key to being effective, yet many of us struggle.  We may be misunderstood, or feel ignored. Here are some resources that can help us better communicate about environmental and social issues in general.  Both science and the experiences of many accomplished outreach groups show us that it is possible to get past common hurdles, build mutually beneficial relationships with those who run our countries, communities, businesses, and schools. By working together instead of behaving like oppositional teams, we can help encourage future cooperation based on mutual trust and respect.


To understand the specific challenges that public servants face can also help us help them. As the Stanford Social Innovation Review explains, "It’s easy to forget that a lot of policy decisions aren’t made by the politicians we see in the press every day. Often the real power to implement new ideas lies below the radar—with purpose-driven, career civil servants. These policymakers’ face many political, practical, and psychological constraints, but foundations, nonprofits, and others working in the social sector nevertheless have the opportunity to educate them about new ideas and influence their decision-making."


Before making contact, take some time to research the issue at hand, understand what the local situation is.


Take some time to write down what you have learned, make it as short and factual as you can. The shorter, and more impactful you can make your message, the more likely your recipient will read the whole thing plus actually retain the information. The following resources contain tips and ideas for effective and healthy communication.


Resources



Phone Calls

Some offices won't even let you leave a message if you are being verbally abusive or swearing. Respect the person taking your call as a human doing their job. Secretaries and assistants do not deserve to be bombarded with toxic calls all day.


Written

Every language has different written rules and customs, so it is a good idea to become acquainted with these before composting a message.


In the Politician Finder section, the United States Senate: Contacting U.S. Senators gives a good example of the standard expected for mailed letters, such as formatting examples for the front of the envelope, and a reminder to include a return name and address so that if your letter gets lost, it can be sent back to you (this is very useful, because then you know you need to pay for more postage, fix the address spelling, or other often simple solutions to resend) and the recipient can reply to you or confirm that you are a member of their district. If you live outside the United states it is important to remember that a different format, zip-code system, or other details may be different.


We will try to include examples and links to as many examples as we can provide. If you have any to add, please let us know! Some examples may be listed on your country or region's page as we gather resources for more places.


Contact Your U.S. Senators and Representatives 

To find and contact your U.S. Senator:

Visit the Senate website (www.senate.gov).

Conduct a search using the Find Your Senators pull-down menu in the upper right corner (select your state and click Go).

On the results page is a link to the Senators’ website, contact information, and links to an online contact form (forms vary by Senator).

To find and contact your U.S. Representative:

Visit the House of Representatives website (www.house.gov).

Conduct a search using the Find Your Representative zip code search box in the upper right corner (enter your zip code and click Go).

On the results page is a photo of your Representative(s), links to the Representative’s personal website and online contact form, and a local map.

In the event your zip code overlaps with multiple congressional districts, the results page will include boxes for you to enter your zip code+4 or mailing address to find the correct Representative.

Would you rather get in touch with members of Congress using social media?

Using the steps above, navigate to the Congress members’ personal website to find links to their social media accounts, usually indicated by the icon of the social media platform and often located in the upper or lower left or right corners of the website homepage.

CSPAN also maintains a list of members of Congress here: https://twitter.com/cspan/lists/members-of-congress/members?lang=en.

Representative Finders & Related Tools

Africa 

The Gambia

Ghana

Liberia

Nigeria 

Sierra Leone 

South Africa

South Sudan 

Sudan

Asia

Andaman & Nicobar Islands

China 中国 

China is the world's greatest producer of CO2 with more than 10,065 million tons of CO2 released as of 2018. That is around 30% of humanity's emissions.  - https://climatetrade.com/which-countries-are-the-worlds-biggest-carbon-polluters/

Hong Kong 香港

India 

India is the world's 3rd worst polluter, with 2,654 million tons of CO2 - https://climatetrade.com/which-countries-are-the-worlds-biggest-carbon-polluters/


Indonesia 

Indonesia is the world's 10th worst polluter at 615 million tons of CO2 - https://climatetrade.com/which-countries-are-the-worlds-biggest-carbon-polluters/


Iran 

Is the world's 7th worst polluter of CO2, at 720 million tons. - https://climatetrade.com/which-countries-are-the-worlds-biggest-carbon-polluters/


Japan

Japan is the world's 5th greatest producer of CO2 at 1,162 million tons. - https://climatetrade.com/which-countries-are-the-worlds-biggest-carbon-polluters/


Myanmar 


Pakistan 


The Philippines 


Russia

Russia is the world's 4th largest emitter of CO2, at 1,711 million tons. - https://climatetrade.com/which-countries-are-the-worlds-biggest-carbon-polluters/


Saudi Arabia 

The world's 9th worst emitter of CO2, at 621 million tons. - https://climatetrade.com/which-countries-are-the-worlds-biggest-carbon-polluters/

Oceana

Australia

Tasmania

Fiji 


New Zealand


Papau New Guinea


Vanuatu

Europe

UK

Wales

North America

The Bahamas


Belize


Canada


Cayman Islands


Jamaica

Trinidad and Tobago


Turks and Ciacos Islands

USA


Options for Contacting Senators

Addresses for each senator can be found on the senator's website or state's web page

The following standard address can be also be used:

The Honorable (Name)

United States Senate

Washington, D.C. 20510

For correspondence to a Senate committee or to a Senate committee chair:

(Name of Committee)

United States Senate

Washington, D.C. 20510

Please include your return postal mailing address when corresponding with a Senate office.

Phone numbers are available on each state's page or on your senator's website

Senators Suite & Telephone List (PDF)

A U.S. Capitol Switchboard operator can also connect you directly with the Senate office. (202) 224-3121"


Bill Search on Congress.gov, Appropriations, Budget Process, and Statistics.

The website also has a How to... page with the following advice and topics:

"Many congressional and government documents are available on the web. Your local library is also an excellent place to find information. The following guides explain how to find materials related to legislative process and the Senate. You may also wish to contact your senator's office if you have additional questions.


New York

Puerto Rico

South America

Falkland Islands


Guyana

Advocacy Groups

Australia


North America

Canada


USA


Maps

International

Funding & Grants

Europe

UK