Find out next issue as editor condor john hankins reports on sierra club californias lobby day, in which scores of our members spoke with legislators and their staffs. Sierra club executive director michael brune also was arrested the first time in the groups 120year history that a club leader was arrested in an act of civil disobedience. First printing, june 2014 cover design by ben jenkins manufactured in the united states of america for bulk orders, send inquiries to. Civil disobedience is a symbolic or ritualistic violation of the law rather than a rejection of the system as a whole. I discuss implications for the future of us climate advocacy. Readers outside the united states should check their own countries laws to.
Civil disobedience is a refusal to obey an order from a civil authority or public nonviolent violation of a legal prohibition. Water protectors, faith leaders, and environmental leaders, including winona laduke, executive director of honor the earth. Sierra club to support immigration reform politico. Similarly, the sierra club has explicitly prohibited civil disobedience until this policy was changed by the board of directors in february 2017. Mar, 2017 yes, martyrdom, in all of its glory, often stems from civil disobedience, as both have roots in the same concept of revolution and sacrifice. Ahimsa center k12 teacher institute lesson plan title of. Protestors engage in day of action opposed to enbridges line 3. Michael brune, sierra club for the first time in the sierra club.
Washington gives much credit to the sierra club for making this issue its own. The environmental movements radical transformation the new. Four days later, the sierra club and its allies take to the streets, hosting the largest climate rally in u. Sierra club will engage in civil disobedience to fight. Excerpts from civil disobedience henry david thoreau 1849 originally entitled. On civil disobedience, xl pipeline and the sierra club. For the first time in the sierra club s 120year history, we have joined the ranks of visionaries of the past and present to engage in civil disobedience, knowing that the issue at hand is so critical, it compels the strongest defensible action. Jan 08, 2018 5 examples of civil disobedience we can learn from in 2018 in 2017, marginalized folks fought back, marched, and campaigned unceasingly to protect ourselves, our friends, and our communities. Dozens, including sierra club director, arrested at white. Next month, the sierra club will officially participate in an act of peaceful civil resistance. Sierra club leaders break a 120year tradition to commit civil disobedience and join others in facing arrest in front of the white house. For the first time in its 120year history, the sierra club will participate in this civil disobedience action to convey the severity and urgency of action on climate. The rogue group sierra club the rogue group sierra club is one of six regional groups of the oregon chapter of the sierra club.
Feb 14, 20 the demonstration marked the sierra club s first act of civil disobedience in the environmental advocacy organizations 120year history. Sierra club thailand australia united states bangladesh myanmar kenya chile. The embrace of british india is a dangerous thing he loudly declared in his address. Civil disobedience is part of a great american tradition melissa block speaks with michael brune, executive director of the sierra club, about the approved onetime use of peaceful.
Nonviolent civil disobedience, based upon the premise of truth and the love of god and humanity, have been used by gandhi to oppose colonialism, and by martin luther king, jr. Civil disobedience is the act of breaking the law for a cause. Afscs guide to civil disobedience american friends service. Sierra club executive director michael brune and board of directors president allison chin participated in the first act of civil disobedience in the sierra club s 120 year history. Sierra club news and editorial articles common dreams. Dhs secretary john kelly united states department of homeland security detail pdf. It was founded on may 28, 1892, in san francisco, california, by the scottishamerican preservationist john muir, who became its first president. Throughout the civil disobedience period, associations of middle class women concerned with social work continued to function.
Well be following in the hallowed footsteps of thoreau, who first articulated the principles of. Many americans think of the sierra club as a mainstream organization focused on conservation and outdoor life. The sierra club is an environmental organization in the united states. An official website of the united states government. Brune and chin joined 46 other protesters on february, 20 in handcuffing themselves to the white house fence, bearing witness against the keystone xl pipeline. Indigenous leaders in bemidji, minnesota, joined with environmental activists and faith leaders to stage an act of civil disobedience wednesday against a recently approved pipeline that will carry tar sands crude oil from canada to the united states. Jan 29, 20 this week, the sierra club announced that for the first time in its 120year history, it encourages its members to participate in acts of civil disobedience with and the hip hop caucus. Apr 18, 2016 sierra club president aaron mair under arrest at the democracy awakening rally outside the u. Jun 04, 20 the democracy initiative the sierra club and other greens lead an effort to fundamentally transform america green watch, june 20 pdf here by michael bastasch summary. Civil disobedience has been a popular form of protest against the government in nations all over the world since decades. Brune explains why the group chose keystone xl as its target. Civil disobedience people sometimes choose to engage in nonviolent acts of civil disobedience where they deliberately break a law they consider to be unjust or prejudiced. The abalone alliance 19771985 was a nonviolent civil disobedience group formed to shut down the pacific gas and electric companys diablo canyon power plant near san luis obispo on the central california coast in the united states.
