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Show WASATCH NEW By Lawson Ligate to decided the to Utah 2,500, 8,001 eI Only join New the Chapter’s that Club Sierra Club. existing means there members York City saw iscussio »f Utah, Added membership are now in greater over the state growth in 1embersny \ oT ye ACCOMT Ci l Club from ries relative simple new asked out a latest to to join a this consid- pos- joining of means: growth put the for growth of media, people member me by that variety news with the direct friends comes and from < someone talking at their homes. it, No Sierra Club The actual method prospective members nikeae e Wied faa anied idea and direct method: face-to-face one the i Chis reasons ade t Sierra the one As ever before.” of reaching is irrelevant SeGe 2 ted LIL Sierra Club Members unless such people are in a receptive frame of mind. Why would people living in an antienvironmental bastion, like iewed from one perspective, these are hard times for the nation’s environmental movement. The last Congress, even when it was in Democratic hands, managed to pass only one major piece of environmental legislation — the California Act. After coming into Desert Protection office with the endorsement of such groups Club, Clinton as the Sierra the Administration's performance in the environmental arena has been disappointing To top it off, membership and fundraising have declined. However, at least with respect to membership in the Sierra Club, Utah is bucking the trend Late last May, the Sierra Club contracted with the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) to conduct a door-to-door canvass. Canvassers talked to people on their doorsteps about environmental issues and asked them to join the Sierra Club When the campaign wrapped up its work in September, approximately 6,500 Utahns of TIMES Just in the Nick of Time Director of the Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club had MOUNTAIN give the Sierra Club the time of day? ° ‘o answer the question, one must identify the falsity of its underlying assumption. It’s like the GM television commercial: “This is not your father’s Oldsmobile.” Indeed, this surge in Sierra Club membership is a tangible reflection of something polling data has shown for years: Utahns care a lot about the quality of their environment. Numerous polls have shown strong support for wilderness, for protecting our national park lands, and for getting serious about cleaning up the polluted air along the Wasatch Front. This summer's phenomenal growth in Sierra Club membership gives a flesh and blood substance to these skeletal statistics People seem to like both the idea and The the physical reality of Utah state's quality of life, it’s relatively small and concentrated population, and most of all, its wild beauty, are strong attractants. That’s why the number of people moving to the state is on the rise. Thus, it should come as no surprise to learn that increasing numbers of people want to take care of something they value so highly In joining the Sierra Club, Utahns are endorsing a fundamental democratic ideal, which holds that people can and should participate in decisions that effect the fate of their nation and their world. The Sierra Club advocates protection — protection of Ce) wild places, protection of pure While some of this work is accomby our staff, the underlying plished strength of the Sierra Club is its volunteers. From its national Board of Directors to a local leader of a weekend outing, the volunteers are the fuel for the Sierra Club's engine. This empowerment of citizens to take a hand in the environmental affairs of the nation is the fundamental reason for the existence of the Sierra Club. And one of the special qualities of the Sierra Club is that members can call upon each other nationwide when help is needed. he growth in Sierra Club membership and interest in environmental issues couldn’t have come at a better time. By the time the polls closed in Utah last Election Day, it was clear that the nation would be making an abrupt about-face. Utahns and their fellow Americans believe in environmental protection, but frustration with the failings of government led to a shift in favor of a Republican-dominated Congress Though some Republican office-holders have good environmental voting records, the unfortunate trend has been that Republicans in Congress, particularly those in leadership positions, have rather dismal reputations about are Thus, the viewing as environmentalists Americans protection with alarm who are concerned of our environment the complexion Wasatcls Mt. State Park is in danger of overuse, build golf courses,to AWS preservation | , r Pe Te v td of the next Congress. All legislation must first pass through Congressional committees, and the chairs of these committees have considerable power to decide which bills will be given preference. For example, in the House of Representatives, Utah Congressman James Hansen will likely become the new chair of the Public Lands Subcommittee. Any legislation dealing with by John Helton Sewer Lines, and viSitation,in order to pay for and part. Soto preserve this landscape we must; Pave lay roads, increase air water, protection of plants and animals and the intricate web of life, of which we all are be hey wilderness, parks, wild and scenic rivers, and public lands must first pass through this committee. Since the election, Congressman Hansen has promised to join the rest of Utah’s Congressional delegation in introducing a 1.2 million acre Utah desert wilderness bill, far short of the 5.7 million acres recommended by the Utah Wilderness Coalition and _ significantly smaller even than the 2 million acres recommended by the Republican administration of George Bush. Rep. Hansen has also called for the establishment of a national parks.closure commission. Anyone who loves Utah’s wild country should be concerned about what this bodes for the fate of Utah desert wilderness. Oil and gas drilling, mining, deforestation, and road construction are just a few of the threats facing this world-famous landscape The Bureau of Land Management established just 3.2 million acres of temporarily protected wilderness study areas. They ignored another 2.5 milolitical reasons Utah lion, primarily for wilderness advocates have been trying to get interim protection ik yr these neglected lands. Unfortunately, we may be headed in the opposite direction. Fairness dictates that before passing judgement, we should wait and see what the new Republican Congressional leaders will offer for Utah desert wilderness. However, with all due respect, Rep. Hansen is not knewn for his moderate views on the subject of wilder- ness. His stated intention of a smaller wilderness designation than even the bureaucrats have suggested is a bad sign. If our worst fears are confirmed, then we might expect to see an attempt to For Sierra Club Membership Information call 801-467-9294 ae PAGE 6. ram through a small wilderness bill which would, in essence, zone the remaining 4.5 million acres for development. Utah writer and wilderness activist Ray Wheeler has warned in the past that wilderness Opponents might try to turn Utah desert wilderness legislation into an industrial zoning bill. In this scenario, antiwilderness forges would cloak themselves in the mantle of “moderate” wilderness advocates, but their chief priority would be to determine the maximum amount of land available to industrial and other development. Protecting the wilderness would be a secondary concern, at best. If it comes to this, Utahns and all Americans who treasure Utah’s wild desert may face their biggest challenge yet when the 104th Congress convenes in January. It will certainly be a major concern for all those new members of the Sierra Club in Utah. It just might be that they joined in the nick of time. ¥ |
