Friends of the Earth reveals mainstream colors

by MC5

Friends of the Earth often seems to be a progressive 
environmentalist organization, the one good one if there is such a 
thing amongst groups that lobby in Washington, DC. Members take 
part in direct action and seem to take militant stands. September 
4th, FoE endorsed Democratic Party imperialist and Vice-President 
Al Gore for President of the United States, thus demonstrating why 
there must be a MIM retaining its full independence.

Friends of the Earth follows Green defector Toby Moffet into 
endorsing Gore, who has written environmentalist books but who has 
failed to deliver progress. Ironically, the Greens are running 
their own candidate for president, the household name Ralph Nader. 
Still the watery Greens were not able to hold their own members 
away from the imperialists.

MIM cannot deny that Republicans Gov. G. W. Bush of Texas and 
running-mate Dick Cheney, both oil company millionaires are like 
President Gas and Vice-President Gas as the song goes by the 
Psychedelic Furs. Texas is at the bottom of environmental 
standards. The fact that these two even have a chance of being 
elected shows a lot about the system. At least Gore tries to fool 
the people into thinking he serves their needs. Bush feels 
relatively less need; although the Moonie newspaper Washington 
Times says Bush is trying to contend with Gore on environmental 
issues.

Friends of the Earth justified its endorsement this way: "'We're 
looking at the reality here. . . In the United States, third 
parties do not get elected to the presidency.'" Furthermore, Bush 
would "'plunge us into a dark age.'"

MIM believes it only confuses the very nature of environmental 
issues to proceed the way Friends of the Earth has. If majority 
rule leads to negotiating people's very lives with the George W. 
Bushes and Al Gores of the world, then majority rule is wrong and 
that is part of the message that Friends of the Earth needs to get 
out. There is a scientific truth about how to advance the 
healthful environment of the people. What Friends of the Earth has 
done confuses the public on this question and delays the day when 
production occurs on the least polluting sustainable basis.

"The League of Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club, the two 
other national environmental groups that publicly support national 
candidates, have already endorsed Mr. Gore." These endorsements 
are further proof why environmentalists should write their 
articles for MIM Notes and hand over their checks to MIM. These 
groups get funding to the tune of several billion a year. If MIM 
had 10% of that funding, there'd be a lot more moving and shaking 
going on. 

Note:

New York Times 5 September 2000, p. a21.