Headquartered in Washington DC, the New America Foundation brings promising new voices and new ideas to the fore of our nation's public discourse. Relying on a venture capital approach, the Foundation invests in outstanding individuals and policy ideas that transcend the conventional political spectrum. Through its Fellowship Program and Strategic Initiatives, New America sponsors a wide range of research,
published writing, conferences and events on the most important issues of our time.  Among the issues the Foundation addresses, which can be read and reviewed at the site, include Global Trade, Security, Education and the workings of the Democracy.  

The American Anthropological Association (AAA), the primary professional society of anthropologists in the United States since its founding in 1902, is the world's largest professional organization of individuals interested in anthropology.

The American Historical Association

The Aspen Institute was founded in 1950 as a global forum for leveraging the power of leaders to improve the human condition. Through its seminar and policy programs, the Institute fosters enlightened, morally responsible leadership and convenes leaders and policy makers to address the foremost challenges of the new century. The non-profit organization has offices in Aspen, Colorado; Chicago, Washington, D.C. and on the Wye River on Maryland's Eastern Shore among others in this country and overseas. 

Founded in December 1995 The H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment is a nonprofit institution dedicated to improving the scientific and economic foundation for environmental policy through multisectoral collaboration among industry, government, academia, and environmental organizations.

The Bill of Rights Institute; a non profit devoted to helping educators teach and students learn about the Bill and the principles upon which it is based.

The Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace within Stanford University is a public policy research center devoted to advanced study of politics, economics, and political economy—both domestic and foreign—as well as international affairs. Founded in 1919 by Herbert Hoover, the Institution originated as a specialized collection of documents on the causes and consequences of World War I. The collection grew rapidly and soon became one of the largest archives and most complete libraries in the world devoted to political, economic, and social change in the twentieth century. 

The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institute-a think tank-whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.

The Council on Foreign Relations is a nonpartisan membership organization, research center, and publisher dedicated to increasing America's understanding of the world and contributing ideas to U.S. foreign policy. The Council is the publisher of Foreign Affairs.

The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy's purposes of further knowledge and advising the federal government. The Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities.  

The Nobel Foundation  was established in 1900 based on the will of Alfred Nobel. The Foundation manages the assets made available through the will for the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature and Peace.  The site offers a grand tour of the men and women who have helped to mold who we are, how and what we think and more the way we live our lives. 

Union of Concerned Scientists from Cambridge, MA is an independent nonprofit alliance of 50,000 concerned citizens and scientists across the country. The Union proves rigorous scientific analysis on major issues relating to government, health and the environment. 

The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research is dedicated to preserving and strengthening the foundations of freedom—limited government, private enterprise, vital cultural and political institutions, and a strong foreign policy and national defense—through scholarly research, open debate, and publications. 

Confused about long distance phone rates?  Don't have the time, the knowledge or patience to figure out which phone service is best for you?   ABTolls.com™ to the rescue.   They offer rate comparisons, explanations of phone terminology, tips on dealing with providers and solid information on finding the best service to suit your communication needs.  Covering cellular, wireless, long distance and internet phone service for residential and business customers; the site is easy to navigate and has a robust search program for international, domestic and in state rates.

The Center for Consumer Research

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is dedicated to saving lives and reducing injuries by preventing traffic crashes. It is a not-for-profit, publicly-supported charitable educational and research organization.
Since 1947, the Foundation has funded over 90 research projects designed to discover the causes of traffic crashes. We have used this research to develop dozens of focused, high-impact educational materials for drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists and other road users.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is responsible for reducing deaths, injuries and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes. This is accomplished by setting and enforcing safety performance standards for motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment, and through grants to state and local governments to enable them to conduct effective local highway safety programs.

NHTSA investigates safety defects in motor vehicles, sets and enforces fuel economy standards, helps states and local communities reduce the threat of drunk drivers, promotes the use of safety belts, child safety seats and air bags, investigates odometer fraud, establishes and enforces vehicle anti-theft regulations and provides consumer information on motor vehicle safety topics.

FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives offers photographs, brief biographies and interesting personal tidbits about the people who've made this hit parade.  There is also information on reward money.

The Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC) is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C).  IFCC's mission is to address fraud committed over the Internet. For victims of Internet fraud, IFCC provides a convenient and easy-to-use reporting mechanism that alerts authorities of a suspected criminal or civil violation. For law enforcement and regulatory agencies at all levels, IFCC offers a central repository for complaints related to Internet fraud, works to quantify fraud patterns, and provides timely statistical data of current fraud trends.

