Join us for a VIP reception at 6:30 with drinks and hors d’oeuvres, or come at 7:30 ready to party.

With all proceeds benefiting RAN, what better way to make a difference for the rainforests, for the climate, and for the planet?

You’ll be helping fuel RAN’s hard-hitting corporate campaigns to defend the world’s most important and endangered forests, promote human rights, and fight climate change.

Tickets are going fast, and we expect this event to sell out, so don’t delay – get your ticket now!

WHAT: The Terrapin Family Band featuring Phil Lesh, plus special guest Harper Simon

WHEN: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 | 6:30 VIP Reception | 7:30 Doors Open | 8:00 Show

WHERE: Terrapin Crossroads, 100 Yacht Club Dr, San Rafael, CA

TICKETS: $125 VIP | $75 General Admission | $85 at the Door

Big thanks to everyone who is helping make this event possible, especially Phil Lesh, Harper Simon, the Terrapin Family Band, Terrapin Crossroads, and the dedicated RAN supporters on our Host Committee…

Murat Armbruster / Allan Badiner / Mimi & Peter Buckley / André Carothers / Ginger Cassady / Chris Desser & Kirk Marckwald/ Dale Djerassi / Tom Van Dyck / Jodie Evans / Susan Fox / Bob Hamer & Jill Reber / Randy Hayes / Don Hazen / Jeri Howland & Jerry Edelbrock / Courtney Hull / Kristin Hull / Anne Irwin / Dasa & Bruce Katz / Frannie & Michael Kieschnick / Roxanne & Michael Klein / Anna Lappé / Leslie & Jaques Leslie / Sara Lovell / Anna & Rob McKay / Betsy McKinney / Liza & Drummond Pike / Bonnie Raitt / Nancy & Rich Robbins / Marsha Rosenbaum / Alice & Christopher Semler / Jessica Tully / Julia Violich & John Mecklenburg / Jackie Wallace & Jean Tripier / Nadine Weil / Patricia & Mel Ziegler

These two intrepid Girl Scouts leaders are paving the way to ensure that Girl Scout cookies are palm oil-free, and not compromising some of our most endangered forests and animals.

Check out just how inspiring they truly are in this Rikshaw Films video:

Girl Scouts Rhiannon and Madi on the CBS Early Show

Rays at California Academy of Sciences

For Californians who care about the environment, the rager of the year is most certainly Rainforest Action Network’s annual benefit REVEL.

Naomi Klein and The Yes Men were honored with World Rainforest Awards as the California Academy of Sciences glittered with stingray pools, stiltwalkers, and California’s most cutting-edge minds getting in some serious bonding time.

It was a gorgeous affair.

Before dinner, revelers took a jaunt through Cal Academy of Sciences’ lush four-story rainforest alive with Golden Helicon butterflies, Turquoise Tanagers, Rocket Frogs, and Wolf Snakes.

Amidst the elegant beauty of the African Hall and a fantastic three-course dinner, executive director Rebecca Tarbotton spoke eloquently about the crucial work that RAN is doing around the world for forests, human rights, and the climate.

The indelible co-founder of CREDO, Michael Kieshnik, introduced journalistic luminary Naomi Klein. Fresh from OccupySF just that morning, Klein reminded the Rainforest Action Network of what we’re contributing to the world: “When you model radical action, it wakes something up in people.”

The Yes Men (Andy Bichlbaum and someone who looked nothing like Mike Bonnano yet oddly claimed he was) then reminded everyone to have a good time doing it all — to revel in our victories, no matter how big or small.

RAN's Executive Director Rebecca Tarbotton

Michael Kieschnick of CREDO

World Rainforest Award Winner: Naomi Klein

World Rainforest Award Winners: The Yes Men

While the dinner crowd clinked glasses and listened to the brilliant keynote speeches by our honored guests, the dance party revved up in the Swamp Lounge with beats by DJL.

