Ken Miller writes... "...Salmon Forever has joined with the Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC) to develop the THP Watch Program. This program provides citizens with access to our data and research library for their comments on timber harvest plans submitted to CDF. Our input has modified many THPs and helps establish a useful administrative record should THPs be litigated...
Salmon Forever has worked closely with local groups to emphasize the vulnerability of the North Fork Mattole River...
We also serve as a scientific consultant to Voices of Humboldt County, a monthly publication of the Humboldt Watershed Council. The publication’s name comes from a video Salmon Forever and Humboldt Watershed Council co-produced in 1997..."
Now come on, Ken, One group per person really ought to be the rule...
Salmon Forever
Home / Publications / Branching Out / Fall 2000 / Salmon Forever. by Ken Miller of Salmon Forever November 1, 2000. Measuring stream velocity with an orange ...
www.treesfoundation.org/publications/article-40 - 27k - Cached - Similar pages (Trees Foundation, that's Earth First)
Groups Demand Water Board Curtail Excessive Logging: Independent ...
Michael Shellenberger, Salmon Forever, 510-525-9900 Ken Miller, Humboldt Watershed Council, 707-839-7444 Jesse Noell, Salmon Forever, 707-443-7433 ...
www.wildcalifornia.org/pressreleases/number-29 - 10k - Cached - Similar pages (wildcalifornia, that's EPIC)
Deep-Water, Industrial Port Development vs. Sustainable Future
Dr. Ken Miller President, Salmon Forever /s/ Tim McKay Executive Director, Northcoast Environmental Center /s/ Ruth Jameson Eureka Homeowners Committee ...
www.wildcalifornia.org/pages/page-168 - 28k - Cached - Similar pages
Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters - The Bay Area Coalition for ...
It's hard to believe, but the Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters is 10 years old! ... Senator Barbara Boxer's office with one of BACH's founders, Ken Miller ...
www.treesfoundation.org/affiliates/update-77 - 15k - Cached - Similar pages
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Finding the answers
So what's the big deal about the Earth First funding trails? Who cares about these big Foundations and their grants?
It is that this information provides answers to some of the question I had in the beginning, when Richard Salzman told me this was bigger than I could possibly imagine: Obviously many of these questions have now been answered, such as Ken Miller's role in the filing of the PL lawsuit. Finding the money trail has always seemed to be the key, and to find that activistcash has tracked the connections between these groups is an important part of this whole story. It still remains to track the money trails between Salzman, Shellenberger, the so-called "Alliance for Ethical Business" and Shellenberger's operations, if any.
These are some of those questions:
- When did Stoen, Shellenberger and Salzman team up?
- When did Paul Gallegos enter the picture?
- Who introduced Richard Salzman to Shellenberger?
- Who introduced Richard Salzman to Tim Stoen? And when?
- How did Richard Salzman come to work on the Gallegos campaign?
- Has Richard Salzman worked with Shellenberger prior to moving here?
- Before working on Gallegos campaign?
- Have any of them worked with Stoen before?
- When did he start having regular meetings/strategy sessions with Shellenberger?
- Was Richard Salzman hired or recruited by Shellenberger? By Stoen?
- Did AEB/Richard Salzman HIRE Shellenberger?
- How much has that cost? Where did the money come from?
- Is he volunteering his time? If so, why?
- Is Richard Salzman aware of Shellenberger’s work with Earth First? With Rainforest Action Network?
- What does he believe Shellenberger’s motives are?
- How is Rainforest Action Network related to the so-called "Alliance for Ethical Business"?
(I didn't even know about the Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters, or about Ken Miller's connections to these groups, or his involvement in the filing of the lawsuit.)
- follow Michael Shellenberger/Lumina Strategies and his many causes and websites, find our what his role here is.
- What is Stoen’s relationship to Richard Salzman and AEB?
- What is Stoen’s relationship to Earth First?
- What is Stoen’s relationship to Ken Miller?
- How did Stoen get in touch with Gallegos?
- How long has he been trying to secure a position in Humboldt County? - and Why?
- How did Stoen come to file the PL suit?
- Is it true that the suit had been languishing in the DA's office, that Terry Farmer had refused to file it after looking into the facts, realized that the Attorney General would not back it up? That Fish and Game were honor bound to defend PL in case of a suit, by the terms of the agreement.
- Did Ken Miller tell him about the suit? Lobby him to pursue it? What is Ken Miller's role?
- Was Stoen aware of the case prior to taking his office?
- Why did he stop taking calls and meeting with the various State agencies who tried to tell him that the case had serious flaws - or no merit?
- Why was Tim Stoen taking the case to the public before the case had been filed/served?(To the Democratic Central Committee? The Bar Association? The Fortuna City Council? Rotary?) What’s the reason for the dog’n pony show? Is it to exert pressure on the Board of Supervisors?
- What is Tim Stoen’s relationship to John Burton? (Recent AND past)
- What is Tim Stoen’s relationship to Cotchett's San Francisco Law Firm?
- What is Tim Stoen’s relationship to Michael Shellenberger? Where did he meet him?
- What is Tim Stoen’s relationship to Earth First?
- What is Stoen’s relationship with the "Mendocino County Defense Committee"? Wasn’t in fact part of his tactics aimed at winning the other lawsuit? Pressuring public officials and manipulating public opinion "framing the debate" as it were.
- How is the "Alliance for Ethical Business" related to the "Mendocino County Defense Committee"? Did Stoen commission it? Found it? Is it in fact part of his tactics in this lawsuit?
- Is the AEB a vehicle to secure funding to pay for the hiring of the SF law firm? (Again see the Humboldt County memo)
- How much money has the AEB raised? Where is it coming from? Where is it going?
- Who is behind the "Alliance for Ethical Business"? What are their real motives?
- Isn’t it wrong for the DAs office, the people’s arm of the law, to accept or be influenced by special interest money? To commission a source for those monies?
It is that this information provides answers to some of the question I had in the beginning, when Richard Salzman told me this was bigger than I could possibly imagine: Obviously many of these questions have now been answered, such as Ken Miller's role in the filing of the PL lawsuit. Finding the money trail has always seemed to be the key, and to find that activistcash has tracked the connections between these groups is an important part of this whole story. It still remains to track the money trails between Salzman, Shellenberger, the so-called "Alliance for Ethical Business" and Shellenberger's operations, if any.