National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C) provides a nationwide support network for enforcement agencies involved in the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of economic and high-tech crime.

Released on September 24, 2002 The State of the Nation’s Ecosystems initiates a series of reports on the lands, waters, and living resources of the United States.  Developed by the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment among many others, the report has been prepared for decision makers, opinion leaders, and informed citizens who seek an authoritative, comprehensive, and succinct overview of what the nation most needs to know about the changing state of its ecosystems.

The report has been prepared by experts from government, the private sector, environmental organizations, and academia through an intense five-year collaborative process. This involved hundreds of contributors and reviewers from all four sectors, publication of a prototype to solicit public commentary, and feedback on several drafts from a wide array of interested groups and experts.

The entire report is available at the web site or for downloading in PDF format

The National Interagency Fire Center coordinates the reporting data from seven federal agencies. They work together to exchange support, protection responsibilities, information, and training, providing an efficient method for protecting lives, property, and natural resources.  The site has regional data, including New England, and details the most endangered areas.

THE CLEAN AIR TRUST was incorporated in 1995 as a 501 (c)(4) nonprofit organization by former Senators Edmund Muskie of Maine and Robert Stafford of Vermont. The Trust was created to educate the public and policymakers about the value of the Clean Air Act, to promote effective enforcement of the Act through grassroots education, and to defend the Act against attack by special interest polluters.

U.S. Geological Survey

Forest Service manages 155 national forests and 20 grasslands under the budget of The Department of Agriculture.  Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont are the New England states with National Forests, playing a key role in the economic health and recreational opportunities of the entire region.   The Service oversees these lands and has an influence far beyond the immediate boundaries of the forests.  The site has up-to-date informaiton on all National Forest, current conditions and Fire Watches,  directives on use, proposed and actual budgets and scores of forestry  related links to governmental and non governmental sites.  (One we found of interest is the Mistletoe Center that has been a global mistletoe resource since 1997.)  While the Service is of great importance to New Englanders living near it forests and lands, the site will be useful for visitors to New England and anyone with an interest in the ecology of our region. 

Friends of the Earth, International  is based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands with 66 member groups, world-wide.  

American Friends of the Earth is headquartered in Washington, DC with a Northeast office for their The Legal Program staff in Burlington,
Vermont at 802-951-9094. 

The Natural Resources Defense Council uses law, science, and the support of more than 500,000 members nationwide to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things.

The State Of The Environment: Past, Present, Future? issued May 22, 2002 by the United Nations Environment Program.

International Whaling Commission

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Federal Communications Commission

GovBenefits was introduced on April 29 to help American find out what Government benefits they may be eligible to receive.  The tool is free and completely confidential. No name, phone number, Social Security number, or any other information is required.  Answer questions and the site returns a list of benefits you may be eligible to receive and how to apply. 

Treasury Department

Bureau of Public Debt Online 

General Accounting Office is the investigative arm of Congress.  They also offer an email subscription service.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 

Office of Independent Counsel 

National Park Service

United States Department of Agriculture

The Federal Trade Commission enforces a variety of federal antitrust and consumer protection laws. The Commission seeks to ensure that the nation's markets function competitively, and are vigorous, efficient, and free of undue restrictions. 

National Center for Education Statistics from the U.S. Dept. of Education tracks all data on students, schools and performance measures.

The Center for Public Integrity The mission of the Center for Public Integrity is to provide the American people with the findings of our investigations and analyses of public service, government accountability and ethics related issues.  The Center's books, studies and newsletters combine political science and investigative reporting, unfettered by the usual time and space constraints. Through its hard-earned reputation for "public service journalism," the Center aims to produce high-quality, well-documented, investigative research resulting in a better-informed citizenry that demands a higher level of accountability from its government and elected leaders. 

The Civil Rights Forum on Communications Policy works to bring civil rights organizations and community groups into the current debate over the future of our media environment. 
The twin goals of the Forum are to introduce civil rights principles and advocacy to the implementation of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, and to reframe the discussion over the role of media in our society around the needs of communities and the rights of citizens.