The bar flowed with all kinds of amazing cocktails, including my new favorite drink: the Purple Forest from San Francisco’s superfood cocktail masters Lifted Spirits: ORO Pisco, Sambazon Acai elixir, elderflower liquer and ginger agave over ice and copious amounts of mint leaves. Uh huh. Then two gorgeous men (just sayin) from Fearless Chocolate made us 100% Brazilian confections right on the spot: Brazil nuts dipped in Brazilian cacao and dusted with everything from acai to mango to red banana. Yummmm.

One of the best things about this Network, no matter what the age, is that these people know how to get down. So when the dinner guests and party guests merged on the dancefloor, REVEL got raucous. Brooklyn funk legends The Pimps of Joytime laid down some incredible music that kept the party going alllllll the way until midnight.

The Pimps of Joytime at REVEL 2011 : Photo by Eric Slomanson

The REVEL photobooth was obviously another huge pile of fun. The images certainly speak for themselves. For the complete set, head over to SarahMaren.com.

It was really beautiful to see activists and supporters taking a moment out of their lives to celebrate together, to feel joy, to remember what we’re all fighting for when we fight for human rights — for peoples to survive, to eat, to have clean drinking water — as well as what we’re fighting for even more: the security and freedom to celebrate this existence together, to sing, to dance, and to laugh as a community.

Thanks everyone who came, you really made it a night to remember! Many of us are still basking in the afterglow a week later. For those who didn’t make it, we sure hope you join us next year, because in this work — whether it’s raising crucial funds or confronting corporate CEOs head-on — the more the merrier!

For the full collection of photos from REVEL check out our Flickr set.

This Wednesday evening, The Yes Men will be honored with the Art of Activism Award at Rainforest Action Network’s annual gala REVEL. I interviewed Andy and Mike before the big night to hear the latest on their hijinx, arrests, lawsuits and revolution… As well as the true identity of one Mr. Alessio Rastani.

During a recent interview with BBC, the self-proclaimed “stock market trader and trainer” Alessio Rastani revealed sentiments which few traders were previously willing to admit, like dreaming about recessions to capitalize off of and his now infamous quote: “The governments don’t rule the world. Goldman Sachs rules the world.”

The Internet went wild with theories that Alessio Rastani was part of The Yes Men, and Huffington Post UK even published wild speculations that Alessio was indeed Andy Bichlbaum. What do you have to say about all this?

It’s flattering to be associated with a rare moment of televised honesty coming from a trader. Unlike most of the bigger fish who play the financial markets, Rastani did something decent by warning the 99 percent of us who are not filthy rich about the slow collapse of the markets. That’s a hell of a lot more decent than the likes of Goldman Sachs, who have a well-documented history of lies and obstruction which are all designed to fleece more people at the bottom of their pyramid schemes.

You’ve pulled off dozens of hoaxes — posing as Dow Chemical apologizing for Bhopal, derailing Chevron’s “We Agree” ad campaign, and even distributing a fake edition of the New York Times announcing the end of the war in Iraq. Which prank has personally been the most fun? Which do you feel has been the most impactful in the world?

Fun and impact don’t always go hand in hand.

They are separate questions.

Our action with RAN and Amazon Watch against Chevron’s absurd “We Agree” greenwashing campaign was definitely among the most successful. It was successful at torpedoing the launch of Chevron’s campaign, but it was also very fun to watch so many folks join in on the action. Each time more hilarious remixed ads got sent into the site, we had another good laugh at Chevron’s expense. As for the most impact: We don’t really know… but even if we had the money I don’t think we’d hire a giant multinational company to find out!

You’ve made it this far with few arrests (one due to an unpaid ticket for cycling through Washington Square Park) and even fewer lawsuits, but the U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit back in ’09 in response to your announcement at the National Press Club that the Chamber had reversed its stance on climate change. What’s the latest update? Are they still just as pissed?

The Chamber lawsuit against us is sitting on a judge’s desk in Washington, where it’s been for the last two years. It could in theory move ahead at any moment. The Chamber are still, of course, horrid!

The Yes Men Fix the World was indeed the most laugh-out-loud documentary I’ve ever seen. Rumor has it you’ve got another one coming. Tell us about The Yes Men Are Revolting: A Feature Length Call to Arms.