These are some of those questions:
- When did Stoen, Shellenberger and Salzman team up?
- When did Paul Gallegos enter the picture?
- Who introduced Richard Salzman to Shellenberger?
- Who introduced Richard Salzman to Tim Stoen? And when?
- How did Richard Salzman come to work on the Gallegos campaign?
- Has Richard Salzman worked with Shellenberger prior to moving here?
- Before working on Gallegos campaign?
- Have any of them worked with Stoen before?
- When did he start having regular meetings/strategy sessions with Shellenberger?
- Was Richard Salzman hired or recruited by Shellenberger? By Stoen?
- Did AEB/Richard Salzman HIRE Shellenberger?
- How much has that cost? Where did the money come from?
- Is he volunteering his time? If so, why?
- Is Richard Salzman aware of Shellenberger’s work with Earth First? With Rainforest Action Network?
- What does he believe Shellenberger’s motives are?
- How is Rainforest Action Network related to the so-called "Alliance for Ethical Business"?
(I didn't even know about the Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters, or about Ken Miller's connections to these groups, or his involvement in the filing of the lawsuit.)
- follow Michael Shellenberger/Lumina Strategies and his many causes and websites, find our what his role here is.
- What is Stoen’s relationship to Richard Salzman and AEB?
- What is Stoen’s relationship to Earth First?
- What is Stoen’s relationship to Ken Miller?
- How did Stoen get in touch with Gallegos?
- How long has he been trying to secure a position in Humboldt County? - and Why?
- How did Stoen come to file the PL suit?
- Is it true that the suit had been languishing in the DA's office, that Terry Farmer had refused to file it after looking into the facts, realized that the Attorney General would not back it up? That Fish and Game were honor bound to defend PL in case of a suit, by the terms of the agreement.
- Did Ken Miller tell him about the suit? Lobby him to pursue it? What is Ken Miller's role?
- Was Stoen aware of the case prior to taking his office?
- Why did he stop taking calls and meeting with the various State agencies who tried to tell him that the case had serious flaws - or no merit?
- Why was Tim Stoen taking the case to the public before the case had been filed/served?(To the Democratic Central Committee? The Bar Association? The Fortuna City Council? Rotary?) What’s the reason for the dog’n pony show? Is it to exert pressure on the Board of Supervisors?
- What is Tim Stoen’s relationship to John Burton? (Recent AND past)
- What is Tim Stoen’s relationship to Cotchett's San Francisco Law Firm?
- What is Tim Stoen’s relationship to Michael Shellenberger? Where did he meet him?
- What is Tim Stoen’s relationship to Earth First?
- What is Stoen’s relationship with the "Mendocino County Defense Committee"? Wasn’t in fact part of his tactics aimed at winning the other lawsuit? Pressuring public officials and manipulating public opinion "framing the debate" as it were.
- How is the "Alliance for Ethical Business" related to the "Mendocino County Defense Committee"? Did Stoen commission it? Found it? Is it in fact part of his tactics in this lawsuit?
- Is the AEB a vehicle to secure funding to pay for the hiring of the SF law firm? (Again see the Humboldt County memo)
- How much money has the AEB raised? Where is it coming from? Where is it going?
- Who is behind the "Alliance for Ethical Business"? What are their real motives?
- Isn’t it wrong for the DAs office, the people’s arm of the law, to accept or be influenced by special interest money? To commission a source for those monies?
Another Plea Deal...(NOTATION ADDED)
Robber James Geth pleads, is sentenced -- Jan. 30, 2007
Kevin L. Hoover Eye Editor
ARCATA – James Phillip Geth of Eureka pleaded guilty last Friday to two counts of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon in connection with a McKinleyville-to-Arcata crime spree that took place the morning of last Oct. 18.
A busy morning
Geth, 22, had allegedly robbed a McKinleyville mini-mart at knifepoint around 4 a.m. that morning. About three hours later, he held up the Gas4Less mini-mart at Alliance Road and Spear Avenue in Arcata, and moments later did the same thing at the Union 76 mini-mart on Alliance Road.
There, a video security camera captured images of Geth ordering the clerk and a patron into the back room at knifepoint. The clerk then fought Geth off with a stool, and the robber fled with the store’s cash drawer just as Arcata Police officers arrived.
A high-speed chase ensued, with APD breaking off pursuit for safety reasons. But a California Highway Patrol officer spotted Geth on West End Road, going 87 mph in a 25 mph zone. Geth abandoned his car near Aldergrove Road and, after a brief scuffle with an employee at a business there, fled through Ericson Court into marshy Aldergrove Pond.
APD Sgt. Dave Brown pursued Geth on foot 75 yards into chest-deep muck. Brown said Geth refused to halt and repeatedly feigned reaching for a weapon inside his shirt.
Brown said that if he had not heard previous police radio exchanges about the robberies involving a knife only, he may have shot Geth. Instead, he made the instant decision that Geth was likely not in possession of a firearm, and refrained from shooting. Geth was eventually tased by another officer and taken into custody.
The McKinleyville mini-mart's security videotapes and the Union 76’s cash drawer were subsequently found in the vehicle Geth had abandoned on West End Road.
Charges and pleas
Geth was on felony probation for drug offenses at the time of the robbery spree. Arcata Police recommended numerous felony charges against him for robbery, burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, probation violation, resisting and evading arrest with reckless driving.
However, in a subsequent plea arrangement, newly hired Deputy District Attorney Allan Dollison recommended only one robbery and one evading count against Geth.
Arcata Police were aghast at the downsizing of the Geth case. Noting Geth’s disregard for public safety, his having terrorized citizens (security video shows him slashing at the clerk and a patron with the knife at the Alliance Road store) and placing an officer in a possible shooting situation, APD communicated its surprise and displeasure at the weakened charges to Dollison and DA Paul Gallegos.
At a preliminary hearing in early November, Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Dale Reinholtsen reproved Dollison for failing to subpoena the CHP officer involved and for not having the McKinleyville mini-mart clerk present.
Dollison, who has served mostly as a defense attorney, conferred with Gallegos and re-filed the evading and robbery charges. Geth ultimately pleaded guilty to one of the previously dropped robbery charges.
In ensuing months, the case was transferred to Deputy DA Andy Truitt, who did not immediately return calls Friday. Geth's father didn't return calls either, but last fall had characterized "Jamie" as an industrious but troubled youth.
