John Muir Lives! STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES for a Strong and Effective Sierra Club March 2004 We are a network of Sierra Club grassroots activists united to preserve the web of life and restore the natural world, and who, therefore, advocate: Stronger Positions on Conservation Issues, Increased Funding for National Conservation Priority Campaigns, and Support for: Preservation of Nature for Nature An end to all commercial exploitation of Public Lands, including mining, oil/gas exploration/extraction, logging, and livestock grazing Preservation and restoration of wetlands, watersheds, and coastal habitat River restoration and dam decommissioning, such as the restoration of the Colorado River system and the decommissioning of Glen Canyon Dam An end to urban sprawl and preservation of remaining habitat Science-based protection for endangered species/habitat New Wilderness designations and new National Parks, including Wilderness designations for all remaining qualifying areas on federal lands Wildlands identification, protection, and restoration Free Speech, Democracy, and Process Openness and Fairness throughout the Sierra Club Grassroots Activism and Funding to Support Grassroots Conservation Campaigns Emphasis on Public Education to influence Public Policy A Strong Sierra Club Political Program with: Stronger support for national campaign finance reform Meaningful Sierra Club political endorsements Implementation of a non-partisan approach to political endorsements "The battle we have fought, and are still fighting . . . is a part of the eternal conflict between right and wrong, and we cannot expect to see the end of it."        - John Muir, Sierra Club Bulletin, January 1896