THE Sierra Club is the oldest, largest and most influential environmental group in the US. It is not known for xenophobia. So how should we interpret the attempt last week by some of its members to pass a motion supporting a cut in the number of immigrants allowed into the US? Americans pollute more and inflict greater stress on the planet than citizens of any other nation. Thus, these Sierra Club members argue, for the sake of the planet we should stop people becoming Americans (see “Where will they go when the sea series?”).
The motion was defeated, and…
