The Sierra ClubThe Sierra Club - Protecting Nature -

America’s premier grassroots environmental organization

Barry Wulff, Ph. D.Barry Wulff, Ph. D.

Vice President, International AffairsVice President, International Affairs

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The battle to save the Yosemite valley and federal legislation making it a National Park in 1890, all due to the lobbying efforts of John Muir and Robert Underwood Johnson.

The stimulus for founding the Sierra ClubThe stimulus for founding the Sierra Club

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The Original Purposes of the Sierra Club The Original Purposes of the Sierra Club (founded in 1892)(founded in 1892)

To explore, enjoy, and render accessible the mountain regions of the American Pacific Coast;

to publish authentic information about their beauty and biodiversity;

to enlist the support and cooperation of the people and the government in preserving the forests and other natural features of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

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Sierra Club Timeline - the early yearsSierra Club Timeline - the early years

1892: Our first conservation effort was to defeat a proposed reduction in the boundaries of Yosemite National Park.

1899: Worked with Congress to establish Mt. Rainier National Park by legislation based on a statement prepared by the Sierra Club and other organizations.

1907: Sierra Club submits resolution to Secretary of the Interior opposing the damming of Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite.

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Citizen Action at WorkCitizen Action at Work

John Muir wrote:John Muir wrote: "We held a Sierra Club meeting last Saturday--

passed resolutions and fanned each other to a fierce white Hetch Hetchy heat.

"I particularly urged that we must get everybody to write to senators and the president keeping letters flying all next month thick as storm snow flakes, loaded with park pictures, short circulars, etc. Stir up all other park and playground clubs, women's clubs, etc. .. "

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Hetch Hetchy Valley Before 1914Hetch Hetchy Valley Before 1914

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Hetch Hetchy: A Lost CampaignHetch Hetchy: A Lost Campaign

We lost the battle.

Congress approved the dam in 1913, and Muir died in 1914.

Some say he died from a broken heart at the loss.

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While battles over preservation of the valleys took place, a campaign to take people to the mountains began.

Why? To instill within the public an appreciation for the beauty and value of the natural world.

An “outings” program was developed.An “outings” program was developed.

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Outings: Outings: To Explore and EnjoyTo Explore and Enjoy

“...If properly conducted [the outing] will do an infinite amount of good toward awakening the proper kind of interest in the forests and other natural features of our mountains, and will also tend to create a spirit of good fellowship among our members.”

Will Colby

The 1905 Climb of Mt. Rainier

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Sierra Club Timeline - The middle yearsSierra Club Timeline - The middle years

1920: We successfully opposed dams proposed for Yellowstone National Park.

1940: With the help of Ansel Adams, who became a famous American landscape photographer, armed with photographs, our efforts led to the establishment of Kings Canyon National Park.

1964: U.S. Congress passes Wilderness Act, first wilderness protection in the world, after years of battle.

1968: Sierra Club succeeds in a campaign to stop the damming of the Grand Canyon.

Redwood National Park established after long fight.

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Sierra Club Timeline - recent yearsSierra Club Timeline - recent years

1975: Sierra Club wins long-sought additions to Grand Canyon National Park.

1978: Sierra Club wins a 48,000 acre addition to Redwood National Park, protecting the watershed of the world's tallest trees.

1980: Congress passes Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, designating more than 103 million acres of parks, wildlife refuges, and wilderness areas.

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Sierra Club Timeline - recent successesSierra Club Timeline - recent successes 1986: Sierra Club wins designation of 270,000 acre

Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area in Oregon and Washington states.

1989: Sierra Club presses World Bank to withdraw $500 million loan to Brazil, which kills plans to build 147 dams and flood large areas of Amazon.

1994: California Desert Protection Act signed into law, after an 8-year effort led by the Club.

1996: Club's Utah Wilderness campaign helps pressure President Clinton to create Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, thereby protecting 1.7 million acres in Utah.

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The Sierra Club Purposes Today The Sierra Club Purposes Today

To explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth;

to practice and promote the responsible use of the earth’s ecosystems and resources;

to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and

to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.

