---------------Original Message---------------
From: <WillyJo1@aol.com>
To: MDCMAIN.SMTP("ar-debate@cygnus.com")
Date: Monday, April 15, 1996 7:11 pm
Subject: Re: good stuff
I came across this recently and cold not help but share it.
As we have often heard, when polled Americans continue to say
they care deeply about the environment. But, what is that belief
built upon? On sound science and careful environmental analysis?
Or, is it the results of flimsy or non-existent evidence coupled
with carefully crafted rhetoric and scare tactics?
Peter Sparber, a Washington D.C. business lobbyist, conducted a
simple experiment to find the answers to those questions. The
results from Mr. Sparber's efforts were reported in the October
10, 1995 issue of the "Journal of Commerce" in an article written
by Peter M. Tischwell.
Mr. Sparber has a simple theory, which is this: Many Americans
can be tricked into believing an environmental crisis exists
without any facts whatsoever. To test this theory, Mr. Sparber
put together a mailing list of people who support banning
pesticides and sent them a letter from a fictitious group he
called "Stop the Silent Killer Foundation". Here is the
entire text of the letter:
Dear Mr. Smith,
You have been identified as a person who cares deeply about the
future of our fragile planet, the health of our children and the
quality of our nation's leadership. If we are right, we need
your help, and we need it immediately.
As you have undoubtedly read, DIHYDROGEN OXIDE has been found to
be a major threat to the environment and to humans and animal
health. Here are the facts:
In 1991, the most recent year for which statistics are available,
4,100 Americans, many of them under the age of 10, died from
excessive dosages of dihydrogen oxide commonly found in many
homes and recreation areas.
Our polluted lakes, rivers, and oceans are known to contain vast
quantities of dihydrogen oxide. On this, there is no controversy!
Contaminated ground water? Same tragic situation.
In California, Missouri and Georgia, families have lost their
homes due to dihydrogen oxide contamination.
In some applications, dihydrogen oxide is a major contributor to
injuries from falls. In other applications, dihydrogen oxide is
a major cause of burns.
Why does America endure this wasteful destruction of our planet,
our children and ourselves? Greed. Simple greed and stupidity.
We need your help now. In the next 24 hours, we need you to
demand an end to the production and use of dihydrogen oxide.
Please write: The Dihydrogen Oxide Institute, P.O. Box 7178,
Washington DC 20044-7178.
On behalf of future generations, I thank you.
Sincerely,
John Alan Waterman
Waterman, eh?
And, what is this heinous product, Dihydrogen Oxide? Does H20 or
water ring a bell?
Well, as you might guess, responses to Mr. Waterman's letter
immediately came pouring in to Mr. Sparber's fictitious
Dihydrogen Oxide Institute. For instance, a couple from
Portland, Maine wrote:
We're writing to state a demand to end production and use of
dihydrogen oxide. This is a major threat to the environment and
to humans and animal health. Do the right thing and don't let $$
always speak.
A woman from Lyndon, Washington, sent in this response:
What is going on here? You people must really believe the world
will come to an end in the year 2000. Why else would you be
poisoning the planet and its inhabitants with dihydrogen oxide.
I know producing this poison is how you make your living. You
must also realize that this same poison is what causes some
people's deaths. How in God's name can you live with yourselves?
Stop production and get a job you can be proud of - one that
won't ruin your karma.
From New York, New York:
For the sake of other's lives, please stop the production of
dihydrogen oxide! More than 4,100 Americans died from excessive
dosages. Since 1991, there are no more statistics, but I surmise
the total deaths must be about 13,000 more!
You are polluting our water. Stop your greed. Stop production.
Mr. Waterman Sparber received many other responses all asking for
an immediate end to dihydrogen oxide production. Didn't know
water could be so dangerous. But every year thousands of
American slip and fall on ice. More are burned by scalding
water; and in 1991, 4,100 American drowned. Water can be a truly
dangerous substance.
The lesson in all this should be disturbing for a farmer seeking
sound environmental policy. Farm Bureau members nationwide want
reform of the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, the
Delaney Clause but are fighting an uphill battle against
environmental groups who use skewed, distorted or non-existent
evidence promising imminent environmental disaster if Farm
Bureau supported reforms are enacted.
It's easy to create fear. It's difficult to allay those fears
and disprove negative statement. The reason they continue is
because they are effective, and there is no penalty whatsoever
for publishing false, misleading statements on the environment.
AFBF President Dean Kleckner, in his annual meeting address,
challenged Farm Bureau members nationwide to challenge every
shoddy piece of "environmental science". If we don't, farm
practices will be governed by people easily fooled by the
environmental scare of the week rather than by science and what
makes sense down on the farm. Utah Farm Bureau News.
----------End of Original Message----------
-------------------------------------
Name: Pacific Lumber Co.
E-mail: scopac@northcoast.com
Date: 06/07/96
Time: 15:20:20
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