Lucas,
Public Citizen does amazing things.
One of the many upsides of throwing an anniversary party is that it gives you a chance to take stock, to reflect on achievements and strategy.
Public Citizen just held our 40th Anniversary Gala. More than 500 friends of Public Citizen, from all over the country, gathered together for a wonderful celebration. For all of us associated with Public Citizen, it was a very proud moment.
See video, photos, transcripts and more from this wonderful celebration of the work that you and Public Citizen have done and are doing together:
www.citizen.org/40th-anniversary-gala
Our longtime former president, Joan Claybrook, celebrated all that we've done. Public Citizen alumna and current U.S. Representative Donna Edwards talked about how Public Citizen taught her advocacy skills: to speak forcefully, push against conventional boundaries and engage the public.
Iconic journalist Bill Moyers honored our work by saying that "No one beyond your collegial inner circle appreciates more than I do what you have stood for over these 40 years, or is more aware of the battles you have fought, the victories you have won and the passion for democracy that still courses through your veins."
Then Bill went on to deliver an impassioned critique of the modern day Gilded Age, and how we came to be where we are. But, he reminded us, we have the power to reclaim our democracy and country:
"Democracy doesn't begin at the top; it begins at the bottom, when flesh-and-blood human beings fight to rekindle the patriot's dream."
Ralph Nader then provided an eloquent perspective on all that we've achieved. Big Business likes to talk about cost-benefit analysis, he said. What has been the cost-benefit calculus for Public Citizen? How many thousands of lives saved, injuries avoided, taxpayer and consumer dollars saved? Not to mention achievements that escape numerical metrics: justice advanced, democratic rights preserved, constitutional rights upheld?
Ralph also challenged us to do more. A greedy and emboldened corporate class is undermining many settled expectations and longstanding citizen and democracy protections -- and we have to respond.
Visit our 40th Anniversary Gala recap page to see video of the inspiring remarks from Joan Claybrook, Bill Moyers and Ralph Nader -- and more.
I took the stage briefly, and noted all that Public Citizen is doing now. On any given week, I can describe a mind-boggling work program and some remarkable progress. I also accepted Ralph's challenge to evolve our work. We have to continue everything we're doing, but also do more. In coming years, I said, expect to see us running more campaigns targeting corporate wrongdoers directly; building up our grassroots capacity and our youth outreach; and addressing new corporate threats, in areas like nanotechnology.
At the conclusion of the event, we honored our four founders: Ralph, Joan, Alan Morrison and Dr. Sidney Wolfe.
One thing we never forget at Public Citizen is that our achievements are the shared result of everything that all of us do -- staff and supporters alike. So the celebration of Public Citizen's achievements and ongoing work is a celebration of all us.
Thank you!
Robert Weissman
President, Public Citizen