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How we do it:How we do it:

public education,

lobbying to influence elected and appointed officials,

litigation of government agencies and private companies,

books and other publications, and

participating in elections by endorsing candidates with strong environmental records.

The Sierra Club has over 200 staff and 5,000 volunteers working in every state and in Canada.

Our tools include:

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A rally against toxins in our riversA rally against toxins in our rivers

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Current Sierra Club Priorities:Current Sierra Club Priorities: Stop sprawl: end runaway Stop sprawl: end runaway

growth,growth, Protect America's Protect America's

wildlands, wildlands, End commercial logging End commercial logging

on public lands,on public lands, Protect water from factory Protect water from factory

farms.farms.

Energy and global Energy and global warming, warming,

Human Rights and the Human Rights and the environment, environment,

Population stabilization, Population stabilization, Responsible trade; alsoResponsible trade; also Ending the toxic threat.Ending the toxic threat.

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Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Arctic National Wildlife Refuge America's National Treasure in PerilAmerica's National Treasure in Peril

A current campaign is to save the Alaskan Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from being drilled for oil.

Why?

Threatens the integrity of the entire Alaskan tundra ecosystem.

Threatens the local caribou herds.

Defeats the goal of energy conservation.

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Organization of the Sierra ClubOrganization of the Sierra Club

National offices in San Francisco & National offices in San Francisco & Washington, DCWashington, DC

State and provincial chapters across North State and provincial chapters across North America.America.

Local groups throughout many Local groups throughout many communities.communities.

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Sierra Club Chapters across North AmericaSierra Club Chapters across North America

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Today, we offer more than 350 trips each Today, we offer more than 350 trips each year to unique destinations around the year to unique destinations around the

world for people of all ages.world for people of all ages.

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Printed membership application formsPrinted membership application forms

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Raising funds and membership Raising funds and membership through calendar salesthrough calendar sales

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Communicating with our members with Communicating with our members with brochures, cards, newsletters and brochures, cards, newsletters and

automobile bumper stickersautomobile bumper stickers

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National Volunteer CommitteesNational Volunteer CommitteesPresently 110 committeesPresently 110 committees

Some examples:Some examples:

Global Warming & Clean Energy ProgramGlobal Warming & Clean Energy Program Marine Wildlife & HabitatMarine Wildlife & Habitat Genetic EngineeringGenetic Engineering National Parks & Monuments National Parks & Monuments Group & Chapter OutingsGroup & Chapter Outings RadiationRadiation ToxinsToxins InternationalInternational

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The International CommitteeThe International Committee

Empower communities and individuals globallyEmpower communities and individuals globally

Reduce the global environmental impact of US-based Reduce the global environmental impact of US-based activitiesactivities

Promote environmental perspectives and protection in Promote environmental perspectives and protection in international agreements and actionsinternational agreements and actions

Mission: To protect and restore the global environment through three

main grassroots-based thrusts:

http://www.sierraclub.org/international/committee/

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The Sierra ClubThe Sierra Club

http://www.sierraclub.org/

85 Second Street, 2nd FloorSan Francisco, California 94105

Tel: 415-977-5500FAX: 415-977-5799

A healthy environment will support a healthy economy.A healthy environment will support a healthy economy.

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Sequoia National Monument – 2000

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Wild Forests Campaign As Americans, we treasure our National Forest heritage.

But over half of our National Forests have already been scarred by logging, roadbuilding, mining, and oil and gas drilling. This year, we have an historic opportunity to protect 60 million acres of the last unspoiled wildlands in our National Forests. Your help is needed!

Take Action to Protect Our Wild Forests: Send an e-mail to President Clinton and Secretary of

Agriculture, Dan Glickman. How to Get Involved:

Tool kit for Wild Forest activists and organizers. Off-Road Vehicles:

Damaging America's Threatened Wilderness One Million Comments Delivered:

An estimated one million comments in favor of increasing protection for wild forests were delivered to the Forest Service by the July 17th deadline!