Beware of the Environmentalist Scam

by Nicole Stewart — last modified Jul 26, 2006 06:10 PM
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The environmentalists are at it again: scamming the NC public into believing their fear-mongering tales. This time, they are trying to get you to believe that the effects of those so-called megalandfills could be detrimental to eastern NC. Rick Martinez spells it out in his column in the N&O today, by calling it silliness.

Let me explain Mr. Martinez's view:

Environmentalists, like the NC Conference of Black Mayors and the NC Black Elected Municipal Officials have expressed opposition to the development of landfills near predominantly rural, poor, small towns and communities. Environmentalists, like the NC NAACP and NC Fair Share support a landfill moratorium. Obviously these organizations have a hidden agenda for putting a temporary halt to megalandfills.

These environmentalists don't care about the communities these megalandfills are proposed for. Obviously, they are just delaying...so they can...raise money... Obviously, they are just delaying...they are delaying for....well, you know.

Anyway, environmentalists hate economic development. Why would they be against megalandfills, if they didn't hate economic development. They argue that megalandfills are just a quick fix and could actually inhibit other forms of economic development from coming into these counties. I say, inhibit shmibit.

Maybe I'm simplifying Mr. Martinez's "argument." Let us know what you think.

 

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Comments (2)

Anonymous May 10, 2007 02:19 PM
My favorite part of today's Rick Martinez rant is that he says the moratorium "halts dead in its tracks the environmental progress...of rural North Carolina". Environmental progress? From a mega-landfill? My guess is that Martinez would change his tune if that mega-landfill was going to be placed in his community. He'd likely join the countless number of citizens from threatened communities who have been driving to Raleigh the past few weeks to fight for the future of their community.

The other key point ignored by Martinez is that mega-landfills also threaten sustainable economic development. Imagine if NC located a mega-landfill on the land now known as RTP before its creation. Then imagine trying to convince IBM and other businesses to locate to RTP within sight of that mega-landfill. It just wouldn't happen. Why would we pre-determine the long-term economic fate of Eastern NC without taking a breath to study the issue and make sure we don't make any decisions we regret. This is just common-sense.

My final suggestion: it seems like there is plenty of space in Rick Martinez's big mouth if we need a place for all this out-of-state trash.
Mason May 10, 2007 02:19 PM
How would an industry so laden with scams recognize a scam? Does the truth always look like a scam to them? Perhaps a week living in the shadow of a mega-landfill would sharpen their senses as they lugged bottled water home. The sharp noses would be from wearing cloths-pins on them. How does an economic disaster become economic development? A SCAM.. of course!!
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