For years we’ve been doing our thing as the Yes Men, and now we’re making our methods available to more folks than ever through the Yes Lab. But our methods are good for tactical interventions – and if we want to see big changes, which we need right now to save us from ourselves, we need to move into strategy. We need mass action, and some places in the world have been getting it. So we’re jumping on board – trying to join the non-violent revolutionary movements that intend to displace the system we’ve got with something sustainable.

So few people know this, but the two of you actually have “real” paying jobs on top of all the work you do devising elaborate hoaxes. What are you up to exactly?

We teach. Andy is at NYU, and Mike is at RPI. Luckily, that lets us do our thing… and we have lots of great students who come work with us to join in on some Yes Lab action.

Your focus seems to be moving from professional pranksterism to fostering revolution. What’s the bridge between the two and how are you crossing it?

Revolution requires creativity and a sense of humor! Every non-violent revolution needs creative communication, to build the ranks of the movement, to give it an identity and to speak to people who are not already in the streets. Whether you look at Women’s Suffrage, the Indian Independence Movement, the Civil Rights Movement, or even the recent revolutions of the “Arab Spring” you can find lots of examples of creative acts that were deployed tactically to contribute to the movement and to the success of revolution. That’s what we’re trying to work on, in whatever way that we can.

Thank you for celebrating with us, our Ecuadorian allies and our terrific hosts Lara and Gar Trupelli and their Lake Chalet staff!

Please help RAN continue the fight to hold Chevron accountable for its toxic legacy by making a generous contribution today.

REVEL, RAN’s 25th birthday party was a smashing success on Thursday night, as almost 500 people came together to celebrate a quarter century of activism and victories challenging the power of corporations over our democracy and our environment. California jam band the Mother Hips got people on the floor dancing and Grateful Dead alum and RAN supporter Bob Weir even joined them for a set at the end of the evening. Honorary board member Bonnie Raitt was in attendance looking as beautiful and confident as she did when she got arrested with us to help stop old growth logging.

Check out our photos from the evening, tag yourself and share them around with your friends.

The event also honored five leaders of the environmental movement: Robert F Kennedy, Jr, Amy Goodman, Teri Blanton, Rivani Noor and Uki Setara.

Amy Goodman reminded us that the power of free speech can never be taken for granted and warned against the corporate takeover of our democracy that is happening in our country.

And, of course, Teri Blanton brought down the house with her charm, wit and courage. Her stories of her decades fighting mountaintop removal coal mining were powerful reminders that we can indeed change the world if only we have enough grit to take a stand.

As RFK Jr reminded us with a powerful Frederick Douglass quote:

“If there is no struggle there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom and yet depreciate agitation…want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightening. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters…. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.”

RAN has struggled for freedom for 25 years and plans to keep up the fight – to stop deforestation of the world’s last remaining rainforests, to halt climate change and to push companies towards respect for the human rights of all citizens.

If you couldn’t join us last night – you can still donate or take action to support our fight. We’re proud to stand at the front of a movement for change and we can’t do it without you.

The art of the brand jam is something Rainforest Action Network has worked hard to perfect over the years. This month, we gave folks in the RAN community a shot at it themselves AND a chance to win tickets to our biggest benefit party of the year- REVEL.

We chose three dastardly corporations- Chevron, Massey and Cargill- to be donned with new brand-jammed taglines. The votes came in and the winners are…

Grand Prize: REVELATION ($2,020 value) 2 tickets to REVEL Sponsor Dinner, REVEL dance party with full bar, 2 commemorative RAN 25th Anniversary glasses, shots with the most fun people on RAN’s staff & a photobooth session with RAN luminaries

Winner: Branden Barber

1st Prize: REVEL Posse ($640 value) 4 tickets to REVEL dance party for you and your friends with full bar, 4 commemorative RAN 25th Anniversary glasses & 1 fabulous bottle of organic wine to share with your crew

Winner: Michael Klein

2nd Prize: REVEL Lovers ($320 value) 2 tickets to the REVEL dance party including full bar, 2 commemorative RAN 25th Anniversary glasses & 1 delicious bottle of organic wine to share with your date

Winner: Lopa Brunjes

Congratulations to all the winners of REVEL IN ACTION-can’t wait to party with you tonight!