Last week, Geth was sentenced to nine years in prison and two felony strikes against him.
“We are happy with the disposition,” said APD Captain Tom Chapman.
Subscribe to the Arcata Eye for the full story!
_____________
ADDED: Allan Dollison served Humboldt County's DA's office for 6 years and 4 months. He details his record, and his reasons for leaving here - ◼ My record at the DA's Office - Allan Dollison/for the Times-Standard
Kevin L. Hoover Eye Editor
ARCATA – James Phillip Geth of Eureka pleaded guilty last Friday to two counts of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon in connection with a McKinleyville-to-Arcata crime spree that took place the morning of last Oct. 18.
A busy morning
Geth, 22, had allegedly robbed a McKinleyville mini-mart at knifepoint around 4 a.m. that morning. About three hours later, he held up the Gas4Less mini-mart at Alliance Road and Spear Avenue in Arcata, and moments later did the same thing at the Union 76 mini-mart on Alliance Road.
There, a video security camera captured images of Geth ordering the clerk and a patron into the back room at knifepoint. The clerk then fought Geth off with a stool, and the robber fled with the store’s cash drawer just as Arcata Police officers arrived.
A high-speed chase ensued, with APD breaking off pursuit for safety reasons. But a California Highway Patrol officer spotted Geth on West End Road, going 87 mph in a 25 mph zone. Geth abandoned his car near Aldergrove Road and, after a brief scuffle with an employee at a business there, fled through Ericson Court into marshy Aldergrove Pond.
APD Sgt. Dave Brown pursued Geth on foot 75 yards into chest-deep muck. Brown said Geth refused to halt and repeatedly feigned reaching for a weapon inside his shirt.
Brown said that if he had not heard previous police radio exchanges about the robberies involving a knife only, he may have shot Geth. Instead, he made the instant decision that Geth was likely not in possession of a firearm, and refrained from shooting. Geth was eventually tased by another officer and taken into custody.
The McKinleyville mini-mart's security videotapes and the Union 76’s cash drawer were subsequently found in the vehicle Geth had abandoned on West End Road.
Charges and pleas
Geth was on felony probation for drug offenses at the time of the robbery spree. Arcata Police recommended numerous felony charges against him for robbery, burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, probation violation, resisting and evading arrest with reckless driving.
However, in a subsequent plea arrangement, newly hired Deputy District Attorney Allan Dollison recommended only one robbery and one evading count against Geth.
Arcata Police were aghast at the downsizing of the Geth case. Noting Geth’s disregard for public safety, his having terrorized citizens (security video shows him slashing at the clerk and a patron with the knife at the Alliance Road store) and placing an officer in a possible shooting situation, APD communicated its surprise and displeasure at the weakened charges to Dollison and DA Paul Gallegos.
At a preliminary hearing in early November, Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Dale Reinholtsen reproved Dollison for failing to subpoena the CHP officer involved and for not having the McKinleyville mini-mart clerk present.
Dollison, who has served mostly as a defense attorney, conferred with Gallegos and re-filed the evading and robbery charges. Geth ultimately pleaded guilty to one of the previously dropped robbery charges.
In ensuing months, the case was transferred to Deputy DA Andy Truitt, who did not immediately return calls Friday. Geth's father didn't return calls either, but last fall had characterized "Jamie" as an industrious but troubled youth.
Last week, Geth was sentenced to nine years in prison and two felony strikes against him.
“We are happy with the disposition,” said APD Captain Tom Chapman.
Subscribe to the Arcata Eye for the full story!
_____________
ADDED: Allan Dollison served Humboldt County's DA's office for 6 years and 4 months. He details his record, and his reasons for leaving here - ◼ My record at the DA's Office - Allan Dollison/for the Times-Standard
Earth First funding trails
.
"If you want to contribute money to EF! and get a tax break on your donation, send your check to the Fund for Wild Nature (FWN). Formerly named the Earth First! Foundation, FWN serves as a tax-exempt pass-through for money to reach Earth First!ers. It has funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars to EF! organizations.
FWN has doled out money to the Earth First! Journal, Mendocino Earth First! and North Coast Earth First! (California), Elaho Earth First! (Canada), Wild Rockies Earth First!, Arizona Earth First!, and many others. More often, though, the Fund gives to EF! groups that don't have the words "Earth First!" in their names -- like the Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters (BACH). BACH's leader is Karen Pickett, whose arrest record hasn't prevented her from holding the purse strings for the Earth First! Direct Action Fund.
FWN provided the initial support for EF! spin-offs like the Rainforest Action Network (RAN) and the Ruckus Society, both of which were started by Earth First! co-founder Mike Roselle. Indeed, FWN thinks of itself as the venture capitalist of radical environmental groups.
...In 1999 FWN began to bankroll "direct action" against biotech crops (although Earth First!ers began targeting them as early as 1987). The now defunct Bioengineering Action Network (BAN) received FWN money. When it was functioning, BAN served as a press-outreach service for the FBI-certified domestic-terrorist Earth Liberation Front (ELF), another Earth First! spin-off. BAN's website featured a how-to guide for tearing out biotech crops (they call it "nighttime gardening") and instructed saboteurs on how to "research your target."
...But even EF! draws a line between the kind of illegal activities that can be funded with tax-exempt money, and those that are too violent for the Fund for Wild Nature to touch. Cash for these endeavors comes from the Earth First! Direct Action Fund. Bragging that "thousands of EF!ers have been arrested around the world," the EF! Direct Action Fund's website appeals for donations:
Direct action requires courage, commitment, training and the ability to focus on an urgent issue. Unfortunately, it also requires money. Since 1985, The Earth First! Direct Action Fund (DAF) has assisted in planning, coordinating, and funding activists on the front lines. These people are the backbone, indeed the heart and soul, of the Earth First! movement.
Earth First! co-founder Mike Roselle registered the Earth First! Action Fund as a California business in 1990, with the Action Fund's address listed as "C/O Rainforest Action Network," another Roselle creation. He lost control of the checkbook in settling his divorce from fellow Earth First!er Karen Pickett. But that hasn't stopped Rainforest Action Network from supporting Earth First! groups. On one occasion, RAN donated "$10,000 of general support to Luna Media in their work with North Coast Earth First!."" source
"If you want to contribute money to EF! and get a tax break on your donation, send your check to the Fund for Wild Nature (FWN). Formerly named the Earth First! Foundation, FWN serves as a tax-exempt pass-through for money to reach Earth First!ers. It has funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars to EF! organizations.
