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Sustainable
eNews |
January 2004 |
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IWMC
World Conservation Trust |
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Fantasies and Fortunes
Sierra Club Dilemma
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If
the people who constitute the organizational structure of the Sierra Club
recognize Paul Watson as an undesirable element, opposed in principle to the
ideals of the organization, why did they allow one such as he to run for and
become a member of their board of directors? The present dilemma of the Sierra
Club is that Watson is claiming he wants to "take over" the goals,
strategies and budget of the organization. Supposedly, Paul would in some way
influence the membership of the board through orchestrating the positions of an
additional three members who would be willing to go along with his demented
schemes. Watson allegedly would use the organization as a force to more actively
oppose consumptive use of wildlife and public access to wild places in the
United States. We think this is an unlikely fantasy on his part.
 The Sierra Club has a membership of 750,000 and
a huge annual budget, with which it wields power to lobby, to advertise its
goals to the general public, and to appear to be a strong social and political
force. Some others besides Watson also wish that their own vested interests
might be served through a "take over" of the board. These include
those who have an anti-immigration agenda. Therefore, the organization, which
isn't very friendly to sustainable use and open access to wilderness lands
anyway, is now threatened by even more left wing elements who wish to use its
resources to further their own ends.
Watson has allegedly claimed that since only 8%
of the members ever voice an opinion on organizational goals, that the
"take-over" should be easily facilitated. If this is so, then it is
simply an indication that this large and influential organization has some
serious internal flaws, and that it may well be fatally weakened in both power
and influence if either Watson or his competitors manage to control the actions
of the board. If such actions and goal changes are visible to Sierra Club
members, they shall either abandon the organization or challenge the legitimacy
of the new leadership. Other "nature oriented" organizations in the
country will be observing the turmoil, will try to win the alienated Sierra Club
members over to their group, and in other ways, will accomplish a shift in the
balance of power among such NGOs.
IWMC applauds the stewardship efforts of
legitimate organizations whose goals include promotion of conservation through
sustainable use, and through support for scientific research and wildlife
management. We recognize that some large organizations appear to be
pseudo-stewards; their goals are to diminish the ability of citizens to enjoy
the wild places through hampering access to them. Such groups try to abolish
wildlife management through opposing hunting, fishing and trapping. In the
unlikely event that Paul Watson accomplishes his fantasy goal of "taking
over" the business and the budget of the Sierra Club, it will not be the
end of the world for conservationists in the US. It may, however, be a rallying
point for pro-hunting and other sustainable use advocates, to convince the
public and various government agencies, that the public interest and that of the
environment is best served through conservative, science based, traditional
stewardship. IWMC applauds all those who advocate lawful, democratic process as
they support conservation through sustainable use and environmental law
enforcement. 
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