The Influential Grassroots Environmental Organizatoin of the Sierra Club

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Recommended: Sierra Club as an interest group

The Sierra Club is one of the oldest and most influential grassroots environmental organizations in the United States. The Organization was founded in San Francisco, 1892 by John Muir in order to promote the protection of the wilderness. The Sierra Club’s primary interest lies in not only the protection of thousands of acres of wildlife but also the encouragement of the exploration of the outdoors. Today however the organization has delved into the promotion of clean energy such as solar and wind.Through this one can infer that The Sierra Club is a public interest group because they are a “non-partisan organization that seeks to bring about good policy for society as a whole rather than a specific group.” An example of The Sierra Club's political involvement is seen through their ability to successfully promote and pass the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act.
Just as any other interest group, The Sierra Club has been a victim to the Free Rider Problem which refers to “the problem faced by unions and other groups when people do not join because they can ben...

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