FWN has doled out money to the Earth First! Journal, Mendocino Earth First! and North Coast Earth First! (California), Elaho Earth First! (Canada), Wild Rockies Earth First!, Arizona Earth First!, and many others. More often, though, the Fund gives to EF! groups that don't have the words "Earth First!" in their names -- like the Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters (BACH). BACH's leader is Karen Pickett, whose arrest record hasn't prevented her from holding the purse strings for the Earth First! Direct Action Fund.
FWN provided the initial support for EF! spin-offs like the Rainforest Action Network (RAN) and the Ruckus Society, both of which were started by Earth First! co-founder Mike Roselle. Indeed, FWN thinks of itself as the venture capitalist of radical environmental groups.
...In 1999 FWN began to bankroll "direct action" against biotech crops (although Earth First!ers began targeting them as early as 1987). The now defunct Bioengineering Action Network (BAN) received FWN money. When it was functioning, BAN served as a press-outreach service for the FBI-certified domestic-terrorist Earth Liberation Front (ELF), another Earth First! spin-off. BAN's website featured a how-to guide for tearing out biotech crops (they call it "nighttime gardening") and instructed saboteurs on how to "research your target."
...But even EF! draws a line between the kind of illegal activities that can be funded with tax-exempt money, and those that are too violent for the Fund for Wild Nature to touch. Cash for these endeavors comes from the Earth First! Direct Action Fund. Bragging that "thousands of EF!ers have been arrested around the world," the EF! Direct Action Fund's website appeals for donations:
Direct action requires courage, commitment, training and the ability to focus on an urgent issue. Unfortunately, it also requires money. Since 1985, The Earth First! Direct Action Fund (DAF) has assisted in planning, coordinating, and funding activists on the front lines. These people are the backbone, indeed the heart and soul, of the Earth First! movement.
Earth First! co-founder Mike Roselle registered the Earth First! Action Fund as a California business in 1990, with the Action Fund's address listed as "C/O Rainforest Action Network," another Roselle creation. He lost control of the checkbook in settling his divorce from fellow Earth First!er Karen Pickett. But that hasn't stopped Rainforest Action Network from supporting Earth First! groups. On one occasion, RAN donated "$10,000 of general support to Luna Media in their work with North Coast Earth First!."" source
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Once again - why leave this out?
Once again - why leave out the fact that newly appointed Chief Investigator Mike Hislop is outgoing Chief Investigator Jim Dawson's son-in law?
New DA chief investigator hired
Although he has officially retired from his post as chief investigator of the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, Jim Dawson will be available to help mentor Eureka Police Traffic Sgt. Mike Hislop, who took over the post last week.
Dawson previously told The Eureka Reporter that he planned to retire in October 2005, but DA Paul Gallegos asked him to stay on until his replacement could be hired.
In early January, Dawson said his replacement had been hired and would be taking over as soon as his background check was completed. Complete story
New DA chief investigator hired
Although he has officially retired from his post as chief investigator of the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, Jim Dawson will be available to help mentor Eureka Police Traffic Sgt. Mike Hislop, who took over the post last week.
Dawson previously told The Eureka Reporter that he planned to retire in October 2005, but DA Paul Gallegos asked him to stay on until his replacement could be hired.
In early January, Dawson said his replacement had been hired and would be taking over as soon as his background check was completed. Complete story
Monday, January 29, 2007
Incestous Activist groups
I didn't know the Ecological Rights Foundation, Californians for Alternatives to Toxics and Klamath Environmental Law Center were connected, but alot of you did. Thanks for the heads up.
Turns out Fred Evenson/Ecological Rights Foundation's litigation consultant, Patty Clary/Californians for Alternatives to Toxics AND her partner Bill Verick/Klamath Environmental Law Center all coincidentally show up as having DONATED $5,000 OR MORE to the "Center for Ethics and Toxics" in the same time period ... Now - is this over and above whatever ERF PAID for the study they commissioned? Or is this HOW they PAY for the study that aids them in their lawsuit(s)?
Does this mean they SPLIT the $15,000 OR MORE cost? Or they each commissioned separate studies? Or were they just all simultaneously donating out of the goodness of their hearts?
Where does this money they donate come from? Your donations? Lawsuit settlements? Grant money?
Explain to me how this works.
Because at this point, I think activistcash has nailed it:
"...With dozens of wealthy foundations bankrolling radical activist groups, a good deal of public philanthropy has become a shell game. The money flows freely, largely undetected, thanks to Tides’ innovative funding vehicles. The many groups that Tides “incubates” (and which operate under Tides’ umbrella) are smart, fierce, and built to last -- their targets in industry are just now beginning to learn the size of this organized opposition and its institutional bankroll..."
The Friends of the Center for Ethics and Toxics (CETOS) listed generous benefactors giving $5000 & Above as:
- California for Alternatives to Toxics (CATS) (incidentally they spelled it right in another newsletter)
- Klamath Environmental Law Center
- Jennifer Altman Foundation (also donated $201,350.00 to the Tides Foundation & Tides Center which funds CETOS between 1992 – 2002)
- Ecological Rights Foundation
- As You Sow Foundation
Turns out Fred Evenson/Ecological Rights Foundation's litigation consultant, Patty Clary/Californians for Alternatives to Toxics AND her partner Bill Verick/Klamath Environmental Law Center all coincidentally show up as having DONATED $5,000 OR MORE to the "Center for Ethics and Toxics" in the same time period ... Now - is this over and above whatever ERF PAID for the study they commissioned? Or is this HOW they PAY for the study that aids them in their lawsuit(s)?
Does this mean they SPLIT the $15,000 OR MORE cost? Or they each commissioned separate studies? Or were they just all simultaneously donating out of the goodness of their hearts?
Where does this money they donate come from? Your donations? Lawsuit settlements? Grant money?
Explain to me how this works.
Because at this point, I think activistcash has nailed it:
"...With dozens of wealthy foundations bankrolling radical activist groups, a good deal of public philanthropy has become a shell game. The money flows freely, largely undetected, thanks to Tides’ innovative funding vehicles. The many groups that Tides “incubates” (and which operate under Tides’ umbrella) are smart, fierce, and built to last -- their targets in industry are just now beginning to learn the size of this organized opposition and its institutional bankroll..."
