Who:
Barbara Yarrow
Environmental Justice Committee member, newsletter editor
Where:
Prescott, AZ
It takes a lot of work behind the scenes to make the Sierra Club work. Much of that work takes place indoors, away from the sparkling views, the rain-cloud sky of the desert throwing wind spouts into the mountains, the hiking trails into the woods and creeks. What was happening for the Sierra Club on August 6 in Prescott, Arizona?
Parked in front of the computer I spent a good part of the day preparing the fall issue of the Environmental Justice program's newsletter. The EJ Activist is just one of the tools the committee uses to help build community coalitions and share the load of making the Earth a place that is habitable and enjoyable for everyone, no matter what skin color, economic status, or spiritual belief. This diverse planet is home to diverse populations, all of whom have elemental needs for the earth to be protected, and a yearning to explore and enjoy it in a way that is meaningful and can enrich and revitalize each and every one of us.
Is it possible to believe that there are adults who have never seen a night sky away from city lights, where the Milky Way shines and the closest stars and the planets seem to pop out of the blackened background? Yes it is, and more often than not, those who have not experienced that view come from the "minorities." These are the communities the EJ Committee reaches out to empower in their efforts to ward off negative environmental impacts that take over the backyards, cutting off the long views into the nighttime sky.
So, today I spent my day indoors, as did others on the committee who drafted stories, made phone calls to help build coalitions, headed up tabling events, led outings for kids who had never seen the magnitude of the sky on a dark, starry night -- all seeking to empower every citizen of the planet in his/her search for a healthy environment. This is our reward in and of itself...a chance to even the playing field, to make the planet a better place for everyone.
