Travel

The 80-Year-Old-Environmental Activist Who is Suing the President

Seattleite Raelene Gold of "Great Old Broads for Wilderness" is ramping up efforts in the age of Trump

By Danielle Hayden June 11, 2018

1359

This article originally appeared in the June 2018 issue of Seattle Magazine.

This article appears in print in the June 2018 issue. Click here to subscribe.

Raelene Gold may have grown up in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood but she gained a fondness for the outdoors early on—salmon fishing with her dad, berry picking in the Cascades, canoeing on Hood Canal—and later developed an overwhelming sense of duty to protect it.

Her pursuit of environmental justice began in 1989 when she worked with Seattle Audubon to save ancient forests and continued with organizations like the League of Women Voters, for which she led efforts to protect public lands, river systems and forests from destructive wildfires and logging practices, and the Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs, where she served as president and continues as editor of its newsletter, Outdoors West.

Most recently, as a member of Great Old Broads for Wilderness, the retired psychiatrist and Lake Forest Park resident has supported that organization’s effort to sue the president of the United States. At the end of last year, the Great Old Broads joined nine other environmental organizations and filed a lawsuit against the current administration, citing what they believe was an unconstitutional decision to eliminate some of our national monuments.

Of this national grassroots organization, which has worked to preserve and protect wildlands for nearly 30 years, Gold notes that it’s “fun, zany and creative” (as is evident by the cheeky name). Often, organizations are either fun or effective, but Great Old Broads, she says, is both.

Gold has worked with the Olympia-based chapter, Polly Dyer Cascadia “Broadband,” since 2013. But in July, Great Old Broads is bringing a new chapter to Seattle. Gold predicts that the city’s rapidly growing population, tradition of environmental advocacy and a newly mobilized base of activists (especially women) concerned over threats to democracy, will help it thrive.

The nature lover beams with pride at the work this group has done, including the decision to go toe to toe with the White House. “They have courage,” she says. “They’ve never been intimidated.”

Gold may have retired from practicing psychiatry, but don’t expect her to stop fighting for a safer, cleaner world anytime soon. At 80 years old, the intrepid environmentalist still sees so much more work to be done. “I feel a sense of responsibility as long as I’m able. I love the land [and] I feel very committed to the preservation of it,” she says.

Vital Stats
 
Environmental Activism 101
Getting people outside in nature is the best way to combat apathy when it comes to the environment, says Gold. “We have rapid access to the Cascades, Puget Sound…stunningly beautiful places. If it’s localized, then they’ll care about that place,” she believes.

Pen to Paper
Not sure what to do with your raised consciousness about the environment? You can join an organization, says Gold, or write letters to
elected officials.

Next Up
Gold will join other Great Old Broads August 12-16 for the North Cascades Adventure in North Cascades National Park—an event in which attendees learn about a specific area and its needs. Learn more at greatoldbroads.org.

Follow Us

Ruby Beach Recognized as One of the World's Best  

Ruby Beach Recognized as One of the World’s Best  

Sparkling red and strewn with sea stacks, Washington's rugged shoreline stands out

Situated on the Olympic Peninsula, a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Seattle, Ruby Beach is known for its towering sea stacks sculpted by centuries of wind and waves, and its thriving tide pools.

Whale Watching is Extremely Popular

Whale Watching is Extremely Popular

New study pinpoints visitors, dollars in Washington state

A study for the Pacific Whale Watch Association by Martin Associates finds that whale watching expeditions in Washington state create $119.1 million in economic value and support 1,125 jobs...

You Better Belize It

You Better Belize It

Fly nonstop from Seattle and enjoy the jungle, the sea, and everything else the country has to offer

With its colonial past as British Honduras, Belize is the only English-speaking country in the region. But the blend of European, Central American, Mexican, Spanish, and Caribbean influences doesn’t even begin to describe Belize’s unique potpourri of cultures. The landscape is dotted with numerous Mayan temples, both ready to visit and still under excavation. The

Direct, Connect, Reflect

Direct, Connect, Reflect

It’s easier than ever to reach these sun-splashed sensations from Seattle

Need to escape Seattle this winter? Need some inspiration to pack a carry-on and cash in those miles? Here are four nonstop flights for nonstop escape. In June, Alaska Airlines announced new nonstop service to Nassau, Bahamas, beginning Dec. 15. Board one of these flights at 9 a.m. and land just six hours later. Even…