The Friends of the Center for Ethics and Toxics (CETOS) listed generous benefactors giving $5000 & Above as:
- California for Alternatives to Toxics (CATS) (incidentally they spelled it right in another newsletter)
- Klamath Environmental Law Center
- Jennifer Altman Foundation (also donated $201,350.00 to the Tides Foundation & Tides Center which funds CETOS between 1992 – 2002)
- Ecological Rights Foundation
- As You Sow Foundation
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Why not say it?
Darryl Cherney says: "...I was not the first Earth Firster [in this area]; I just rejuvenated it, along with Greg King and eventually Judi Bari, of course. We brought it to a new level."
So why are his credentials as one of the Earth First! organizers left out of all the recent news reports about Greg King, the new Executive Director for the Northcoast Environmental Center?
The Times Standard refers to him as "... longtime activist Greg King..." saying "...it was his skills as an administrator, writer and founder of two nonprofit groups that made the center's board of directors choose him for the job...."
The Eureka Reporter says:
"...King brings experience in nonprofit administration and conservation to the executive position, according to a recent news release from the NEC...."
Neither uses the words Earth First! Why would you leave out something that important? Why sanitize the record? Why not say he was a ranking member of Earth First?
Arcata Eye
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Friday, January 26, 2007
Strike two
Wonder what kind of plea deal this woman was offered?
If I'm the defense attorney, I'm looking at Jeffrey "yougofree.com" Schwartz's trial record and thinking "forget the plea deal, I'll take my chances and go for getting off completely."
Schwartz was recently leapfrogged into the DA's top pay scale, despite the fact that, as the DDA in charge of child abuse prosecutions, he has failed to bring a single child abuse case to trial, and has lost the two cases that he actually had to take to jury trial. Two trials since being hired.
Thus this blog's 'slogan,' Paul Gallegos, Paying More for Less.
If I'm the defense attorney, I'm looking at Jeffrey "yougofree.com" Schwartz's trial record and thinking "forget the plea deal, I'll take my chances and go for getting off completely."
Schwartz was recently leapfrogged into the DA's top pay scale, despite the fact that, as the DDA in charge of child abuse prosecutions, he has failed to bring a single child abuse case to trial, and has lost the two cases that he actually had to take to jury trial. Two trials since being hired.
Thus this blog's 'slogan,' Paul Gallegos, Paying More for Less.
ERF donated more than $5,000 to the "Center for Ethics and Toxics"
Apparently - CETOS is not a lab
• CETOS is looking for NEW MEMBERS!! Your membership supports our outreach efforts and provides educational materials for the general public. We are an independent non-profit, 501(C )(3), dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Please make checks payable to TIDES/CETOS, PO Box 673, Gualala, CA 95445. Basic membership is $30.00 though additional donations are welcome. All contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent permitted by law.
Friends of the Center for Ethics and Toxics
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our generous benefactors, patrons, donors, supporters, contributors,
and friends alike who have donated funds during the year 2002.
Benefactor
$5000 & Above
California for Alternatives to Toxics
Klamath Environmental Law Center
Jennifer Altman Foundation
Ecological Rights Foundation
As You Sow Foundation
***
Why is this so shocking? Because "... a recent toxicological study that found elevated levels of dioxin in mussels and crabs immediately adjacent to the Sierra Pacific mill. The study, which has also not been made public before, was commissioned by the Ecological Rights Foundation, a Garberville-based environmental group that is suing Sierra Pacific for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act. In addition to looking at shellfish near the mill, the study also collected and tested shellfish in Hookton Slough, located at the relatively pristine southern tip of Humboldt Bay. Mussels there had no detectable dioxin contamination and the levels for a species of crab were extremely low, according to the study.
The study, done by toxicologist Marc Lappe of the Center for Ethics and Toxics in Gualala, Calif., adds that "any increase in body burdens of (dioxin and related) chemicals increases the human risk of several toxic end points including cancer, developmental toxicity, reproductive toxicity, and possibly immunotoxicity." source
And the "Ecological Rights Foundation" got $700,000 out of that suit.
Then they set up Baykeeping.
• CETOS is looking for NEW MEMBERS!! Your membership supports our outreach efforts and provides educational materials for the general public. We are an independent non-profit, 501(C )(3), dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Please make checks payable to TIDES/CETOS, PO Box 673, Gualala, CA 95445. Basic membership is $30.00 though additional donations are welcome. All contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent permitted by law.
Friends of the Center for Ethics and Toxics
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our generous benefactors, patrons, donors, supporters, contributors,
and friends alike who have donated funds during the year 2002.
Benefactor
$5000 & Above
California for Alternatives to Toxics
Klamath Environmental Law Center
Jennifer Altman Foundation
Ecological Rights Foundation
As You Sow Foundation
***
Why is this so shocking? Because "... a recent toxicological study that found elevated levels of dioxin in mussels and crabs immediately adjacent to the Sierra Pacific mill. The study, which has also not been made public before, was commissioned by the Ecological Rights Foundation, a Garberville-based environmental group that is suing Sierra Pacific for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act. In addition to looking at shellfish near the mill, the study also collected and tested shellfish in Hookton Slough, located at the relatively pristine southern tip of Humboldt Bay. Mussels there had no detectable dioxin contamination and the levels for a species of crab were extremely low, according to the study.
The study, done by toxicologist Marc Lappe of the Center for Ethics and Toxics in Gualala, Calif., adds that "any increase in body burdens of (dioxin and related) chemicals increases the human risk of several toxic end points including cancer, developmental toxicity, reproductive toxicity, and possibly immunotoxicity." source
And the "Ecological Rights Foundation" got $700,000 out of that suit.
Then they set up Baykeeping.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
The Game Plan...
Some Basics of Activist Research
from www.endgame.org
"LET YOUR CAMPAIGN STRATEGY GUIDE YOUR RESEARCH, AND NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. Remember what it is you want, and find what information you can which supports the protection of forests. Don't get lost in the maze of databases and statistics. Information is necessary, but not in itself sufficient, to save the world's forests. In any case, the solution is not technical, but cultural and political."
Yeah. And...
