The Sierra Club Foundation Annual Report 2011

ANNUAL REPORT 2011 | THE SIERRA CLUB FOUNDATION
In 2011, the Sierra Club partnered with U.S. Representative Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) as well as
tribal and local government leaders to protect more than a million acres of public land around the
Park. By encouraging the Obama administration to block mineral exploration and new mining in
the area, we can make sure the region and its waters remain safe for wildlife and human communities.
During the comment period for the draft environmental impact statement, the Club and
its partners engaged the public to attend public meetings and submit approximately 300,000
individual comments in support of withdrawing the mining permit. Collaborating at both local
and national levels, the Club gathered more than 50 organizations to sign on to a letter to
President Obama, plus an additional 400 postcards to the president from area businesses
supporting the withdrawal.
The result: In January 2012, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced a 20-year
mining protection for 1 million acres of public land near Grand Canyon National Park.
PARKS FOR THE PEOPLE: SAVING THE SAN GABRIELS
Most of the 2 million people who call the San Gabriel Valley home live in park-poor, low-income
neighborhoods. While the San Gabriel mountain range provides 70% of the open space in Los
Angeles County, it is poorly protected and inaccessible to many of the families that need it most.
In response, the Sierra Club has organized residents for hearings and events (giving them a voice
in local decisions) and provided training resources to a growing coalition of groups. Since faith
plays an important role in the lives of area residents, the Club’s Caring for Creation program
reaches out to faith-based groups who believe forests are vital spiritual places. This dynamic
model of citizen involvement—which the Club is expanding to other areas around the country—
can help save parks and revitalize communities.
“The decision
protects drinking
water for millions of
people in southern
California, Arizona,
and Nevada who rely
on the Colorado River.
Radioactive uranium
mining should not
happen near our water
or next to Grand Canyon
National Park.”
– SANDY BAHR
DIRECTOR,
SIERRA CLUB GRAND CANYON
CHAPTER
PUBLIC SERVICE... WITH POPCORN!
Grassroots action isn’t always outdoors: sometimes it’s up on
the big screen. Greg Laemmle and his family operate a chain
of arthouse movie theatres in the Los Angeles area. When he
learned of the Club’s work to protect the San Gabriels and
improve local families’ access to the area, he offered to run
this public service announcement in Laemmle Theatres for six
weeks and to place similar materials in theatre lobbies. This
supportive partnership helped build awareness throughout
L.A. and brought the Club’s program to the attention of
thousands of new potential donors and activists.
Learn more online: sierraclubfoundation.org/resilient-habitats
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