Thoreaus critique of democracy in civil disobedience a close reading guide from america in class 2 to live beyond its reach. Sierra club to engage in civil disobedience for first time in. Meanwhile, bill mckibben and naomi klein rally over a thousand demonstrators for civil disobedience. It is also the first salvo in an escalating public battle. Civil disobedience movement in india history discussion. Sierra club leads civil disobedience at white house, 48. Nov 30, 2015 many big green groups like the sierra club have traditionally favored the courtroom and steered clear of civil disobedience, while others, such as, have made highprofile protestsoften. Sierra club endorses civil disobedience over climate change. And theyre billing it as the largest climate rally in us history. The current policy, established in 1991, forbids sierra club employees or officers read volunteers from being arrested for civil disobedience at political demonstrations, and was enacted in. Civil disobedience, the energyaclimate nexus and australian coal. United states district court for the district of columbia civil action no. The demonstration marked the sierra club s first act of civil disobedience in the environmental advocacy organizations 120year history.
The arrest came after the sierra club had suspended a decadeslong policy against club sanctioned civil disobedience. Keystone xl pipeline protest marks first civil disobedience by sierra. Sierra club news articles and editorial content published by common dreams, nonprofit independent media publishing since 1997 in portland, maine. They modeled their affinity groupbased organizational structure after the clamshell alliance which was then protesting the seabrook nuclear power plant in.
This tactic was used to great success during the civil rights movement with sitins, marches, and other tactics. For the first time ever, the sierra club is sanctioning civil disobedience. Plaintiff sierra club has protested the construction of keystone xl and other pipelines through nonviolent civil disobedience, and sierra club plans to educate the. New book on civil disobedience reads like a peace movement. Resources defense council, sierra club, and greenpeace usa. The template infobox organization is being considered for merging. Legal battles continue on july 27th, the standing rock sioux tribe filed a lawsuit challenging the approval of the dakota access pipeline under nwp 12 without adequate consultation or. Club s board of directors recently voted to change a longstanding prohibition against civil disobedience in the club s name, thereby expanding the options for public, bold, and communal actiona strategy that has a long history in social movements towards equity and justicebut actions that are con. Civil disobedience to stop keystone pipeline cbc radio.
Motto in civil disobedience, thoreau society bulletin, 67. This act of civil disobedience was the first in the club. We explore this point in the lessons second interactive exercise. Keystone xl pipeline protest marks first civil disobedience. Sierra club leads civil disobedience at white house, 48 arrested for the first time in its 120 year history, the sierra club is encouraging and participating in civil resistance to raise. This morning, 48 environmental, civil rights and community leaders from across the country joined together for a historic display of civil disobedience at the white house where they demanded that president obama deny the keystone xl. Well be following in the hallowed footsteps of thoreau, who first articulated the principles of civil disobedience 44 years before john muir founded the sierra club. The twoway the environmental organization approved its first act of civil disobedience.
Afton is just a more prominent example of what occurs throughout the united states. Historically, when we look at some of our nations greatest successes, such as the american revolution and the civil rights movement, we can see civil disobedience within the stitches of our own society. Historical and recent examples of civil disobedience. Jan 23, 20 next month, the sierra club will officially participate in an act of peaceful civil resistance. For the second time in the sierra clubs 120plusyear history, on april 18 representatives of the sierra club allowed themselves to be arrested in an act of civil disobedience. Those undertaking civil disobedience seek to understand and act on a higher law. Civil disobedience online article pdf available in journal of information communication and ethics in society 22 may 2008 with 1,077 reads how we measure reads. Nearly 50 climate activists arrested outside obamas white. National sierra club is reconsidering its stance on using civil disobedience in crucial climate issues. This week, the sierra club announced that for the first time in its 120year history, it encourages its members to participate in acts of civil disobedience with and the hip hop caucus against the evil keystone xl pipeline feb. Thoreaus critique of democracy in civil disobedience. In citing the war, he was simply taking advantage of the fact that the war was a particularly unpopular one in the north.