"INVESTIGATE. That's what research is: slow, thorough digging and sorting and choosing and using. If you get stuck, call on the groups which provide research and information support to the activist community: DataCenter, Corporate Watch, the Public Information Network, and others listed in this booklet."
Tip o' the iceberg, man.
from www.endgame.org
"LET YOUR CAMPAIGN STRATEGY GUIDE YOUR RESEARCH, AND NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. Remember what it is you want, and find what information you can which supports the protection of forests. Don't get lost in the maze of databases and statistics. Information is necessary, but not in itself sufficient, to save the world's forests. In any case, the solution is not technical, but cultural and political."
Yeah. And...
"INVESTIGATE. That's what research is: slow, thorough digging and sorting and choosing and using. If you get stuck, call on the groups which provide research and information support to the activist community: DataCenter, Corporate Watch, the Public Information Network, and others listed in this booklet."
Tip o' the iceberg, man.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Who can you trust? w/update
What does Baykeeper have to do with the Ecological Rights Foundation, a Garberville-based environmental group that was suing Sierra Pacific in 2002, who commissioned a toxicological study that found elevated levels of dioxin in mussels and crabs immediately adjacent to the Sierra Pacific Mill? (ncjournal 6/13/02)
The study was done by toxicologist Marc Lappe of the Center for Ethics and Toxics in Gualala, Calif
What's interesting is that The Center for Ethics and Toxics (CETOS), is a project of the Tides Center.
According to financial information compiled by activistcash.com, "The Tides Center is an offshoot of the Tides Foundation - the 800-pound gorilla of radical activist funding. Many environmental groups that now operate on their own got their start as a “project” of the Tides Center.
If an existing funder wants to pour money into a specific agenda for which no activist group exists, Tides will start one from scratch. At least 30 of the Tides Center’s current “projects” were created out of thin air in response to the needs of one foundation or another. (Tides Foundation is known to "routinely obscure the sources of its tax-exempt millions," and "makes it difficult (if not impossible) to discern how the funds are actually being used. In practice, “Tides” behaves less like a philanthropy than a money-laundering enterprise."
"By using Tides to funnel its capital, a large public charity can indirectly fund a project with which it would prefer not to be directly identified in public. Drummond Pike has reinforced this view, telling The Chronicle of Philanthropy: “Anonymity is very important to most of the people we work with.”
So the activist group ERF used an activist funded Lab (CETOS) to process their data - If you ask me the toxicology study has to be considered suspect as it cannot be seen as an objective and unbiased party.
Have I got this right? The State Water Board just used that data without knowing it was suspect. "...in making its determination to list Humboldt Bay as impaired for dioxin, the state relied exclusively on 14 out of 29 tissue samples taken from testing resulting from a lawsuit filed against Sierra Pacific Industries by the Ecological Rights Foundation in 2002 over contamination concerns."
The same samples taken by "Marc Lappe, a consulting toxicologist and former director of the Center for Ethics and Toxics who was hired by Ecological Rights Foundation..."
Which brings up the bigger question - What oversight exists for the orgs - EPIC (wildcalifornia.org), ERF (ecorights.org), Baykeeper (humboldtbaykeeper.org), Humboldt Watershed Council - how are people, the general public, and the people who end up in positions on water boards and other government positions to ensure that the information brought before them - information that is to be considered say, when deciding whether or not to list Humboldt Bay as "Toxic" - how are they to ensure that that information is unbiased, that the chain of command of the samples in question can be verified, that the samples haven't been tampered with, that the results have been accurately reported? How are they supposed to know when they are being played?
And how are they supposed to KNOW that the lab whose results they trust is funded by the very same activist network that funds many of the very same orgs that are propositioning them?
It's time to start a North Coast version of ActivistCash. Follow the money trails. See who is funding who. And why.
And then it is time for some legislation requiring oversight of the orgs - because they are not just made of of grassroots citizens anymore. ERF has "SEVENTEEN attorneys working together to achieve the Foundation’s mission."
***
UPDATE:
"...Humboldt Baykeepers also comes under the umbrella of the Ecological Rights Foundation, which last year settled a federal lawsuit against Sierra Pacific Industries over chemical pollution to the Mad River Slough and Humboldt Bay. The Humboldt County District Attorney's Office filed a twin suit, and Sierra Pacific agreed to pay the foundation and the people a total of $1.5 million to settle the suits.
Fred Evanson, a board member of the foundation, is also volunteering his time with the Baykeepers, which he helped forge.
...The Garberville-based foundation also bought the Baykeepers' new 25-foot Boston Whaler, which it intends to use as a patrol boat in the bay and along the coast from the Eel River to Trinidad.
..."We're not acting like we're here to save the day," Nichols said. "We're acting like another piece in the puzzle."
Who's the parent organization? Looks like one litigious group just spawned another.
The study was done by toxicologist Marc Lappe of the Center for Ethics and Toxics in Gualala, Calif
What's interesting is that The Center for Ethics and Toxics (CETOS), is a project of the Tides Center.
According to financial information compiled by activistcash.com, "The Tides Center is an offshoot of the Tides Foundation - the 800-pound gorilla of radical activist funding. Many environmental groups that now operate on their own got their start as a “project” of the Tides Center.
If an existing funder wants to pour money into a specific agenda for which no activist group exists, Tides will start one from scratch. At least 30 of the Tides Center’s current “projects” were created out of thin air in response to the needs of one foundation or another. (Tides Foundation is known to "routinely obscure the sources of its tax-exempt millions," and "makes it difficult (if not impossible) to discern how the funds are actually being used. In practice, “Tides” behaves less like a philanthropy than a money-laundering enterprise."
"By using Tides to funnel its capital, a large public charity can indirectly fund a project with which it would prefer not to be directly identified in public. Drummond Pike has reinforced this view, telling The Chronicle of Philanthropy: “Anonymity is very important to most of the people we work with.”
So the activist group ERF used an activist funded Lab (CETOS) to process their data - If you ask me the toxicology study has to be considered suspect as it cannot be seen as an objective and unbiased party.
Have I got this right? The State Water Board just used that data without knowing it was suspect. "...in making its determination to list Humboldt Bay as impaired for dioxin, the state relied exclusively on 14 out of 29 tissue samples taken from testing resulting from a lawsuit filed against Sierra Pacific Industries by the Ecological Rights Foundation in 2002 over contamination concerns."
