Right-wing anti-immigrationists tried to take over the Sierra Club.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

Guess this is kind of old news - does anyone know what happened with this?

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0220/p01s04-ussc.html

The most charged debate, by far, is the one on immigration - and it's far more than just an argument among well- meaning idealists.

Leaders of the anti-immigration faction are mainly establishment types - former Colorado Gov. Richard Lamm, the former director of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and university professors from around the country. Paul Watson, co-founder of Greenpeace, president of the antiwhaling Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, and an advocate of zero population growth, gathered enough club support to get himself nominated and then elected to a board position last year. So did two other population activists.

But hardcore opponents of immigration - including groups with allegedly racist philosophies - have joined in, urging their supporters to send in $25 checks so they can join the Sierra Club and vote for the anti-immigration slate of board members.

Even the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League have joined the fray, citing a dangerous, right-wing influence - what civil rights lawyer Morris Dees warns is the "greening of hate."

In a recent letter to the Sierra Club's current board of directors, 13 past presidents of the group expressed "extreme concern for the continuing viability of the club."

[Cleita]

1. I don't think they succeeded.

I just got my new issue of the Sierra club magazine and it was very anti-Bush, pro-environment and pro-Kerry. As a matter-of-fact I have never seen it this political before. Usually they put up a list of candidates to vote for who are pro-environment. This time the whole magazine was devoted to Prezidunce Boosh's poor record not only on the environment but on social issues as well.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

3. Apparently - they want people to help them fight....

http://www.groundswellsierra.org/calltoaction.php
http://www.groundswellsierra.org/index.php

Groundswell: a massive nationwide movement of volunteers; grassroots action; our best hope for protecting our Sierra Club.

As members of the Sierra Club, we've taken action in the name of the Sierra Club to protect our air, water, wild lands and wildlife. Now we must take action to protect the Sierra Club itself.

The Sierra Club is under serious attack – our own democratic process is being used against us to take over our organization and hijack our agenda and our resources. That's why a groundswell of Sierra Club members from across America is organizing to fight back.

-snip-

Unfortunately, because fewer and fewer members are voting, it leaves the Sierra Club and all of its resources vulnerable to people and parties with narrow, personal agendas—like animal rights and anti–immigration. These outside groups can recruit and run petition candidates from outside the Club who share their ideology. Because of our democratic commitment and California law, it is not difficult to run for the Board of Directors. Our opponents need to organize only a small number of voters to win. And they can run without having to disclose their real agendas on their ballot statements.

[wuushew]

2. Without immigration the U.S. would have a negative population growth

advocates of cheap labor and perpetually expanding markets are always pro-growth. But that is simply not sustainable. Overconsumption is always worse than overpopulation but in America the combination of overconsumption AND overpopulation make the situation far more problematic. Unless one particular ethnic group was banned I fail to see how such a view would be racist.

[Viking12]

4. Sierra Club 2004 election results

Elected to the board are:
* Lisa Renstrom 141,407
* Jan O'Connell 132,262
* Nick Aumen 123,622
* Sanjay Ranchod 123,332
* David Karpf 110,756

Runners-up:
Michael Dorsey 42,401
Ed Dobson 35,825
Chad Hanson 29,104
Robert Roy van de Hoek 15,700 **
Phillip Berry 15,492
David Pimentel 14,527 **
Dick Lamm 13,090 **
Kim McCoy 9,765 **
Karyn Strickler 8,333
Frank Morris 8,247 **
Morris Dees 7,554
Barbara Herz 7,525

** are the anti-immigration candidates

[mantis49]

5. The RW candidates were soundly defeated.

Sierra Club members (including myself) were on to them and voted!