Posted on 09/15/2001 12:48:34 PM PDT by LarryLied
Hot to present themselves as staunch flag-waggers, some of America's premier environmental organizations have disgracefully ditched their principles.
The Sierra Club, America's oldest green group has abruptly turned off its campaign against the anti-environmental program of the Bush administration. CounterPunch has secured an internal memo in which the club's high command explains to its staff why it suspending its campaigns.
"In response to the attacks on America," the memo goes, "we are shifting our communications strategy for the immediate future. We have taken all of our ads off of the air; halted our phone banks; removed any material from the web that people could perceive as anti-Bush, and we are taking other steps to prevent the Sierra Club from being perceived as controversial during this crisis. For now we are going to stop aggressively pushing our agenda and will cease bashing President Bush."
The memo then instructs club staffers on how to respond to the press: "If you are asked about what this terrorism does to the Sierra Club's agenda, please respond simply by saying that right now the public needs to focus on comforting each other and strengthening our national security to deal with the crisis at hand."
Imagine if this craven posture spreads across the public interest movement. We could expect First Amendment defenders to say that they were abandoning efforts to protect the Bill of Rights. We could expect groups defending immigrants to say that henceforth the INS should be given free rein. Fortunately First Amendment defenders and defenders of immigrants have stronger spines and principles than the supposed defenders of the environment at the Sierra Club.
Are we now to expect the Club to endorse drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve as necessary "for national security"?
Even groups that we here at CounterPunch have admired are now in pellmell cowardly retreat.
The Berkeley-based International Rivers Network, which has been the main bulwark against the Three Gorges dam in China, now announces that it is suspending its planned nationwide protest against Morgan Stanley, one of the dam's principle financiers. Morgan Stanley had 50 floors of offices in the World Trade Center. IRN has also announced that "out of respect for the victims of this disaster, with understanding of the strategic difficulties in conveying to a shocked media and public our messages regarding the World Bank and IMF, with concern for the integrity of security systems in Washington DC, and for the safety of all, we will refrain from participating in activities surrounding the planned World Bank / IMF this month. We are also sharing our concerns with the leading organizations responsible for planning and coordinating these activities."
The Ruckus Society, the direct action training group involved in many demonstrations at the World Trade Organization has simultaneously announced that it is canceling its training camp, to be held in Middleburgh, Virginia, scheduled as preparation for the next World Bank meeting.
This camp was to be cosponsored by the Institute for Policy Studies, Jobs with Justice and Global Exchange. All these organizations have now backed out, saying that now is not the time for such activity.
The Rainforest Action Network, based in San Francisco, describes itself as being in a "wait-and-see mode."
"Things are definitely on hold," said RAN's Patrick Reinsborough.
Let's get this straight. If all resisters to the Bush political program were to follow this shameful exhibition by these green groups, we would see peace groups declining to protest against nuclear attacks on Iraq and armed invasion of Afghanistan. We would see civil rights sitting on their hands as racial and religious profiling is used to persecute people of Middle Eastern descent. Defenders of Palestinian rights would say that for the time being they wouldn't protest the use of US Apache helicopters against civilians in West Bank towns and villages.
What nonsense! Principles are never more important than when it is inconvenient or dangerous to stand up for them.
And what, exactly, has Bush done that has been "anti-environmental"?
Thought of posting their lead editorial here earlier but it is so warped, I figured it was best left where it is.What is frustrating about the 4th international however, is the mainstream press parrots much of what they say (about Pinochet for instance). After cleaning up the rhetoric of course so average readers don't know where the take on a subject originates.
This nation simply MUST become energy independent. The economic efficiencies of "comparative advantage" aren't worth the military and political risks.
Those chickens just read the mood of American's after the attack, and realized that a majority were in no state of mind to humor the green's childish nonsense. THey will re-group and be back as anti-war protesters when they feel that conditions are in their favor.
I've always wondered how the founding fathers did it. How did they pull together so many differing factions and produce what they did. Why didn't John Adams just give up? This nation was visited by the devil on Sept. 11. Then the hand of God grasped us. Flags are everywhere. Strangers want to talk. Old friends run and tell you they love you! I don't profess to be a good Christian. It's what I'd like to be when I grow up. But I know a miracle when I see one. This nation is blessed. Give us the strength to hang on to it.
We'll battle for the environment and straighten out these politico's...another day. Today they are our leaders, today they've done well. I'm glad I'm not in their shoes! Haven't you watched them transform? This is the great equalizer. We've all learned a lot. We have even more to learn. I even enjoyed watching Dan Rather!!
My son left the NW a couple years ago to be near "the love of his life!" He wasn't gone many weeks when he called one day and said, "Mom, there's only one thing worse than my relatives, and that's everyone elses!" Looks like we Americans, for the most part are family.....warts and all. And the Brits! Did you see the Queen singing God Bless America!?? Looks like we American's aren't so hated after all. We might just get this right yet, people. God isn't finished with us yet.
GOD BLESS AMERICA!! AND ALL OF YOU!
Also, it might just be a tad bit unpopular to cling to foreign oil if we get ourselves in a shooting war.
Call me cynical.
that their time has passed and that they better get the hell out of the way before they get run over as well.
I found a website that has posted pictures from around the world showing people who are in mourning with us. Sadly, it looks like it took this tragedy to bring the WORLD together in a common cause against evil. And I'm not talking about any new world order either!
It isn't just the enviro-wackos either. Most bleeding heart libs have suddenly become staunch flag waivers. If we didn't know better, you'd think Chuckie Schumer was Atilla the Hun.
Right on the button.
Their reaction in this circumstance simply proves that their protests, propaganda and legal maneuvering had nothing to do with the environment. And everything to do with an anti-American socialist agenda.
If their course was just and their hearts pure, why stop?
Maybe so, but it's still a good idea to keep one eye open. NEVER TRUST !!
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