The same samples taken by "Marc Lappe, a consulting toxicologist and former director of the Center for Ethics and Toxics who was hired by Ecological Rights Foundation..."
Which brings up the bigger question - What oversight exists for the orgs - EPIC (wildcalifornia.org), ERF (ecorights.org), Baykeeper (humboldtbaykeeper.org), Humboldt Watershed Council - how are people, the general public, and the people who end up in positions on water boards and other government positions to ensure that the information brought before them - information that is to be considered say, when deciding whether or not to list Humboldt Bay as "Toxic" - how are they to ensure that that information is unbiased, that the chain of command of the samples in question can be verified, that the samples haven't been tampered with, that the results have been accurately reported? How are they supposed to know when they are being played?
And how are they supposed to KNOW that the lab whose results they trust is funded by the very same activist network that funds many of the very same orgs that are propositioning them?
It's time to start a North Coast version of ActivistCash. Follow the money trails. See who is funding who. And why.
And then it is time for some legislation requiring oversight of the orgs - because they are not just made of of grassroots citizens anymore. ERF has "SEVENTEEN attorneys working together to achieve the Foundation’s mission."
***
UPDATE:
"...Humboldt Baykeepers also comes under the umbrella of the Ecological Rights Foundation, which last year settled a federal lawsuit against Sierra Pacific Industries over chemical pollution to the Mad River Slough and Humboldt Bay. The Humboldt County District Attorney's Office filed a twin suit, and Sierra Pacific agreed to pay the foundation and the people a total of $1.5 million to settle the suits.
Fred Evanson, a board member of the foundation, is also volunteering his time with the Baykeepers, which he helped forge.
...The Garberville-based foundation also bought the Baykeepers' new 25-foot Boston Whaler, which it intends to use as a patrol boat in the bay and along the coast from the Eel River to Trinidad.
..."We're not acting like we're here to save the day," Nichols said. "We're acting like another piece in the puzzle."
Who's the parent organization? Looks like one litigious group just spawned another.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Shellenberger's "Alliance for Ethical Business" listserve
List Name
Alliance for Ethical Business: Timber Yes, Fraud No (No Fraud)
Purpose:
Alliance for Ethical Business is sponsoring this list serve to organize and mobilize Humboldt County residents to fight fraud by Maxxam/PL.
Website URL:
http://www.timberyesfraudno.org
List Type:
Moderated discussion
Subscription:
Requires owner approval
Archive:
Readable by subscribers only
Created: Mar 26, 2003
Owners:
Michael Shellenberger, Michael Twombly
To Join:
Subscribe here, or send an email to mshellenberger-subscribe@topica.com
To Post:
Send mail to 'mshellenberger@topica.com'
Stats:
26 subscribers / < 1 messages per week
Categories: Society & Culture | Crime
--
Related:
Shellenberger's OTHER "Ethical Business Campaigns Network"
AEB and Shellenberger
Shellenberger pissed at Press Democrat's Mike Geniella
Shellenberger on boycotting/sucking up to the TS
Shellenberger "Lead Campaign Consultant"
Shellenberger, Ken Miller and EPIC
Shellenberger and Judi Bari
AEB solicits computers for Gallegos
AEB solicits phones for Gallegos
AEB solicits a car for Gallegos
Shellenberger, Salzman response to HDSO
You get the idea... there's more.
Alliance for Ethical Business: Timber Yes, Fraud No (No Fraud)
Purpose:
Alliance for Ethical Business is sponsoring this list serve to organize and mobilize Humboldt County residents to fight fraud by Maxxam/PL.
Website URL:
http://www.timberyesfraudno.org
List Type:
Moderated discussion
Subscription:
Requires owner approval
Archive:
Readable by subscribers only
Created: Mar 26, 2003
Owners:
Michael Shellenberger, Michael Twombly
To Join:
Subscribe here, or send an email to mshellenberger-subscribe@topica.com
To Post:
Send mail to 'mshellenberger@topica.com'
Stats:
26 subscribers / < 1 messages per week
Categories: Society & Culture | Crime
--
Related:
Shellenberger's OTHER "Ethical Business Campaigns Network"
AEB and Shellenberger
Shellenberger pissed at Press Democrat's Mike Geniella
Shellenberger on boycotting/sucking up to the TS
Shellenberger "Lead Campaign Consultant"
Shellenberger, Ken Miller and EPIC
Shellenberger and Judi Bari
AEB solicits computers for Gallegos
AEB solicits phones for Gallegos
AEB solicits a car for Gallegos
Shellenberger, Salzman response to HDSO
You get the idea... there's more.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Human Rights Violations - left vs. right
One of the anons commenting on the previous post attacked the information about Michael Shellenberger working for Hugo Chavez by denigrating the source as a "rightwing conspiracy website."
In the first place - I'd hardly characterize a site dedicated to outlining human rights violations in Venezuela as a right wing conspiracy site.
In the second place, in the course of my looking into Michael Shellenberger, I found exactly what Aleksander Boyd details in his report - Shellenberger is aligned with every far far left extremist group you can think of. To point this out is to report the truth.
In my observation, Michael Shellenberger has more domain names, email addresses and websites than any spammer on the planet. He appears to routinely form up little "groups" (like the so-called "Alliance for Ethical Business" here in Humboldt County). He is always the "founder," "co-founder," "executive director" or "spokesperson" for the "group." Then he cross-pollinates the "groups" using one to endorse the other, and calling it a "growing coalition of human rights organizations."
I started looking him up after Richard Salzman had him call me - regular readers of this blog will remember the story - Richard said he "couldn't promise" he "could call these people off," but he "would try." That was March/April 2003. Richard pronounced his name ShAllenberger - with an A - and it wasn't until stories in the paper had Gallegos supposedly surfing with his "college-buddy" Michael Shellenberger - with an E - that I was able to get any information.
What I found was evidence that Michael Shellenberger had been on the ground in Humboldt County on and off for nearly a decade, working with Earth First! EPIC, Salmon Forever (one of Ken Miller's groups), and more. What emerged was a picture of a 10 year effort to "get Palco." Getting Gallegos elected was a major coup, and provided these guys with a major new weapon.
One of the many UNTOLD STORIES of the Recall was the involvement of Michael Shellenberger.
