My Letter to candidates for the Sierra Club Board of Directors:
Dear Candidates for the Sierra Club Board of Directors:
I was preparing to vote in the 2003 Sierra Club election, reading your statements. Pardon me if I missed something, but I don't see that any of you has made a clear statement of opposition to the Bush administration's war on Iraq, continued "war on terrorism," and well-documented plans to continue with wars of aggression against other countries. While I strongly support Club efforts to protect our environment here at home, to ignore the horrendous impact of war on the environment is unconscionable.
The current massive bombing campaign against Iraq is causing immense environmental damage to that country through air and water pollution, the use of depleted uranium and other hazardous weaponry, and the enormous use of energy required to get U.S. forces to the Gulf and to keep them fighting. In addition, the "we're at war" excuse is used to run roughshod over the environment here at home, with the Pentagon pushing for the elimination of restictions on their activities that harm the environment. The restrictions on free speech which are already suggested also will make it extremely difficult for the Sierra Club to pursue its agenda.
I was appalled last fall when the national Sierra Club was threatening local leaders or groups with expulsion for taking anti-war stances. I believe that you cannot support these Bush wars and still claim to protect the environment. I was somewhat relieved that the Club finally signed on to the "Win Without War" coalition, although a much stronger position would have been preferable.
I am sending this e-mail to state that I will not vote for any of you who support the war in Iraq. I ask that you reply to me with a statement of your position, knowing that I intend to share it widely among my many friends in the peace movement, many of whom are also Sierra Club members. My feeling is that we can recycle for decades and not protect the environment as effectively as if we stopped just one war. If I don't hear from you, I will not vote for you, and will tell others not to as well. I despise ultimatums, but the Bush wars are the critical issue of our time and are the biggest threat not only to our environment but to our entire society and the world at large.
I look forward to your replies.
Sincerely,
Bob Goodsell
If you're a Sierra Club member, please send a similar letter to the candidates. Here's the e-mail list:
numiscribe@aol.com; zaleha@lawyer.com; adam@assetdefense.org; betsy@wildrockies.org; Emma@RedEarthDesign.com; richs59354@aol.com; paulwatson@earthlink.net; LForce@LivingRivers.org; GlaBedz@aol.com; dlafolle@earthlink.net; renstrom@aol.com; nrauch@voicenet.com; antaeus@northwestern.edu; chcccpn@aol.com; Michelle.Perrault@Sierraclub.org; robbiecox@mindspring.com
Dear Candidates for the Sierra Club Board of Directors:
I was preparing to vote in the 2003 Sierra Club election, reading your statements. Pardon me if I missed something, but I don't see that any of you has made a clear statement of opposition to the Bush administration's war on Iraq, continued "war on terrorism," and well-documented plans to continue with wars of aggression against other countries. While I strongly support Club efforts to protect our environment here at home, to ignore the horrendous impact of war on the environment is unconscionable.
The current massive bombing campaign against Iraq is causing immense environmental damage to that country through air and water pollution, the use of depleted uranium and other hazardous weaponry, and the enormous use of energy required to get U.S. forces to the Gulf and to keep them fighting. In addition, the "we're at war" excuse is used to run roughshod over the environment here at home, with the Pentagon pushing for the elimination of restictions on their activities that harm the environment. The restrictions on free speech which are already suggested also will make it extremely difficult for the Sierra Club to pursue its agenda.
I was appalled last fall when the national Sierra Club was threatening local leaders or groups with expulsion for taking anti-war stances. I believe that you cannot support these Bush wars and still claim to protect the environment. I was somewhat relieved that the Club finally signed on to the "Win Without War" coalition, although a much stronger position would have been preferable.
I am sending this e-mail to state that I will not vote for any of you who support the war in Iraq. I ask that you reply to me with a statement of your position, knowing that I intend to share it widely among my many friends in the peace movement, many of whom are also Sierra Club members. My feeling is that we can recycle for decades and not protect the environment as effectively as if we stopped just one war. If I don't hear from you, I will not vote for you, and will tell others not to as well. I despise ultimatums, but the Bush wars are the critical issue of our time and are the biggest threat not only to our environment but to our entire society and the world at large.
I look forward to your replies.
Sincerely,
Bob Goodsell
If you're a Sierra Club member, please send a similar letter to the candidates. Here's the e-mail list:
numiscribe@aol.com; zaleha@lawyer.com; adam@assetdefense.org; betsy@wildrockies.org; Emma@RedEarthDesign.com; richs59354@aol.com; paulwatson@earthlink.net; LForce@LivingRivers.org; GlaBedz@aol.com; dlafolle@earthlink.net; renstrom@aol.com; nrauch@voicenet.com; antaeus@northwestern.edu; chcccpn@aol.com; Michelle.Perrault@Sierraclub.org; robbiecox@mindspring.com
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