In a previous post, we pointed out that Stephanie Buffum of the Friends is the ex-wife of renowned hardball environmentalist Kieran Suckling. Here is what he has to say in a 2010 interview:
Were you hindered by not having science degrees?
No. It was a key to our success. I think the professionalization of the environmental movement has injured it greatly. These kids get degrees in environmental conservation and wildlife management and come looking for jobs in the environmental movement. I’m more interested in hiring philosophers, linguists, and poets. The core talent of a successful environmental activist is not science and law. It’s campaigning instinct. That’s not only not taught in the universities, it’s discouraged.
Suckling's words lend credence to the P.J. O'Rourke quote, "Some people will do anything to save the earth, except take a science course." Meanwhile, in a separate story about environmental bullies elsewhere, the residents of Cape Hatteras are learning what it means to go up against big green beach bully birders.
Couch and 15 other local business owners each signed their own affidavits swearing the consent decree was destroying their lives and the lives of employees they had to let go. Families were losing their life savings, their college funds and their homes.
At the time, Defenders' president, Rodger Schlickeisen, scrimped along with his $295,641 salary and Audubon boss John Flicker got by on $322,422 -- not counting their handsome $30,000-plus benefit packages.
Jim Keene, director of the North Carolina Beach Buggy Association, is the go-to guy on how this disaster started. "The green groups wanted to get rid of ORVs [off-road vehicles] with the usual 'beer belly cowboy bird killers' propaganda," he said. "They don't recognize it was ORV users that first went out and flagged nests so everybody would drive with extra caution. We do more to protect beach birds than these big-shots in their fancy New York City skyscrapers -- we need this beach, and we need it open."
If you click on the linked article, be sure to note the size of the bird buffers. Each bird has its own individualized buffer with a diameter of 6,000 feet. And yes, you read that right: 6,000 feet.
Suckling?
ReplyDeleteFigures!
It seems the "friends" have gone quiet for the last two weeks or so. Is this a planned tactic, saving up resources for a grand offensive near the end? Or, have they sensed the winds of rebellion blowing their way, and are alaying low, knowing the Council is already in the bag?
ReplyDeleteActually they are putting out quite a number of calls action right now, distracted by the Big Coal Train thing over in Bellingham. Everybody is sort of taking some time to regroup during April, kind of a truce. Things will hit the fan in May. And yes, the FOSJ believes the Council is in the bag. They, the Department of Ecology and the Bullitt Foundation will be working earnestly to protect their political investments.
ReplyDeleteWhich is why it is really important to push on the individual Council Critters right now for their personal position: Do you support the Comp Plan policy of accommodating maximum use and enjoyment of property ... or not? Simple question any of them can answer right now.
I must be politically naive! I cannot believe that the Council members have actually read the wetlands portion of the CAO, and the General Section, and come away thinking that it will not generate chaos in the County! I believe there will be endless lawsuits, mass confusion by citizens trying to comform, mass non-compliance, and a serious negative impact on real estate values.
ReplyDeleteI think that you raise an excellent question that EACH Council person should answer, and answer soon: Have you read the BAS Synthesis and the draft provisions?
ReplyDelete