Message from the Chair: Spring 2017

 

 

On April 29, 200,000 individuals (including me) converged in Washington, DC, to send a clear message that we must have a definite acknowledgement that climate disruption is real, stems from human activities, and requires immediate and bold action. In addition, numerous solidarity events were held across the country and around the world; the number of national and global participants will likely remain unknown, but deserve recognition nonetheless. It was truly inspiring to travel with fifty or so equally concerned individuals on a bus leaving from Binghamton, NY, to our nation’s capital and meet with others from across the country—an experience that definitely leaves one feeling invigorated, inspired, and ready for next steps.

 

So, that is the question—what are the next steps? Such reflection not only causes one to continue to find opportunities to call for immediate action and long-term solutions, but also encouraged me to reflect on those who did not attend a march. What is their role and place in this “People’s Climate Movement”? Indeed, such attention towards and emphasis on the march may leave many feeling left out of the movement, but that is absolutely not the case. Riding home from the march, I thought about those who did not attend and why. Of course, many had other obligations (familial, professional, personal, etc.), could not afford a bus ticket or a day off from work, or simply are not comfortable attending such an event. This last reason led me to think about the different forms of activism which must necessarily contribute to a comprehensive and all-inclusive strategy, from those which are fully public, bold, and communal to those which are private, quiet, and individual. The Club’s Board of Directors recently voted to change a long-standing prohibition against civil disobedience in the Club’s name, thereby expanding the options for public, bold, and communal action—a strategy that has a long history in social movements towards equity and justice—but actions that are conducted quietly in private and at an individual level must not be shadowed by large-scale actions (such as marches). Certainly, progress and achievements are realized through a diverse collection of multiple strategies en masse.

 

Many of the articles in this edition highlight issues facing us as Club members in New York State, as well as the numerous opportunities for involvement and successes already achieved, and highlight next steps after this latest installment of the People’s Climate Movement. So, I need not repeat such information here. Instead, I’d like to emphasize that activism takes many forms—not simply marching en masse in the streets of DC. In fact, many of these strategies can be done by individuals at home quietly, while others are to publicly engage with and organize neighbors, friends, and family. All are important, yet appeal to different personality types and availability in terms of time and resources. Regardless of your situation and personal level of comfort, there is space for you in the movement. These are some of the many opportunities:

 

Meet with elected officials. They need to know what we as their constituents know about the issues and understand our concerns in order to effectively represent us. Do not be shy about meeting with them—you can get a handful of friends or neighbors together for a constituent meeting. In general, they are happy to sit down and learn about your concerns and perspective. Also, be sure to get on their email/postal mailing list for information about local appearances. When they are in town, make sure you show up, ask questions, and let your concerns known.

 

Write letters to the editor. This is an effective way to make sure that our message is in the mainstream media, especially if you respond timely to a published article. Make sure to keep your message clear, to the point, and respectful. If you’d like input on how to write letters to the editor, you can search for resources and tips online.

 

Organize house parties. This is an especially effective strategy to connect with people you already know about issues you care about—and to reach out to people who may not be aware of the issues. You can invite friends, family, and neighbors over to your house to watch a documentary film or television show followed by a discussion about the topic. The best strategy is to offer something for participants to do right away, and next steps after everyone leaves.

 

Talk with co-workers, friends, family, and neighbors. The best resource we have is our social networks; take advantage of the opportunity to reach out to them and let them know what we care about. Try to make the issue personally relevant to them and their values—think about ways to move beyond the standard narrative and appeal to people’s sense of ethics and values.

 

Organize fundraising efforts or contribute yourself. As the Trump administration continues to wreak havoc on environmental protection and social justice on behalf of big business, we will need even more money at the Chapter level to defend ourselves here in New York. You can organize a fundraising effort yourself (see house parties above) or make your own contribution to the Chapter at newyork.sierraclub.org. People power is the most influential resource we have, but financial resources are also important for defending our environment and recruiting more people power towards the effort.

 

Get involved with local Group or Chapter activities. One of the most rewarding aspects of being involved with the Sierra Club is the amazing network of knowledgeable, experienced, and committed leaders who are involved at the national, state, and local level. As a member of the Club, you are automatically among nearly 46,000 like-minded individuals across the state and nearly ¾ million (over 774,000) across the country. Make sure you plug into that network to find like-minded individuals so that we can coalesce our skills, knowledge, and resources for greater influence. Visit newyork.sierraclub.org to find your local group and clubvolunteer.org to find opportunities in the Atlantic Chapter to get involved.

 

So, whether or not you attended the march in DC or your local area, make sure you take advantage of the momentum of the People’s Climate Movement and engage with one or more of the strategies above to continue the work for the environment. With so much to do and so many ways to contribute, not to mention the current political climate in which we expect a full assault on our environment and health (which has already started in the first 100 days), we must work to find our role and niche in the large movement needed to make fundamental and long-term change. The quote the Ithaca-area based band Donna the Buffalo, “Every piece is a part of the whole / No one piece more important than the rest / So stand up, take a number / Every piece here's got someplace to go” (“Family Picture”).