OK - I agree with Lang and the others on this list that we should
stick to things things that pertain directly to nature sound
recording. However, occasional diversions like this are bound to
happen. Really I don't mind diversions now and then, but for the
sake of getting things back on the sound recording track, please
send any comments regarding my comment to me off list. Oh, and I
must appologize in advance for the next time I respond to a gross
generalization about environmentalists - or anyone else for that
matter.
And Walt, thank you for sharing your view. Not just this time, but
for all your expert input to this group as a whole, and for the many
times you have personally responded to my sound recording questions
since last year when I joined the group.
John Hartog
--- In Walter Knapp <>
wrote:
> From: "John Hartog" <>
>
> >
> > Walter Knapp wrote:
> > "It might not have happened this way if the environmentalists
had
> > not been so eager to ruin folks who owned wetlands. The
> > wetlands paid a heavy price for the arrogance of environmental
> > activists."
> >
> > Thanks for the wake-up call, Walt: I didn't realize
> > environmentalists, like me, are to blame for the devestation of
> > wetlands. I've been told that denial is not a river in Egypt,
but all
> > this time I've gone on believing denial was a park in Alaska.=20=20
I
> > suppose I'll go now and cut up my environmentalist membership
> > card, and hang up my nature sound recording gear. Who cares
> > about the natural environment (if not for short term profit)
> > anyway?
> > John Hartog
>
> I did not hang all things on environmentalists. But, in this case,
for
> wetlands in the US the picture is all too clear.
>
> Landowners were harassed, stopped from using their land, often on
the
> basis of mapping that showed wetlands that were not wetlands and
never
> had been. For many of these Landowners, being farmers and so on
this was
> a huge economic hit. It was environmentalists who offered no
compromise,
> take no prisoners politics on this. If you were unfortunate enough
to to
> judged as owning wetlands you were to take the hit. No
compensation at
> all. Generally from a law that was passed after you already owned
the land.
>
> So, when the courts shot down the law being used for this, is it
any
> wonder that such landowners did their dead level best to make sure
all
> might be wetlands on their land were filled? It was their chance
for
> economic survival against a environmentalist gestapo. I don't
blame
> them, I blame those that created the fear, environmentalists.
>
> It is a wake up call. Providing unbalanced solutions makes certain
> drastic backlash. I, for one think there are ways to do all this
that's
> fair to everyone. If you think your membership card gives you the
rights
> of a storm trooper, then by all means cut it up. The environmental
> movement will be better off.
>
> I meet landowners all the time in my survey work. I see the fear
they
> have. They fear I'll find some endangered something and suddenly
the
> farm that's been in their family for generations will be ruined.
That
> fear is real and is realistic. That's what's got to change. If it
does
> not, no environmental gains will be safe.
>
> Walt
>
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