Mission

Thimmakka's Resources recognizes that the greatest global environmental damage results from the practice of Western development characterized by conspicuous consumption. The organization seeks to educate and inform people, particularly the south Asian community, of the connection between excessive and ecologically damaging consumption and adverse effects on our health and environment. They seek to provide solutions or alternatives from the south Asian culture to current health and environmental problems as well as to educate and inform the urban consumer to facilitate informed choices.

Issues

Consumer lifestyle, Food production, Education, Eco-feminism, Health, Water pollution, Waste, Wildlife, Trade, Genetically engineered food, The Precautionary Principle, Endocrine disruptors, Chemicals and their effect on health, Third world concerns, South Asia (India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan).

Activities

Media/communications, Business and Community-specific outreach, Publications, Film festivals

Programs/
Projects

Thimmakka organizes information and resources and hosts special events to educate people about current environmental and health issues. In addition to hosting a resource-rich website, they organize a number of on-going projects. In Los Angeles and the Bay Area, they do community outreach with south Asian restaurants through a project called Greening South Asian Restaurants (GSAR). Outreach, conducted in the 20 primary languages of these small, family business owners, aims to reduce the restaurants' environmental impact. They educate businesses about food production, waste generation and their impact on water systems. Another project is a monthly series of "bio-diversity dinners." These cultural and informational events bring together south Asian and non-South Asian participants to learn about an issue and to expose people to vegetables not available commercially. Thimmakka also publishes a newsletter which has a circulation of 9,000 in 19 countries around the world.

Constitutency

South Asians and global communities across the globe

Geographical Focus

California regional, national bio-diversity dinners, International

Staff

0.5

Volunteers

60

Membership Base

3,000 members globally; Dues range from $35 - $500

Publications

Listserv: www.yahoogroups.com/group/thimmakka; articles appear on the listserve regularly; occasional newsletters

Annuual Budget

$100,000 - $500,000

Year Founded

1998