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Index of Subjects Hi Sharon I have no direct conection with the island nature trust, though I know several people that have or do work there. I'm disturbed that you think all groups have to work on this, or any other issue the same way. If you examine INT's record of protecting bird habitat, you'll find it as good or better than most. I feel safe in suggesting that it would be by far the best on PEI. Fundraising on the love of birds would thus be legit. If they don't feel they have the expertise to evaluate carbofuran, than who are you to say they do? If they choose not to involve themselves in the issue even if every one of them is personally convinced and perhaps writing letters, perhaps there is a reason? I won't deal with the time it takes to deal with carbofuran, then the flood of other 'obvious' environmental issues sure to follow. Perhaps taking a position on carbofuran would upset a farmer who is otherwise prepared to donate or enter a stewardship agreement on 100 acres of important bird habitat? Perhaps the distrust of one would cascade and undermine years of work? Would their voice add that much to the debate? Could you replace those acres in exchange for their support? Would you appreciate a letter to the editor criticizing your group for not taking action to purchase a critical piece of land? A lot of environmental groups know the piece of the puzzle they choose to work on. What they do, they do well. INT is not the most succesful trust in the Maritimes, and among the most successful in Canada without reason. There are more than enough issues that the environmental movement shouldn't waste time fighting among ourselves. Colin Stewart On Wed, 21 Oct 1998, Sharon Labchuk wrote: > EARTH ACTION > 81 Prince Street > Charlottetown, PEI C1A 4R3 > Phone: 902-621-0719 / 368-7337 > Fax: 902-621-0717 (call first) > Email: slabchuk@isn.net > > LETTER TO THE EDITOR > > October 14, 1998 > > Dear Editor, > > The Island Nature Trust has a couple of fundraisers this fall that > capitalize on our love of birds - the autumn bird count and the bird seed > sale. I find it distasteful that this group would make money off the backs > of birds yet refuse to help protect these same birds from pesticide poisoning. > > When asked to join other organizations in a campaign to ban carbofuran, > one of the most notorious bird-killing pesticides on Earth, the Trust > refused. Earth Action is leading the efforts to have this "black plague of > pesticides" banned on PEI and has support from the PEI Humane Society and > the PEI Wildlife Federation. Other groups seeking a ban are World > Wildlife Fund Canada, the Sierra Club of Canada, the U.S. Fish and > Wildlife Service and the American Ornithologists' Union, one of the world's > largest associations of bird scientists. The Canadian Wildlife Service of > Environment Canada does not approve of the use of carbofuran on potatoes > because of clear evidence of bird kills. Birds exposed to carbofuran die > excruciatingly painful deaths. In B.C., over 40 Canada Geese were found > dead or convulsing in a turnip field where carbofuran had been sprayed > after a rain. > > The Trust says it doesn't have the expertise to evaluate the evidence. But > the evidence is easily understood and it is damning. In my experience, some > environmental groups are more concerned about maximizing fundraising > profits by playing the middle of the road game than they are about > advocating for justice. And nothing puts a muzzle on a group quicker than > government and corporate ties. > > Earth Action remains free to advocate on behalf of the Earth, > uncompromised by government and corporate funding. > > Sharon Labchuk, Earth Action > > >
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