Will Sierra Club get anti-immigration agenda?

[Pale Blue Dot]

http://www.sltrib.com/2004/Jan/01182004/nation_w/130252.asp

An unusual alliance of anti-immigration advocates and animal-rights activists is attempting to take over the leadership of the Sierra Club, America's oldest national environmental group, in what is emerging as a bitter fight over the future of the 112-year-old organization founded by Scottish immigrant John Muir.

Leaders of a faction that failed to force the club to take a stand against immigration in 1998 are seeking to win majority control of the group's 15-member governing board in a spring election -- this time, as part of a broader coalition that includes vegetarians, who want the club to denounce hunting, fishing and raising animals for human consumption.

<snip>

"What has outraged Sierra Club leaders is that external organizations would attempt to interfere and manipulate our election to advance their own agendas," said Robert Cox, a past Sierra Club president.

Moreover, club officials contend that members of the two insurgent groups share fundamentally anti-human views, in their opposition to immigration and in their belief that people should take a backseat to other species.

[pmbryant]

1. This 'movement' needs to be stopped ASAP

As a longtime member of the Sierra Club, I think this 'movement' should be vociferously opposed. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

If the Sierra Club ever becomes an anti-immigrant and animal-rights organization instead of a environmental group, it will be a very, very sad day.

--Peter

[beawr]

3. I thank you too

n/t

[GreenGreenLimaBean]

7. As a Member I am split on this issue

I need more info on the group's actual policy stance. But I for one think
the US has more than enough people. We need a policy that will let
some immigrants into the country, but not at the present level. Our
country would have zero population growth is not for the enormous
levels of immigration we presently absorb. We need a sensible
immigration policy, not the current one.

On the other issues, I totally agree. Responsible hunting is a
responsible thing for the environment.

[The Stranger]

22. Sounds like you are confusing Zero Population Growth worldwide

with immigration issues in the United States. The fact that there are too many people is a world issue, an international issue, and a birth control issue, not an immigration issue.

[formernaderite]

9. hmm...perhaps this isn't an anomaly

I'm wondering just how deep support for the anti-immigrationists runs? I have a friend who's a bit of a nutter, devout Sierra club member, zero-birth promoter and vociferous animal rights activist. I honestly thought "he" was an anomaly.
He's been complaining about immigration for years...particularly because so many of the immigrants have larger numbers of children than he would deem necessary.
Third world populations tend to be culturally less animal friendly than our population. This is of course related to competing with animals for basic resources in their home lands.
In this glorious melting pot, we will learn to embrace various cultural perspectives, but I also believe that humanity towards people and all living things can be taught.

[beawr]

2. And - The Nature Conservancy has its own troubles

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23660-2004Jan16.html

<snip>

A team of IRS examiners will move into the global headquarters of the Nature Conservancy in Arlington to begin auditing the charity, the world's largest environmental organization.

A letter sent to the Conservancy by the Internal Revenue Service last month indicates that the audit will be of uncommon scope for a charity, tax specialists said.

[Freddie Stubbs]

21. If their books are in order and they have obeyed the law,

they should have nothing to worry about.

[The Stranger]

23. Oh boy.

That is not how these things usually work. It sounds like the Feds will find something -- they always do. Otherwise, someone would have to explain to their superiors all of the wasted effort and expense.

[Pale Blue Dot]

4. I seems like the conservatives are trying to take over EVERYTHING.

Including, some may argue, the Democratic party. What does immigration have to do with the Sierra Club anyway?

[LiviaOlivia]

8. Increased illegal crossings strain Organ Pipe to limit

Mary Jo Pitzl
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 14, 2004 12:00 AM

