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.

Join The Must List

Seattle's best events delivered to your inbox

Follow Us

Palm Springs Top Destination for Seattleites

Palm Springs Top Destination for Seattleites

Seattle Residents Look South for Vacation Homes

Heading to Palm Springs during spring break or summer vacation? You’re not alone. The California city known for its natural hot springs, restaurants, golf courses, and nearly year-round sunshine is by far the most popular destination for Seattleites who want to buy a vacation home. A study by real estate company Pacaso says 16% of…

Seattle Avalanche Center Keeps an Eye on Hazards

Seattle Avalanche Center Keeps an Eye on Hazards

Avalanche forecasting is a blend of science and art

A mass of heavy snow slides down a 40-degree mountain slope, hissing as it gains speed and momentum. The concrete-like mix comes to a slow stop along Highway 2 near Stevens Pass, completely blocking the road from vehicular traffic and knocking over large Douglas fir trees, upturning boulders and causing destruction in its wake.  For…

Sagecliffe Offers Some Welcome Sunshine

Sagecliffe Offers Some Welcome Sunshine

Sagecliffe Resort and Spa unites people and nature

For savvy Seattleites, the secret is out: Winter snowbirds in search of sunshine don’t have to fly south in winter — they can also drive east. A quick trip over Snoqualmie Pass opens a world of possibilities for vitamin D-deprived city dwellers, from Suncadia to Spokane. For turnkey sun and relaxation just two-and-a-half hours away,…

Travel Destination: Palm Springs

Travel Destination: Palm Springs

How to make the most of a trip to Palm Springs

“The desert tells a different story every time one ventures on it.” — Robert Edison Fulton Jr. Everything about Palm Springs defies easy description. It is both the name of a city and a catch-all term for the small towns scattered along the vast Coachella Valley, from Cabazon to Indio. It evokes hedonism, as well…