This Brave Nation Heroes in the News

Posted by Brave New Films, Brave New Films at 11:24 AM on April 26, 2008.

The Sierra Club is one of the most influential environmental groups. So when the executive director of the organization – Carl Pope – talks about climate change and legislation surrounding it, others are inclined to listen. In an interview with Environmental Capital, Mr. Pope says his group wants “as close as we can get to” a 100% reduction; the leading proposal in Congress to cap greenhouse gases currently calls for closer to a 70% reduction. The plan is to wait until next year’s congress when there is likely to be more Democrats to lobby and it’ll be easier to sway than this year’s congress. Pope mentioned that because of the relatively positive environmental stance of the three presidential nominees, the Sierra Club may not endorse a presidential candidate this year - the first time since 1988.

In Modesto, CA this week, labor activist Dolores Huerta was present as 100 Girl Scouts were awarded the Dolores Huerta Interest Project patch – which bears Dolores’s image as well as her the well known coined phrase – “si se puede.” The patch curriculum is to help girls develop leadership skills and inspire them to do community service. Scouts had to learn about Huerta's life and work, as well as issues related to farmworkers, women and-or immigrants. Older scouts went through the process of what it takes to write a bill. They researched whatever topic they chose for their mock bill, learned about getting a sponsoring legislator, doing rewrites and other steps. To meet other requirements, girls conducted personal interviews with family -- typically grandparents who worked in the fields -- to gain perspective on the farmworker and immigrant experience.

See Carl Pope, Dolores Huerta and a host of other progressive activist and heroes in This Brave Nation, coming this summer.

(Courtesy of Erikka Yancy)

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