Newsflash
*** Note to readers about accessing these articles
Editorial note: The main intent of this issue of our newsletter has been to focus on the pressing problems of social justice issues such as institutional racism and the Covid19 pandemic. Some news items that would have otherwise appeared in this issue will be the August issue instead.
Where does the Sierra Club stand? As one of our contributors, Todd Waterman, has pointed out, "The killing of George Floyd and the coronavirus pandemic have focused unprecedented and long-overdue public attention on deep-seated, systemic inequities. The simultaneous crises of racial injustice, Covid-19, climate change, and pollution each starkly expose the injustices in our health care, criminal justice, economic, and social safety net systems.
• Each crisis exposes the harm caused by lies and denial of facts and science, especially by those in authority.
• Each crisis especially harms minorities, the poor, and other already-suffering or vulnerable populations.
• Each crisis requires that, instead of dehumanizing and attacking one another, we listen and work together to find just, nonpartisan solutions."
It is increasingly clear that in order to achieve political consensus necessary to progress on on other important issues, the social justice issues must dominate our immediate concerns. Indeed, in July of 2019, the Sierra Club joined with other environmental organizations to release an “Equitable and Just Climate Climate Platform.”
The murder of George Floyd. The following statement was issued by Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune and Kamau Wilkins, the Executive Committee Chair of the Sierra Club's Minnesota Chapter:
"We all deserve to thrive in safe communities, yet the inhumane, daily assaults on Black and Brown people directly threaten our ability to maintain a healthy planet. The cruel, public lynching of George Floyd is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. We cannot expect to come together to protect the planet if racism continues to tear us apart. The Sierra Club is committed to confronting the inequality embedded into our society that has allowed these tragedies to persist. If we want to create communities that are truly safe, just and equitable, we must continue fighting for the humanity and the dignity of all people.“
At the same time, we recognize that the Sierra Club has to establish greater credibility with people of color. “People in the Sierra Club community are trying to grow to meet this moment right now. We are not an organization that works primarily on the issue of anti-Black police violence, but we recognize that our work to end the violence of polluters who target Black communities is deeply connected to the demand for justice for George Floyd. We recognize that the outdoors won’t be a welcoming place for everyone until people can safely go for a run, or watch birds, without facing racialized violence.” - Hop Hopkins, Sierra Club director of strategic partnerships.
"Peaceful protesters take over Knoxville streets as police officials announce a policy review.” (Note: this was one of several marches occurring in Knoxville since the incident.) Jun 5 article by Sarah Riley, in the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
"Hundreds show up for peaceful OR black lives matter rally.” Jun 4 article by Ben Pounds, in the OakRidger.
The Sierra Club has similarly-minded allies. The Sierra Club is one of many "environmental" organizations among a very diverse group of organizations that have also adopted a "holistic" view that social justice is necessary to achieve environmental objectives and "environmental justice." To get a good idea of the diversity of the support for such a view, see the list of signatories to the "Equitable and Just National Climate Platform."
Birding while black: A conversation with birder Jason Ward, educator and host of “Birds of North America". Great story from Jason Mark, Sierra Magazine, June 5. Or listen to this Living on Earth podcast about Black Birders week.
A small action you can take - help change the name of the Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park. Here is a link to the change.org petition.
Read about other local events in Tennessee in our Chapter e-newsletters.
*** A democracy with informed citizens requires the professionalism that we have historically expected of credible news sources. Most “local" newspapers today are asking folks who access their online news stories to purchase a subscription to their paper. This is understandable generally, and reminds us that we should do our part to pay for the resources that result in publication of local news. Those of us who use summaries of published print news, as we do, are no exception, and we ask the same of our readers. However, we also believe that a person who only wants to see an occasional article published in a newspaper should not be required to subscribe. So if you believe that you are in the latter category - only an occasional reader, you may be able to read an article without a subscription if you "browse anonymously" or clear your browser cache before activating a link to an article. This may help you avoid many "pay walls" at these news sources (some sources restrict access even with anonymous settings). Another approach is to search for alternate source on the particular news item. But we recommend that our readers who find themselves accessing an online news source on a regular basis subscribe to an online version of the paper, which is generally much cheaper than a print version.
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