The civil disobedient, finding legitimate avenues of change blocked or nonexistent, feels obligated by a higher, extralegal principle to break some specific law. Today the board of the sierra club of canada decides whether it will. The purposes of the sierra club are to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth. But it has morphed into a hardcore, radical political organization dedicated to such causes as.
The sierra club is the united states largest environmental activist organization and its like some raucous families as ugly epithets are hurled in the current inhouse controversy. Resistance to civil government i heartily accept the motto, that government is best which governs least. Dozens, including sierra club director, arrested at white house keystone protest. Our chief concern here, however, is not thoreaus call for resistance but rather his critique of represen. Organizations like the mahila seva mandal continued to run its industrial school at parel and to hold prize distribution ceremonies,1 1. The sierra club, originally formed by john muir in 1892, now contains 52 chapters nationwide. This morning, 48 environmental, civil rights and community leaders from across the country joined together for a historic display of civil disobedience at the white house where they demanded that president obama deny the keystone xl tar sands pipeline and address the climate crisis. However, no member of the sierra club is authorized to use, display, or invoke the sierra club s name or logo including the name of any chapter, group, or other entity of the sierra club in connection with committing any violation of the law, unless the act of civil disobedience has been approved by the board of directors.
The war with mexico was not declared until 1846, whereas thoreau had refused to pay his tax as early as 1843. Sierra club motto explore, enjoy and protect the planet. Civil disobedience is part of a great american tradition melissa block speaks with michael brune, executive director of the sierra club, about the. It was to be, complete freedom from british dominion and british imperialism. A lot of my environmental activist friends and i broke up with the sierra club in the early 2000s when they abandoned their long help position of stabilizing the population of the states by addressing both birth rate and immigration levels. Keystone xl protest at the white house leads to mass arrests.
Can passive resistance stop the keystone xl pipeline. A delegation led by indigenous traditional owner, aunty carol pryor, handed over the pledges to a shaky lawyer representing adani. Though such exposure to environmental toxins is often explained as a socioeconomic. In a year where the trump administrations attacks were often perfectly legal, activists relied on direct action and civil disobedience as essential. The sierra club is the oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization in the united states. Although civil disobedience can be violent or nonviolent, many perceive civil disobedience to be strictly nonviolent. Only twice before in our history has the board voted to allow an act of civil disobedience.
Julia frost nerbonne, the executive director of minnesota interfaith power. As understood by the american friends service committee, civil disobedience is a consciencebased, heartfelt action which, while in violation of. Find out how the sierra club is responding to covid19 and current impacts on your sierra club activities. If built, this pipeline would threaten communities, farms, tribal land, sensitive natural. The sierra club has failed in its attempt to label scott pruitt a violator of the environmental protection agencys scientific integrity policy. In 20, the sierra club lifted its 120yearold ban on civil disobedience to protest the keystone xl oil pipeline, citing the urgency of climate change. Over 1,200 young people take part in xl dissent protest. A delegation led by indigenous traditional owner, aunty carol pryor, handed over. The dakota access pipeline would extend 1,168 miles just seven fewer than the now rejected keystone xl pipeline across north dakota, south dakota, iowa, and illinois carrying up to 570,000 barrels per day of fracked oil from the bakken oil fields. On 29th december at lahore congress, the youthful congress president jawaharlal nehru announced that complete independence was the goal of india.
Sierra club announced plans for civil disobedience for the first time in its history over of the keystone xl pipeline. Historyplex gives you some historical as well as recent examples of civil disobedience. World resources institute, the nature conservancy, the sierra club, league of. See more ideas about civil disobedience, african american history and civil rights movement.
A chat with the sierra clubs michael brune about civil disobedience. Memorandum opinion the clean air act requires the environmental protection agency epa or the agency to develop guidelines to regulate solid waste incinerators. It was founded on may 28, 1892 in san francisco, california by the wellknown conservationist and preservationist john muir, who became its first president. Civil disobedience to resist climate change policy inertia is. Sierra club challenges trump administration to obtain border wall information. It is because acts associated with civil disobedience are.
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