And as you come to understand that he is someone who has the power to get celebrities like Woody Harrelson to climb the Golden Gate Bridge to unfurl a banner for a Headwaters campaign, and get Bonnie Raitt to play a concert for Headwaters, to get Dr. Laura kicked off the television airwaves, someone with access to George Soros, access to left wing Think Tanks, and access to huge Foundation grant money, you begin to understand more what is going on in "Salzman's Plan" to get Gallegos to solicit, accept and use special interest money to fund the public prosecution of PL.
He specializes in what he calls "structuring the debate" - or, in other words, manipulating public opinion. He brags on some of his self-promotional websites about pressuring public officials into doing what he wants.
What that meant here in Humboldt County was convincing you that Gallegos was not soft on crime, that PL was trying to buy their way out of a lawsuit. And unfortunately, Palco played right into his hands.
The Recall was portrayed as the gallant young David against the evil Goliath, Palco.
The fact was that Gallegos had a Goliath in his own right working for him. You can see by looking at the contract with Chavez the value of Shellenberger's services. And that was for a relatively limited effort.
What did it cost Gallegos to have this man on the ground in Humboldt County on and off from at least March of 2003 until he ultimately, by his own words, moved his family up here for the final weeks of Gallegos' campaign?
Did you read anything about Shellenberger's involvement in the local press? No. yet he reportedly met with editorial boards. In the final days he attended press conferences with Gallegos.
Yet after the Recall, Shellenberger trumpeted his success and proclaimed himself Gallegos' "Lead campaign consultant." Was that ever mentioned in the local press? No. How much did Gallegos pay for the privilege? Is it detailed on his campaign disclosure forms?
What services did he provide as "Lead campaign consultant" besides garnering Gallegos national press coverage? Image consulting? Debate prep?
These are questions that, to this day, remain unanswered.
And, after the Recall, Shellenberger began promoting himself as somewhat of an expert at helping politicians survive a recall attempt. Enter Hugo Chavez who was facing a Recall in Venezuela.
You want to make this about left and right wing politics?
Most "liberals" once cared about human rights violations and would care about the plight of the people in Venezuela and would recognize Chavez for the menace that he is, but since he declared his hatred for our President, he has become the darling of the left. In that sense you may be right.
And those same "liberals" - many of them my good friends - also abandoned their historic support for protecting women and children, for victim's rights in favor of hating Palco, and they turn a blind eye to the devastation in the DA's office as a result.
In that sense - you may be right. Maybe it is about "progressive" values.
Which side do you fall on?
In the first place - I'd hardly characterize a site dedicated to outlining human rights violations in Venezuela as a right wing conspiracy site.
In the second place, in the course of my looking into Michael Shellenberger, I found exactly what Aleksander Boyd details in his report - Shellenberger is aligned with every far far left extremist group you can think of. To point this out is to report the truth.
In my observation, Michael Shellenberger has more domain names, email addresses and websites than any spammer on the planet. He appears to routinely form up little "groups" (like the so-called "Alliance for Ethical Business" here in Humboldt County). He is always the "founder," "co-founder," "executive director" or "spokesperson" for the "group." Then he cross-pollinates the "groups" using one to endorse the other, and calling it a "growing coalition of human rights organizations."
I started looking him up after Richard Salzman had him call me - regular readers of this blog will remember the story - Richard said he "couldn't promise" he "could call these people off," but he "would try." That was March/April 2003. Richard pronounced his name ShAllenberger - with an A - and it wasn't until stories in the paper had Gallegos supposedly surfing with his "college-buddy" Michael Shellenberger - with an E - that I was able to get any information.
What I found was evidence that Michael Shellenberger had been on the ground in Humboldt County on and off for nearly a decade, working with Earth First! EPIC, Salmon Forever (one of Ken Miller's groups), and more. What emerged was a picture of a 10 year effort to "get Palco." Getting Gallegos elected was a major coup, and provided these guys with a major new weapon.
One of the many UNTOLD STORIES of the Recall was the involvement of Michael Shellenberger.
And as you come to understand that he is someone who has the power to get celebrities like Woody Harrelson to climb the Golden Gate Bridge to unfurl a banner for a Headwaters campaign, and get Bonnie Raitt to play a concert for Headwaters, to get Dr. Laura kicked off the television airwaves, someone with access to George Soros, access to left wing Think Tanks, and access to huge Foundation grant money, you begin to understand more what is going on in "Salzman's Plan" to get Gallegos to solicit, accept and use special interest money to fund the public prosecution of PL.
He specializes in what he calls "structuring the debate" - or, in other words, manipulating public opinion. He brags on some of his self-promotional websites about pressuring public officials into doing what he wants.
What that meant here in Humboldt County was convincing you that Gallegos was not soft on crime, that PL was trying to buy their way out of a lawsuit. And unfortunately, Palco played right into his hands.
The Recall was portrayed as the gallant young David against the evil Goliath, Palco.
The fact was that Gallegos had a Goliath in his own right working for him. You can see by looking at the contract with Chavez the value of Shellenberger's services. And that was for a relatively limited effort.
What did it cost Gallegos to have this man on the ground in Humboldt County on and off from at least March of 2003 until he ultimately, by his own words, moved his family up here for the final weeks of Gallegos' campaign?
Did you read anything about Shellenberger's involvement in the local press? No. yet he reportedly met with editorial boards. In the final days he attended press conferences with Gallegos.
Yet after the Recall, Shellenberger trumpeted his success and proclaimed himself Gallegos' "Lead campaign consultant." Was that ever mentioned in the local press? No. How much did Gallegos pay for the privilege? Is it detailed on his campaign disclosure forms?
What services did he provide as "Lead campaign consultant" besides garnering Gallegos national press coverage? Image consulting? Debate prep?
These are questions that, to this day, remain unanswered.
And, after the Recall, Shellenberger began promoting himself as somewhat of an expert at helping politicians survive a recall attempt. Enter Hugo Chavez who was facing a Recall in Venezuela.
You want to make this about left and right wing politics?
Most "liberals" once cared about human rights violations and would care about the plight of the people in Venezuela and would recognize Chavez for the menace that he is, but since he declared his hatred for our President, he has become the darling of the left. In that sense you may be right.
And those same "liberals" - many of them my good friends - also abandoned their historic support for protecting women and children, for victim's rights in favor of hating Palco, and they turn a blind eye to the devastation in the DA's office as a result.
In that sense - you may be right. Maybe it is about "progressive" values.
Which side do you fall on?
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