From the April - June 2022 Jersey Sierran
Political Chair's Report
By Karen Becker, political.chair@newjersey.sierraclub.org
When you open the homepage for the national Sierra Club, you are greeted with graphics and images representing the many climate and environmental concerns that our organization champions. You also see a simple block of text with a not-so-simple message. The bold heading “Together, We Are Powerful” is followed by these words: “This country belongs to all of us. Together, we can help deepen the movement for a liveable planet, safe communities, and a democracy that works for everyone.” It’s not too difficult to visualize the Sierra Club mobilizing for a liveable planet with safe communities. But what does democracy have to do with our mission?
Our country was founded by changemakers who were dedicated to creating a better tomorrow. The colonists had no voice in their governance, so the changemakers of 1776 went to work on creating our American democracy. Our near-perfect union gave us the freedoms we desired. But the one basic principle that continues to be a challenge to uphold is equity for all persons, specifically because not everyone’s voice is heard and not everyone has an equal voice in their governance. When the Sierra Club refers to “a democracy for everyone,” we are saying that all members of a community should have an equal say in how their community’s government works for them. Sadly, we know that’s not how it works.
We have been an organization that has worked tirelessly to promote clean energy, protect wildlife, preserve the wilderness, and save our oceans. But challenges such as pipelines, warehouses, contaminated drinking water, diesel fumes from trucks and buses, and the shipment of liquid natural gas through our streets and rail networks have become the new problems we’ve had to tackle, with most of these issues impacting marginalized communities. These are the communities whose citizens are prevented from becoming involved in mainstream society and government. These are the communities where equity is absent and voter suppression is prevalent.
So, what do we do? We do what we are best at and what we are known for: mobilizing. We band together. We advance our vision of a world where everyone, regardless of zip code, can advocate without fear of retribution. But until that world exists, we will speak for those who have no voice, so they are heard. We will march with those who feel they are invisible, so they are seen. Together we are powerful, and together we will help build a democracy that works for everyone.