When the "endangered" label is affixed today to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, parks officials say it will reflect the reality of the hard times the park has endured as illegal immigration has increased. The 330,000-acre park is one of 10 nationwide that the National Parks Conservation Association considers most endangered. The list is being announced today in Washington, D.C., where the parks-advocacy group is located.
<snip>
A year ago, Patton said, he would have pointed to the 150 miles of unauthorized roads carved into the Organ Pipe wilderness as the best example of how the park was being overrun by unwanted human impacts.
Today, "it's well in excess of 200 miles," he said.
<snip>
In addition, there are hundreds of miles of illegal trails, abandoned bicycles and all the debris from impromptu human encampments, Patton said. "Here, we have garbage dumps in the backcountry; we don't have garbage that's measured in pounds but garbage measured in tons," he said. Even if the park's border were sealed today, Patton said, it would take years to haul the accumulated garbage out of the park.
<snip>
The illegal border crossers frustrate the park's ability to control human activity in the park.
<snip>
http://www.azcentral.com/specials/special03/articles/0114organside14.html#

This doesn't answer your question but it is an example of people vs. the environment.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

5. Does this mean it's unwise to donate to them at present?

Or will my money help keep these extremists at bay?

[pmbryant]

6. Send money and *Vote* against the extremists

Just make sure you're a member and able to vote.

Thanks for your help!
Peter

[Piperay]

10. This is very bad news

the Sierra Club MUST stick to environmental issues, ONLY. As a member this really pisses me off, they are digging their own grave if they mix into other issues.

[doubleplusgood]

11. immigration/population IS an environmental issue

You can't say you are concerned about the environment but, at the same time, ignore the effects of immigration on population growth in the U.S. It's doubly frustrating to see Sierra Club members even DEBATING this, as if there is any question that population growth adversely affects the environment. It reminds me of a poll the (Los) Angeles chapter of the S.C. did in the 1980's asking members what they thought the biggest environmental problems were in So. Cal. The results listed things like too much traffic, smog, loss of habitat, species, etc. etc. Way down the list at #19 was population growth - the ONE thing largely responsible for all of the other problems.

The fact that there is such a disconnect between population growth & environment among those who should know better is disconcerting to say the least.

[Bridget Burke]

12. So, those Sierra Club members will have themselves sterilized?

Or is it the "others" who are the problem.

Environmental problems are, indeed, linked to population & immigration. Looking at the big picture would involve a fight for economic justice--worldwide. Most of the immigrants (legal or not) would prefer to stay home if they could earn a decent living there. Supporting birth control education--and ensuring it's available to all those who want it--would lead to voluntary slowing of population growth.

Just slapping a Sierra Club sticker on your SUV while you drive your kids to their private school, then back home to be watched by lady who works REALLY cheaply won't do it.

[blindpig]

14. stickers on SUVs

you hit the nail on the head with that one. I fear that for all too many americans membership in an enviro org and saving some cans is a pallitive allowing them to continue their consumtive lifestyle.
Overpopulation may be the primary issue in environmental preservation.Moving people around does not solve it, and moving them to a place where they will become more gross overconsumers certainly doesn't help. Better, as you say, to support family planning worldwide. And condition our treatment of corporations on their behavior in poor countries concerning workers and environment. And condition our aid to the governments of those countries according to those same concerns.
The environmental movement in the US is a paper tiger politically, the repubs use it as a whipping boy and dems ignore it at will. Consider Clinton's 1st term. With an org for every nich concern the strength of the movement is diffused and occasionally divided. Some sort of umbrella organization would have more clout. I've been a member of nearly every org over the past 20 yrs and am sick of barrage of junk mail promoting this months nich crisis. Couldn't the rescources and money be better used? Today I ony belong to LCV.

[doubleplusgood]

15. I don't have an SUV

...nor do I have kids (but if I did, I would make it a point to send them to public school). And no, it's not just "others" that are creating the problem: my far-right, fundamentalist sister has 4 kids & 11 (at last count) grandkids and has done her part to help fuck up California. My mother, who had 5 kids herself, also blames immigrants alone for the increasing congestion while copiously avoiding her own personal responsibility.

Nevertheless, the fact remains that without the current levels of immigration, the U.S. would be at zero-population growth. Yes, a balanced approach is needed to address this problem by promoting social justice - improving education, employment opportunities & health care in all developing countries. Also, it wouldn't hurt if the U.S. stopped giving tax "bounties" ($1000/child ?) to people for each kid they have. Society needs to realize that the Bronze Age is over and Bronze Age cultural imperatives are no longer needed. The last thing we should be doing in today's world is subsidizing population growth in any way, shape or form.

