by Roni Bell Sylvester
There's no reason for you to read this for my qualifications to correct anyone are humble. But, there's something I can no longer let slip by.
Why? Well, many, including news reporters, whether knowingly or not, use inaccurate terms when referring to parties involved with environmental issues.
What's wrong with this? Many things. Most tragically, the fact that our rights to bring our loved ones safe, essential goods at affordable prices, are being sold down an unfriendly river.
Am I suggesting inaccurate usuage of terms in environmental stories contribute to this? Yes! Through confusion. Here's how.
Surely you've quite often read sentences like: "John Doe, peach rancher from Lonely Valley, was given a reprieve today by the Federal Courts. Judge Broth granted a twenty day extension to Doe, so he could finish his peach harvest. Environmentalists will have wait those twenty days before they're allowed re-entry on Doe's property to search for a Bouncing Gummer Snail someone thought they might of seen on the Doe Ranch. Environmentalist Quanah Place scorned the decision by Judge Broth, claiming delays on the search could put the alleged Gummer Snail in grave peril."
This leads the reader to believe John Doe and the judge pulled a fast one on a poor innocent little Quanah Place, when nothing could be further from the truth. It was Place who trespassed on Doe's property and disrupted his opportunity to earn a honest living.
Hopefully my offering of the following examples of terms and their definitions will help you to understand how important correct reporting is.
The Enviro Conflictor is a person who: demands artificial insemination of killer wolves into the whole of our society: places plague carrying rodents in harms way of a child: sues to block passage of essential products to you: conjures devious schemes to steal private property, land and water usage rights: teaches your children to believe ranchers, farmers, loggers - any resource provider, are a reckless people who do horrible things to the land, seas and all living things.
Enviro Conflictors are con artists who sell conflict to generate their income. The media incorrectly refers to them as environmentalists. We watch or read the news and are led to believe these cons are do-gooders trying to save something and want to help. So we send them money, and they laugh at our naivety while counting it!
Resource Providers, through benevolent conservation, knowledge, stewardship and sound environmental practices, utilize our lands and seas to bring essential products to you. They are most often referred to as ranchers, farmers, loggers, miners, fishermen and so forth. All of which describes them accurately. In addition, it is they -- who are the real environmentalists, conservationists, and stewards of the land, seas and all living things. They are the ones who work hard and honest, using the best science available to continue bringing us necessities at a reasonable cost.
Think about it. Conflict, the only product enviro conflictors produce, can not feed, clothe, keep you warm, or healthy the way real environmentalists do.
So the next time you hear someone refer to someone as an "environmentalist" ask them to identify the product they produce, and how they go about doing it.
Roni Bell Sylvester
La Salle, CO 80645