The Detroit Project is both an Internet site and an ad campaign( Jan 2003) operated by the California non profit, Americans for Fuel Efficient Cars.  Founded by syndicated columnist Arianna Huffington, movie producer Lawrence Bender, fundraiser and writer Laurie David and Ariel Emanuel of the talent agency Endeavor; they want Americans to dump your SUV.  They are blunt in suggesting that the gas purchased to run these popular but wasteful highway behemoths has helped to fund terrorists and increased this nation's dependence on the oil spigots of the Middle East.   The site includes candid arguments for their cause, press notes and ways to support their efforts.

Two aspects of this site include The Project for Excellence in Journalism and the Committee of Concerned Journalists.  The site and the related groups provide a forum to address important issues on the current state of American journalism its future.  While developed by an for professional journalists-content includes professional standards, ownership of media centers and the relationship of journalists with the public-there is also a wealth of information for non journalists on working with news organizations.  Importantly, they seeks to open up the news gathering process to the public with tips on writing press releases and having them actually read by editors and the best ways to have journalistic concerned aired at news centers.

Bill of Rights Defense Committee of Florence, Massachusetts is working nationwide to repeal parts of the USA PATRIOT Act, Homeland Security Act and Executive Orders that it believes can or are now infringing on Constitutional rights.  The committee is concentrating on local efforts to influence decision makers in Washington to protect individual rights and restore civil liberties.

TomPaine.com is a public interest journal inspired by the patriot Thomas Paine, author of Common Sense and The Rights of Man. Of humble origins and modest education, he became a writer of skill and passion to advance the cause of liberty and democracy against distant and unaccountable rulers. TomPaine.com seeks to enrich the national debate on controversial public issues by featuring the ideas, opinions, and analyses too often overlooked by the mainstream media. A project of The Florence Fund, a non-profit corporation based in Washington, D.C. 

Americans for victory over terrorism (AVOT) is a project of the conservative group Empower.org, William J. Bennett, chairman

American Family Voices was founded in Washington, DC in 2000 to be a strong voice for middle and low income families on economic, health care, and consumer issues. Funded by individual members and small businesses, they work with and for organizational members, consumer groups, civil rights groups, and labor unions.

We discovered Talking Points Memo after reading the New York Times and we're glade we did.  Run by Washington, DC writer Joshua Micah Marshall, the site is decidedly political; offering book reviews, recent quotations from the great and near-great and a wonderful collection of contemporary government documents.   

The most recent memo (as of August 2002) unearth by Marshall is one dated in July from an official at the Department of Veterans Affairs.  It instructs local VA offices NOT to recruiter new patients for VA medical services or to market the VA among eligible veterans who are not already in the VA's system.   Sighting a backlog of patients already, the memo makes it clear that the VA has no desire to provide medical services to new patients by proactively seeking veterans in need of care.

Marshall is a former editor of the American Prospect, his work has appeared in many of the nation's leading journals and newspapers.  He does have a New England connection.  He is currently finishing his doctoral dissertation in Colonial American history at Brown University. 

On May 30, 2002 the Millennial Housing Commission issued a report to Congress outlining some of America's housing problems; 28 million Americans spend more than 30% of income on often substandard housing, the stock of affordable housing is declining.  Among the commission's recommendations are calls for sweeping changes to tax systems, making it easier to preserve older buildings, streamlining federal and state programs and agencies and increased funding for rural housing.  Important reading for all Americans, especially here in New England.

The Partnership for Trust in Government seeks to help Americans recognize government’s role in their lives, distinguish between its failures and successes, and become informed players in making it work better.  It brings objective, useful information and messages about government and the people who work in government to draws public attention to government programs that work and to public servants who are
getting the results Americans want. 

Mothers Against Drunk Driving is a on-profit grass roots organization with more than 600 chapters that seeks solutions to the drunk driving and underage drinking.  The site includes the latest statistics on alcohol related problems, news and links to local MADD chapters.

Terrorism: Questions and Answers from the Council on Foreign Relations with daily updates on the latest news and global events.

American School Food Service Association, is one of the sponsors of the yearly National School Lunch Week. The site and organization promotes health

Anti-Defamation League The mission of ADL is to expose and combat the purveyors of hatred in our midst, responding to whatever new challenges may arise.

Church Women United

Ecumenical News International

The National Council of the Churches of Christ 

The Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) is a professional organization serving over 1100 Orthodox Rabbis in the United States of America, Canada, Israel and throughout the world.

World Council of Churches