LETTERS FROM OUR READERS.

CANNING OF WORMS

As an Alaskan citizen who has lived in our great state since 1958, I am appalled that your cover article ("Troubled Waters," May/June 2001) names Alaska's Canning as number two on the most endangered rivers list. Alaskans are aware of our responsibilities in protecting our environment, and our state has cumbersome and detailed permitting requirements.

The only motivation I can see for listing this river is a political one: It's designed to scare the unaware public in the lower 48 states. The Canning River is so clean I could drink from it. And I would drink from the Sag, Kuparuk and Nuiqusit Rivers on the North Slope, where oil fields are already in place. I work for a materials supplier that sells environmental products and works with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and the Environmental Protection Agency, engineering firms and end users to protect our wilderness. I have seen firsthand the expense and care taken in the permitting process.

Floyd Stretch
Anchorage, AK

Eric Eckl, director of media affairs at American Rivers, which produced the list Stretch refers to, responds: A common misperception about our annual tally of the "Most Endangered Rivers" is that it is a list of the nation's worst rivers, when in fact, our intention is to identify the rivers at greatest risk of taking a turn for the worse in the coming year. The risk to the Canning from oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge goes far beyond that of spills and pollution. In an area that receives less rain than Albuquerque, New Mexico; the Canning's precious water would be siphoned off to construct ice roads and for use in industrial processes. Caribou mothers and their newborn calves, which frequent the river delta, would be disturbed by the industrial activity that accompanies drilling. Given the consequences to this pristine river should drilling occur, we could not review the nomination and fairly conclude anything other than that the Canning is among the most urgently threatened rivers in the nation, and it deserves our best efforts to call the American people's attention to the impending loss of an irreplaceable portion of our natural heritage.

LIBERTARIAN LASHING

In the feature "Scorched Earth Policy," (May/June 2001), it says, "According to `Gale Ann Norton: An Environmental Profile' a comprehensive report prepared by six major green groups, Norton began her career as a moderate but has moved steadily to the right, embracing extreme libertarian views."

If E had spent any time analyzing the political environment, the editors would know that libertarians are no more on the right than their drug policy of decriminalization puts them off the left. It's easy for political talking heads to break everything down into pro vs. con, black vs. white or left vs. right; but it's an oversimplification for an issue-oriented magazine.

Howard Pearce
Libertarian Party of Massachusetts
Melrose, MA

PESTICIDE-FREE PETALS

Bravo for your coverage of pesticide use in flower ,production ("Bloomin' Hazard," Consumer News, May/June 2001). Flower lovers are becoming increasingly aware and concerned about the repercussions of this non-food crop. Consequently, a transformation of management practices is underway in several Latin American nations.

Although it is critical that the Environmental Protection Agency begin to regulate pesticide use on flower plantations, it is just as important that producers encourage improvements at the farm level. Since the demand for beautiful bouquets will likely increase, our organizations offer growers an opportunity to supply the market with products that meet environmental and social guidelines. We seek growers' participation in the process from the onset, and we assist them in their efforts to improve production practices. Soon, consumers will be able to purchase flowers bearing the Rainforest Alliance seal of approval.

Tensie Whelan, executive director,
Rainforest Alliance

Elsa Escobar, executive director,
Fundacion Natura
New York, NY

THREE CHEERS FOR WHISTLE BLOWERS

Kudos to Jane Akre and Steve Wilson ("Green Warriors," Currents, May/June 2001) for standing up to their (now former) employer, WTVT television in Tampa, Florida, in the investigation and reporting of Monsanto's man-made bovine growth hormone (BGH). It's sad that a major broadcaster like Fox News allowed itself to be intimidated by a threatening letter from Monsanto. Jane and Steve deserve the Goldman Environmental Foundation award for putting their jobs on the line to report the truth, and not a covered-up story that Fox would have them sell to the public.

I hope the good citizens of Tampa will boycott WTVT for bowing to corporate polluter pressure. It looks to me like a boycott might also be in order against Monsanto, this big bully and corporate polluter. I recently read an article that claimed Monsanto sued a farmer because the company found its "product" growing on the farmer's land. It was then discovered that seed from Monsanto's genetically engineered crops had blown over onto the man's farm.

Glen Reid
Santa Rosa, CA

STICKS AND STONES

I am troubled by your article "Burning Down the Houses" (Currents, May/June 2001). The Earth Liberation Front's claim that no human beings are ever harmed by its actions is nonsense. One cannot burn down houses, destroy equipment, plant bombs and damage property without causing harm to people. These acts may also promote even higher levels of violence by unruly sympathizers. Our society is plagued by people who resort to violence just because they are unable to get support for their ideas. One of these extremists was just executed for a horrific bombing, which he apparently still upheld as appropriate. Anti-abortionists, among others, conduct individual assassinations for political reasons. This spectrum of "legitimized" violence continues through the acts of the eco-terrorists and animal liberationists to widespread rudeness, crudeness and incivility.

Violent activists simply cannot abide by the fact that the majority of people don't agree with them. They resort to the sword because their pen is too weak.

Ed Corcoran
via e-mail

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