Thanks everyone for your responses on this issue. It is what I had expected to hear. I will contact the person who made the accusation and reiterate the Sierra Club policy of not tolerating illegal activities. If I get the opportunity I may also ask further and try to figure out how the rumor got started.

Thanks again.

Eric G. Hurley

At 05:29 PM 6/19/2003 -0400, you wrote:

Here is Scott Elkins' response to Eric's email about the Sierra Club and ecoterrorism. Mr. Elkins is the Director of the North Star Chapter (MN).

The North Star Chapter is in complete agreement with the national Sierra Club mission statement and policies which oppose and prohibit *any* illegal activities that are ostensibly undertaken for an environmental objective. To my knowledge, no activist associated with the North Star Chapter has ever undertaken such an activity during the course of their involvement with the chapter. If they did, and if the chapter was in any way implicated in their activity, the resulting disciplinary action would be quick and decisive.

The North Star Chapter does engage in vigorous and aggressive political and policy work. Our Toxic Twelve political accountability campaign is a good example of this type of activity. As a leading Minnesota organization engaged in these types of activities, we have our fair share of individuals and organizations who do not wish us well. I suspect the rumor this person heard was a result of that ill will.

If folks ever hear rumors or statements implicating the North Star Chapter in illegal activities, please contact me immediately with the source and rumor and I will address the issue directly.

I would also be interested in finding out who believes the North Star Chapter has "developed this reputation," and why.

Erin E. Jordahl
Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-277-8868
[log in to unmask]
www.iowa.sierraclub.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]