Why I Left Greenpeace
By PATRICK MOORE
April 22, 2008; Page A23

In 1971 an environmental and antiwar ethic was taking root in Canada, and I chose to participate. As I completed a Ph.D. in ecology, I combined my science background with the strong media skills of my colleagues. In keeping with our pacifist views, we started Greenpeace.

But I later learned that the environmental movement is not always guided by science. As we celebrate Earth Day today, this is a good lesson to keep in mind.

At first, many of the causes we championed, such as opposition to nuclear testing and protection of whales, stemmed from our scientific knowledge of nuclear physics and marine biology. But after six years as one of five directors of Greenpeace International, I observed that none of my fellow directors had any formal science education. They were either political activists or environmental entrepreneurs. Ultimately, a trend toward abandoning scientific objectivity in favor of political agendas forced me to leave Greenpeace in 1986.

The breaking point was a Greenpeace decision to support a world-wide ban on chlorine. Science shows that adding chlorine to drinking water was the biggest advance in the history of public health, virtually eradicating water-borne diseases such as cholera. And the majority of our pharmaceuticals are based on chlorine chemistry. Simply put, chlorine is essential for our health.

My former colleagues ignored science and supported the ban, forcing my departure. Despite science concluding no known health risks – and ample benefits – from chlorine in drinking water, Greenpeace and other environmental groups have opposed its use for more than 20 years.

Opposition to the use of chemicals such as chlorine is part of a broader hostility to the use of industrial chemicals. Rachel Carson's 1962 book, "Silent Spring," had a significant impact on many pioneers of the green movement. The book raised concerns, many rooted in science, about the risks and negative environmental impact associated with the overuse of chemicals. But the initial healthy skepticism hardened into a mindset that treats virtually all industrial use of chemicals with suspicion.

Sadly, Greenpeace has evolved into an organization of extremism and politically motivated agendas. Its antichlorination campaign failed, only to be followed by a campaign against polyvinyl chloride.

Greenpeace now has a new target called phthalates (pronounced thal-ates). These are chemical compounds that make plastics flexible. They are found in everything from hospital equipment such as IV bags and tubes, to children's toys and shower curtains. They are among the most practical chemical compounds in existence.

Phthalates are the new bogeyman. These chemicals make easy targets since they are hard to understand and difficult to pronounce. Commonly used phthalates, such as diisononyl phthalate (DINP), have been used in everyday products for decades with no evidence of human harm. DINP is the primary plasticizer used in toys. It has been tested by multiple government and independent evaluators, and found to be safe.

Despite this, a political campaign that rejects science is pressuring companies and the public to reject the use of DINP. Retailers such as Wal-Mart and Toys "R" Us are switching to phthalate-free products to avoid public pressure.

It may be tempting to take this path of least resistance, but at what cost? None of the potential replacement chemicals have been tested and found safe to the degree that DINP has. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recently cautioned, "If DINP is to be replaced in children's products . . . the potential risks of substitutes must be considered. Weaker or more brittle plastics might break and result in a choking hazard. Other plasticizers might not be as well studied as DINP."

The hysteria over DINP began in Europe and Israel, both of which instituted bans. Yet earlier this year, Israel realized the error of putting politics before science, and reinstated DINP.

The European Union banned the use of phthalates in toys prior to completion of a comprehensive risk assessment on DINP. That assessment ultimately concluded that the use of DINP in infant toys poses no measurable risk.

The antiphthalate activists are running a campaign of fear to implement their political agenda. They have seen success in California, with a state ban on the use of phthalates in infant products, and are pushing for a national ban. This fear campaign merely distracts the public from real environmental threats.

We all have a responsibility to be environmental stewards. But that stewardship requires that science, not political agendas, drive our public policy.

Mr. Moore, co-founder and former leader of Greenpeace, is chairman and chief scientist of Greenspirit Strategies.

He will be welcomed by the darkside with open arms.

This might actually be the real snake.

Every spring the real snake post at least one article about some obscure GW rally being snowed in and this year it sounds even more dubious because I don't think people have real global warming rallys anymore.

It's funny when he shuts the hell up in the summer and fall

It's definitely the real snake.

And you are grossly insulting him with the "every spring....at least ONE...." stuff.

