I'd say that Ford is endangering a lot of their own land holdings by supporting (however peripherally) potential eco-terrorists. What we've probably got is a bunch of professional "well" educated and thoroughly propagandized liberal charitable organization bureaucrats who are considered to be qualified to make politically correct decisions for the Ford Foundation finances. They probably have a degree in giving away other peoples money. I wonder if I'll ever have so much money to give away that I 'd have to hire someone with no sense for big bucks to do it for me. Just think how many loggers drive Ford trucks. I agree with the posting about the eco-vacations sounding like a lot of fun as long as they don't try to get me to spike any trees (I'd rather spike their tires). I heard a public radio broadcast about a whole lot of these trips that actually sound like the scientists involved might actually be interested in helping to develop sustainable whatever with a knowledge base rather than just some whacko theory to shut down whatever that eco-nut happens to be opposed to. The only problem with these very expensive trips is that I'm sure that a good portion of the finances thereby engendered will go to something to which I would be totally opposed. If these organizations would ever do something useful like actually teach and help financially and practically the people in any truly endangered areas to practice something sustainable and realistic to support themselves then I would be much more interested in what they have to say. Most eco-organizations seem to have membership and staff who are very well paid or are wealthy (probably from some environment raping enterprises) and many are terrific consumers, so their grasp on practical making a living reality suffers some in my opinion. Where is the reality or the science in organizations that get freon banned in the US because it might destroy the ozone layer several miles up in the atmosphere when the government manuals on the subject say that freon is so heavy that it will flow down into low areas and suffocate you if you aren't careful. It's like making bowling balls float. If Ford were to think about the contrast between an iron mining site and a properly logged woods, it would probably thing twice about promoting steel as well as knocking logging at the same time. Enough rant, lets just go out and do the best jobs in our reality that we can. John
