By Brandt Mannchen

Over the many years I have been a member, volunteer, and leader in the Houston Regional Group and Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club people have asked me, “What is the Sierra Club?”, What does the Sierra Club Stand for?”, and “What is the Sierra Club perspective?”.  Although I am one volunteer in the Sierra Club, I want to respond to those questions with what I believe outlines, separates, and is the difference in the Sierra Club from others and which expresses its perspective.  I believe the Sierra Club perspective is based upon:

1) The Sierra Club is wholistic in its outlook and forward and future thinking in its motivation.  As one of our founders, John Muri said, “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.”

2) The Sierra Club believes in protection of the public interest.  This includes public lands, natural resources, and democratic institutions and ideals.  “The Commons” are important to the Sierra Club.  For instance, the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas and Big Thicket National Preserve are part of public land landscape, “The Commons”, that the Sierra Club insistently protects.

3) The Sierra Club believes in public participation and transparency in public processes and the revelation of public information.  As an example, the Sierra Club constantly pushes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to be more open and transparent with respect to public participation and information in its work.

4) The Sierra Club is often “on-the-point” when it comes to pushing for environmental protection and justice.  The Sierra Club seeks from elected representatives, public agencies, and private entities the best outcomes and urges these institutions to provide a “little bit extra protection” for the Planet and its ecosystems.

5) The Sierra Club agrees humans and the protection of humans are important, but just as important and sometimes more important is the protection of ecosystems, life forms, and the non-living environment.  For example, the beauty and scientific richness of the Grand Canyon as a geological formation and the breathtaking vistas found in Yosemite should be protected not just because humans find them attractive but also because these parts of the Planet are important as themselves.  

The Sierra Club has often spoken for those who cannot speak for themselves – the ecosystems, life forms, and non-living environment that we depend on and that deserves to exist due to its own importance and right to exist.  We benefit from their existence and must acknowledge our debt to what sustains, supports, and makes our lives possible.

6) The Sierra Club perspective and approach is defined by persistence, deliberate action, patience, and knowledge of the political, social, economic, and environmental worlds that exist on our Planet.

7) the Sierra Club believes in inclusiveness and that the benefits and wisdom of natural areas, landscapes, and the living and non-living environments are for everyone, equally.

8) Finally, the Sierra Club does not shy away from difficult environmental issues.  Even at the risk of public demonization, ignorance, or misunderstanding or in the face of losing the Sierra Club believes that our environmental problems must be addressed honestly and completely.  The Sierra Club’s unflagging opposition to the Grand Parkway, due to its impacts on flooding, destruction of natural ecosystems, and human health, and our push for climate change mitigation, including societal change, are examples of how the Sierra Club takes on tough issues.     

Brandt Mannchen

February 28, 2019