Two Ecuadoran heroes, Emergildo Criollo and Humberto Piaguaje, were in attendance to accept the Defenders of the Rainforest Award on behalf of the Assembly of Affected communities in their 17-year fight against Chevron – California’s largest corporation and current intransigent defendant in a precedent setting lawsuit.

Pachamama Alliance founders Bill and Lynne Twist were awarded as Rainforest Champions for their ongoing work to assist the Indigenous people of Ecuador gain an ever more powerful voice in the dealings with the “developed” world that moved into their own. Because of the Pachamama Alliance, the Achuar now have equitable footing on which to base their dealings with the outside world, having established an eco tourism industry that is completely indigenous-owned and operated.

After the awards, the party kicked off with Rainforest themed cocktails from Veev, organic vegetarian nibbles and desserts, as well as delicious ice cream treats from our friend, Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry’s.  Old friends and new were in attendance, from Randy Hurricane Hayes, to baby Ida, daughter of RAN board member Anna Lappé. It was a wonderful time of catching up, meeting up, and REVELing!

REVEL is a celebration of activism, and of the community that makes change possible.  RAN is planning a big year – we will see an end to mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia. Indonesia’s rainforests will be protected from further destruction for fashion and the expansion of the agribusiness profits-fueled oil palm plantations – both leading causes of deforestation and climate change. We’ll put a cap on further development of the Alberta Tar Sands project. And finally, Chevron will be forced to accept responsibility for the terrible, tragic damage they’ve left for the Indigenous people of Ecuador to suffer through.

Some of these campaigns will take longer than others, but we will win. RAN has never lost a campaign in our nearly 25 years of fighting for the Earth’s forests. It’s because of our strategies and tactics, the creativity of our staff and the ongoing commitment of our most ardent supporters: you.

And if you couldn’t make it this year, you won’t want to miss next year, as we celebrate RAN’s 25th year of fighting for the world’s forests.

Our heartfelt thanks to all for your continued support, and for coming out to celebrate with us last night. You are an integral part of our strategy, and beloved members of our community.

The party boasts 500 attendees, and we might even exceed that this year (‘cause the party is so freaking fun!). Definitely one of the highlights of the evening is the food and drinks. There’s an open bar with all donated alcohol and wine. And the amazing dinner is created and presented by Back to Earth catering company. They are amazing!!!! They are bringing about social change through food and do it in such a loving and beautiful way – it’s truly inspiring!

This year is going to be so amazing, mostly because we have secured three amazing awardees for the World Rainforest Awards to honor environmental heroes who work tirelessly to protect our planet. Kenny Ausubel and Nina Simmons, the co-founders of Bioneers are two of the awardees. Kenny and Nina are incredible and it’s pretty cool that we are honoring them at REVEL, which happens to fall on the day before the festivities begin for the Bioneers 2007 Conference. Think of REVEL as a kickaass pre-party for Bioneers!

We are also honoring the phenomenal Alice Waters! Her entrepreneurial spirit has contributed in profound ways to the sustainable, seasonal, local, organic foods movement which has and continues to offer viable solutions to nourishing ourselves without destroying the Earth. We are incredibly honored to have had her accept our invitation for the award.

We are looking to secure one more awardee – we’ll keep you updated! And we recently heard back from one of our favorite local bands, Tea Leaf Green, that they will be playing at the event – which means rockin’ music and lots of dancing into the wee hours of the night! They played two years ago and everyone at the party LOVED them! We are so excited!

Come check it out! October 18^th. The party starts at 6pm at the Design Center Galleria in San Francisco. You can purchase tickets to the event by either clicking here to pay online, print out this form and mail it to our office or for more information on the event you can speak with our amazing Special Events Manager, Katie Steele by calling 415-659-0537 or emailing her at ksteele at ran.org.