He posts at least one per HOUR every spring fgtb76

You are slightly exaggerating, hes cut back a good bit.

One per meal, then?

Snake knows I'm just pulling his chain.

Say no homo

No need. I was just jerking snake around.....

homo

Hmmm, someone's AWFULLY insecure........ b667ur 3452jjj

I'm not the one yanking and jerking other guys n7rryb

I just used two common euphemisms. Whether you put them in your spank bank tonight is your business. We don't need to know about your perversions.

Yall just need to get a room.


And I thought having a separate political forum guaranteed peace and happiness? :rolleyes:

It helps guarantee peace and happiness elsewhere. Feel free to spew venom all you want in here. fgtb76

This is what makes them happy & peaceful Rob. Leave them alone. Boys will be boys. :bsc:


And no, we're still not combining the 2 forums.









at least I hope not.








Iowa? :unsure:

:D

FWIW, I didn't realize I was "spewing venom."

I thought I was joking.

My bad, Rob. Glad you were here to set me straight!

Haha, we must think alike. You should have used that emoticon though. Woulda worked better in your post... uh-huh-huh... you said "spew". :bsc:

That's a pretty gay response. I notice you getting unduly defensive about gay jokes.

Stop spewing venom, Flight.

End the hate!

678hnn77

Iowa won't. He's stubborn like that. He won't do it even if he changes his mind about it simply because he mad a big stink about not doing it.

I have a reasonable solution. Make Politics a sub-forum of the Chatterbox Forum. Then people can click the breadcrumbs list at the top to navigate to each forum in a single click.

I solve problems. That's what I do. My job here is done.

Feel free to act like it's not a good idea.

You're the one jerking the snake 3452jjj

It's not changing.

I'm flexible with many things. Not this one. But I'm like that because I made a big stink about it.

That's a horrible idea. :P WTF is a "breadcrumbs list"??? iy88767

The problem is really solved. I think everyone could live with that. Even you. :)

Breadcrumbs are the links at the top:

Falcons Fan Forum->General Forums->Politics->Why I left Green Peace, by Patrick Moore, etc

Are we children that we need to be told what we can and cant talk about? I thought the whole point of forums was to generate debate, perhaps I missed the point.


And is it really necessary to put all that extra space in your post foozball? Do we get extra credit for using all the screen or something?
:mf_sleep:

Nope. You can talk about anything you please, no one minds a bit. All I ask is that it's discussed it's closest possible forum according to topic.

Really?

You vipticious fracturial overblown generial claptatious lagoon, you!

Word.









Uh,..what?

Nothing wrong


in

extra

space.

Yes.











Yes it is.

:unsure:

What the...

:lol:

snake, you rock man. Posting an article about some guy leaving Greenpeace, and you manage to throw in a global warming reference in the title. Did I miss something? Is there anything in this article about GW?

The Minister of Misinformation Dissemination strikes again.

g6wvuymh87

Flight, I would say thats enough Said. Jdave can send a round kick thru the internet and bust your azz in 2. Be wise, then be careful. That away you get to watch the draft while NOT drinking through a straw. :)

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Brundage Mountain extends ski season into May

02:58 PM MDT on Wednesday, April 23, 2008

KTVB



Brundage Mountain

Brundage Mountain has received 10 inches of new snow over the past week and will now be open May 3rd and 4th.


McCALL -- Near-record snowfall and low spring temperatures are creating ideal conditions at Brundage Mountain Resort. Resort officials announced today that they will be open for a third bonus weekend in May.

The resort is currently closed on weekdays, and had planned this Saturday and Sunday to be the final ski weekend of the season, but that was before 10 inches of fresh powder fell this week. Now, resort managers have decided to be open on May 3rd and 4th.

“Mother Nature has been extremely kind to us this year,” said resort spokesperson April Russell. “And our loyal visitors have shown that they are still interested in skiing and riding on the best snow in Idaho.”

Resort operators are keeping a close watch on Mother Nature and customer interest to decide if additional weekends in May are possible.

This is the first time Brundage Mountain has ever offered lift service in the month of May.

Brundage Mountain has received 422 inches of snowfall this season. That makes this the second snowiest winter on record.
Denial isn't a fiver in the ME.