Come to our General Meeting

Join us for an interesting public program and fellowship.

next dallas sierra club general meeting: tuesday, may 13 at 7 pm (refreshments at 6 pm)

Gayle Loeffler, Environmental Degradation, Population, and Women's Empowerment

By the year 2050, world population is projected to reach nearly 9.2 billion according to the United Nation’s “medium scenario” (up from 6.7 billion today).   That’s not even 50 years away. That means the environmental challenges that our children, and grandchildren, will only grow more difficult. The overwhelming majority of growth in world population will occur in the developing world. Studying these hot spots for population growth is the first step to facing the problem. And last November Dallas Sierra Club member Gayle Loeffler did just that. Gayle is the Chair of the Dallas Group Sierra Club Population Committee, and holds similar post at the state and national level. She journeyed to Ethiopia where she saw first hand the problems of rapid population growth.  

Her goal was to attend the International Population, Health, and Environment (PHE) Conference held at the United Nations Center in Ethiopia’s capital. In Ethiopia, as with many other developing and undeveloped countries, rapid population growth has put an unsustainable strain on the environment. One obvious sign of this strain is Ethiopia’s shrinking forest. Once being the most forested country in Africa, Ethiopia now retains only 2% of its original forests. Population growth has accelerated land degradation as forests are converted to farms and pastures. 

Many parts of the Ethiopian story may sound depressing, but the PHE programs offer hope. These programs are holistic in approach - addressing community concerns that include sustainable agriculture, health care, and education.  And the family planning component is critical. Experience shows that fertility rates decrease as educational levels increase. Uneducated mothers have three times as many children as women with some secondary education.  Many married women want voluntary family planning services but lack access. 

As a direct witness, Gayle saw poverty and suffering that was overwhelming, but still found Ethiopia to be a colorful, beautiful country, that is full of friendly people. She witnessed projects in which communities work to address the related challenges of population growth, health, and environmental protection. These communities are planting tree seedlings, health workers are being trained, more young girls are going to school, and economic opportunities are increasing. She saw how family planning is a necessary part of a development package that can foster community well-being in the short term and help to ease pressure on natural resources in the long term. There is progress to report and Gayle will provide that report at the Seara Club General meeting on Tuesday, May 13^th.

sierra club general meeting location: center for spiritual living in north dallas

The Sierra Club meets at The Center for Spiritual Living, near the northwest corner of Inwood and Spring Valley in north Dallas (see map below). From the Tollway and Spring Valley Road, go west past Inwood Road and the train tracks. Take the next right (north) on International Parkway (called Arborview on older maps). When the road bends to the right, look for the entrance way and Sierra Club signs.

The meeting starts at 7:00 PM. From 6:00 to 7:00 PM, you can snacks and refreshments as you wander among various issue booths to pick up information and talk with Sierra Club members and leaders. Contact the Dallas Regional Group Program Chair if you have questions or suggestions regarding our programs.