That’s billion, with a “B.”
If they wanted to, those groups could fully fund the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s endangered species programs — for five years.
Instead, they go for the money. They snipe at the federal government and, as importantly, at farmers and ranchers. Many prefer to drag their targets into court instead of seeking compromises that would help species and allow farmers, ranchers and others to stay in business.
In fact, the litigation precludes such compromises.
“When you’re litigating something, you almost can’t really talk to anyone,” said Don Stuart, former American Farmland Trust Pacific Northwest director. He wrote a book about the clashes over the ESA.
The reasons for suing the government and ranchers are clear. Many environmental groups don’t like animal agriculture. They want a vegetarian lifestyle. And they don’t like large-scale farming. Anything they can do to get rid of ranching and large farms would be a feather in their cap.
But there’s more to it. Environmental organizations cannot raise money if they solve problems. They must make sure the problem remains, or they can’t produce the glossy ads and pamphlets and hold fund-raisers.
You’ll never hear an environmental group announce to its donors, “Well, we’ve solved that problem. Thanks for your help, and we’re now going to dissolve the group.”
Environmental groups need a perceived problem — preferably one that’s “getting worse and that, through your donations, we can make a difference.”
Here’s the format they use:
“The (insert an animal, fish or insect) needs your help. We will fight to save the (insert an animal, fish or insect). With your donation, we can save the (insert an animal, fish or insect) for our children and generations to come.”
The environmental groups came up with this formula decades ago, when Congress wrote the Endangered Species Act and President Richard Nixon signed it into law.
With its deadlines and protection not of species but of specific populations, the ESA was a gift to the environmental movement.
1 comment:
Perhaps all that is stated in the article is true. But in my opinion as well as the opinion of others from other forum, many of the radical environment groups are engaged in abnormal love of animals that is bordering zoophilism. Another element, and again, it is only my opinion--there are people who are determinant to destroy America by any means and providing money to the radical environmentalists is another way to take over a lifestyle, land, etc. Again, it is my opinion based on reading other forum, web site, etc.
It is not just environmentalist--land develloper,industry-- list is very long!!
Monique
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