October 1, 2000
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with him. Dave was a big man with big visions. His accomplishments
were as gargantuan as his dreams. Under his leadership, the Sierra
Club grew from a hiker's group to arguably the single most
influential conservation organization in the United States, even the
world. After his executive directorship, the Club remained large in
membership but shrank to the moral stature of a lobbyist for hire,
and eventually, in disgust, Brower turned his back. He founded Earth
Island Institute in 1982 as an umbrella organization to incubate and
support innovative environmental projects. Trees' Affiliate Circle of
Life Foundation recently became a project at EII, and Friends of
Yosemite Valley, fiscally sponsored by Trees, was blessed with
David's participation as a supporter and advisor. Our ties to Brower
and EII include former Earth Island staff as Trees' staff and
contractors.
David Brower is credited with many large accomplishments, including
the establishment of nine national parks and seashores. His work
was influential in passage of the Wilderness Act of 1964, and he
gained fame as a dam-stopper in protesting such dams as the Grand
Canyon and Snake River. Nicknamed "The Archdruid" by developers,
Brower was a three-time nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, and
received many awards, including the 1998 Blue Planet Award.
But David Brower's biggest accomplishment can't be counted in dam
projects halted, wilderness protected, awards received, books written
or organizations established. His ability to empower people, to
motivate, inform and inspire his listeners, was perhaps his biggest
single accomplishment. Brower is gone and an era has passed, but his
legacy is the thousands and thousands of people around the world who
are carrying on the work of protecting the Earth. We are here in
Brower's place, still dreaming the big dream and fighting the big
fight.
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TOC for Forest & River News, Fall 2000