[blindpig]

19. hey, I'm with you

and am also child-free. And I agree about our counterproductive tax policy which encourages breeding. We have to find some way of getting aid to people who need it without making reproduction a cash cow. You realize, of course, that this is real flamebait in some circles.
I think our unhelpful baggage goes back beyond the Bronze Age. Our heirarchial social system is the ultimate source of inequality and injustice today and is from our primate ancestors. As we have or are chucked some of our more repellent behaviors(cannibalism for example) I don't see why other improvements couldn't be made.

[Piperay]

16. I'm more concerned about

the animal rights people getting into it than the immigration issue (yes I agree over-population has a devastating effect on the environment), if a bunch of PETA type people get control the Sierra Club is going to become an ineffective joke of an organization.

[BiggJawn]

17. I agree with you.

I joined the Sierra Club because I saw it as a wall against the "Crunch all you want, Jeebus is coming soon anyway" enviromental policies of the GOP.

If I supported the criminal acts of ALF and other ultra-vegan groups, I'd BELONG to them!

Carl Pope spares no punches when it comes to The Chimp and his "policies". I wonder if this power-grab is a pay-back being orchestrated by the GOP? ReTHUG money winds up in some of the strangest places (like Nader's campaign)

[The Stranger]

24. Again, don't confuse zero population growth with immigration.

The fact that the Earth is overpopulated and overburdened with too many human beings is an international birth control issue, not an issue of U.S. immigration. (I am sort of shocked that I have to explain this). If there are too many people in the world and on the planet (and there are), then having them in Mexico or Asia is going to destroy the planet and its ability to support this population just as quickly (if not more quickly) than having them in California.

[Freddie Stubbs]

13. Reminds me of college

College Republicans and College Democrats both trying to take over the student government.

[metisnation]

18. No

But the Sierra culb will get a candidate that is strong on environmental issues in John Kerry.

[dusty64]

20. Immigration and overpopulation

are one of the root causes of environmental degradation. Limits on the number of people allowed to enter our country is not racist, it is common sense. 1 million a year is too many and threatens our quality of life and living standards.

I left the Sierra Club years ago after they refused to address this issue as being politically incorrect. Thinking everyone who is concerned about this is "fascist" is not looking at the big picture. A realistic immigration policy is a necessity, it does effect the environment. A shakeup in the leadership wouldn't be the worst thing possible, as a member of several environmental organizations I'm taking a second look at my support of some. Many seem afraid to take bold stands and actually be a force of opposition. Calling those who are also concerned with animals "antiHuman" sounds exactly what I've come to expect from the corporate establish and is a perfect example of what I'm talking about.

[The Stranger]

25. This is actually incorrect:

A realistic immigration policy is a necessity, it does effect the environment.

Or at least extremely myopic. The environment is not limited to the geographic borders of the U.S. If there are too many people on the planet, they are going to overload and destroy the natural resources that support them, their waste is going to destroy the ecosystems that generate the natural resources, and none of this is going to be limited to the "environment" such as it is, within the borders of any country.

Overpopulation in the world and immigration are very, very, very, very different issues.

(I am now shocked that I have had to post this).

[blindpig]

26. I beg to differ

Nation states are the unit of organization for human populations, at least until the coporate feudalist get done with us, there's no disconnect there. See post #14 above.
Your constant state of shock makes me suspect that you consider any opposition to immigration beyond the pall. Perhaps racist. No doubt that is true of the Buchannonites. Listen, I would happily trade even: say one campasino for one stock broker or ad exec. My goal is zero population growth and eventual reduction thru birth control. Biodiversity in the course of my life has taken a whacking and its sure to get worse. And population growth is the driving force. While not much has become extinct yet many species have become or are becoming rare. From there just a little push.....
Shuffling people around is a shell game that doesn't address the problem. Seeing that people have justice and security without making a long, dangerous trip to a foreign land should be our goal.

[The Stranger]

27. Then I am unclear on where we differ.

The problem is population. On which side of the border this population exists does indeed seem to be a shell game. The fact that some racist groups want to hijack the issue based on this misconception, in my opinion, is shocking.