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S IERRA C LUB S AN D IEGO C HAPTER,

WORKING TO PRESERVE THE SPECIAL NATURE OF SAN DIEGO FOR OVER HALF A CENTURY http://sandiego.sierraclub.org July/August 2003 Vol. 63, No. 4

SIERRAN
Does such a majority exist? LF: A pro-environmental majority does not currently exist. But if we shift a relative handful of seats from right-wing anti-environmental zealots to pro-environmental peoplethree or four seats in the Senate, maybe a couple dozen in the Houseits doable. To do this, we need to pinpoint districts around the country where our issues resonate, and where we have a chance of defeating candidates who are adversaries. TV: Tell me about the Sierra Club Mutual Fund, which you were instrumental in creating. LF: The Sierra Club Mutual Fund was launched in January 2003 after three years of planning. It represents a way for Club members and others who care about environmental protection to use their financial resources in positive ways to investand hopefully prosperwith companies that have been meticulously screened. We have the toughest environmental and social screens in the business. (Editors note: see <www.sierraclubfunds.com> for details.) We partnered with a relatively new investment management company called Forward Funds to develop the Sierra Club family of funds. Ive been on the Sierra Club Mutual Fund task force, appointed by the Clubs board of directors, to help guide the process, develop the screens, and choose the management partners. (cont. on page 6)

SERVING

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MEET THE 50TH PRESIDENT!

COMPILED BY THE PLANETS TOM VALTIN

ed with representatives of corporate interests and attorneys and lobbyists for mining, timber, auto and oil companies. These interests helped propel Bush to the presidency, and now theyre seeking a return on their investment. Fahn serves as Executive Director of the As You Sow Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to environmental advocacy and consumer activism. Previously, he spent nearly two decades practicing law in San Francisco, representing individuals, small businesses, environmental and community groups. He spent 15 years as a legislative delegate to the State Bar of Californias Conference of Delegates. Fahn recently spoke with Planet Senior Editor Tom Valtin about his goals and vision for the Club, and reflected on his early environmental activism: TV: How do you propose the Sierra Club confront the Bush administrations assaults on the environment? LF: Thats the big challenge. We need to develop the most effective voter education plan weve ever had. We have to use all the tools at our disposal to get the word out about the myriad ways this administration is rolling back environmental progress. These tools include the effective use of publications, such as The Planet and chapter and group newsletters, and our Web site. And we need to do more grassroots organizing. TV: Americans have lately been focused on national security and events abroad. How do we get the environment back on peoples radar? LF: I think as the situation in the Middle East continues to be a quagmire, people will begin to grow weary of it and look for other issues that are closer to home. People want clean air, less traffic and more transit options, the security of knowing the water in their tap is safe to drink. These will come back as high-priority issues if we can help effectively frame the debate. TV: Youve said that one of your goals is to retake Congress with a pro-environmental majority?

In May, the Sierra Clubs Board of Directors elected long-time Bay Area environmental and political activist Larry Fahn as the Clubs 50th president. Fahn, 49, is an attorney best known for his work on toxics enforcement and organizing shareholders to make corporations more environmentally accountable. We face the most environmentally hostile federal government in our nations 227-year history, says Fahn. The country is being run by two oilmen, and the Cabinet and sub-Cabinet are salt-

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Activities, Meetings Meet the Sierra Clubs New President! Classified Ads Chapter Notes Letters to the Editor Programs for July & August! Inner City Outings North County Group Outings Listings Canyons Campaign Update! View from the Chair Borrego Boondoggle answers. 2003 Bus Trips are Filling up! Filner on Media Monopolization State News & Notes

Explore, enjoy and protect the planet.

page 1 San Diego Chapter July/August 2003 Hi Sierran

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SEE P. 11 FOR OUR MONTHLY PROGRAMS, INCLUDING A LECTURE ON CUBA!

Karl Grobl