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From: Tompaleo@aol.com
Date: Thu, 7 Sep 1995 01:21:10 -0400
To: paleonet-owner@nhm.ac.uk
Subject: Re: Eco-environmental extremism !?
Status: O
In a message dated 95-09-06 15:27:11 EDT, you write:
>BUT, even if T. is absolutely correct about global warming trends and CFC
>impacts, the notion that we are in a decade of "eco-environmental
extremeism"
>is not supported. Everyone makes mistakes; but I do not believe it is
>a mistake to argue forcefully that our human impact on Earth, accelerating
>events of environmental change, much to the dismay and "discomfort" of
>many of Earth's human population, is an egregious assault on the
Environment,
>not to be diminished by labeling our concerns as "extremism".
Realising that we are digressing from the principal topic of paleontology
(sensu lato) I will reply list-wide this time and invite Peter and any other
person who cares to, to contact me off list.
Not supported? One nearly has to look at the mountains of cases where good ol
Uncle Sam or some local government bureaucrat has siezed property from
private citizens or prevented them from developing their land
_as_they_see_fit_ because of a pup fish, tiger beetle, kangaroo rat or some
other "endangered species" happens to set foot. Where is the evidence that
man's existence cused it to become endangered? It is not as clear cut as
whaling and sealing are/were (of which I am also,against). The spotted owl is
yet another case in point... did I mention that extremeinsts are causing the
shut down of legitimate and law abiding buisnesses? What about increasingly
opressive legislation aimed at the avearge citizen such as myself? Here in
the Peoples Republic of Maryland, a new more stringent emissions testing
program is about to take effect whereby even advocates say 60% of the
vehicles tested will fail and even with the reformulated, oxygenated gas that
was supposed to be used ONLY during the winter months and now is forceed on
us YEAR ROUND and at a higher price! It also decrease mileage by 10% or more
causing an extra financial burden ans results in more emissions! Yet the
exteremists are not satisfied. There have been suggestions by these greenies
to ban gas powered lawn mowers, weed whackers and any other small engine
because they don't even have a catalytic converter! They want to ban outdoor
barbeques and chlorinated pools! Need I say more?
Despite my exasperation with the extremeists, I myself am a conservationist
and have no trouble with common sense ecology. I hunt and fish frequently,
and do not pollute, or litter. I also recycle! (The common sense stuff I
alluded to). BUT, what is taking place now and only superficially touched on
by me is totally unacceptible. This is "eco-extremism"!
Further the allegations of our (human) impact on this planet is severely
overstated. The world is NOT overcrowded! There are regional population
problems mostly in the Third world but it is not global!
Regards,
Thomas R. Lipka
Paleontological/Geological Studies
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"Social gains," "social aims," "social objectives" have become the daily
bromides of our language. The necessity of a social justification for all
activities and all existence is now taken for granted. There is no proposal
outrageous enough but what its author can get a respectful hearing and
approbation if he claims that in some undefined way it is for "the common
good."
Ayn Rand
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