Co-Opting the Conservation Movement

By Christian Probasco, 8-18-08

	Caption: Photo courtesy Bryan Correira, Copyright 2008

Jim Stiles, editor of Moab, Utah’s Canyon Country Zephyr, has a long, well-researched article in the latest issue about “How the Mega-Rich are Co-opting Environmentalism and Turning IT into a Big Business too.” Among those who come under scrutiny: David Bonderman, venture capitalist, contributor to various environmental groups, board member of the Grand Canyon Trust, the Wilderness Society and the World Wildlife Fund and committed enemy of the environment itself, through his other holdings, such as European discount airline Ryanair. 

Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, chosen by Bonderman himself, opposes the European Union’s carbon emissions trading market and was once quoted as saying, “Most of this environmental hysteria (including the debate over global warming) is an excuse for the government to raise tax revenues.”

Ciaran Cuffe, spokesman for Ireland’s Green Party, called Ryanair “one of the most ardently anti-green airlines in Europe.”

Also on the list, John Hendricks, founder of the Discovery Channel, who lives in a 27,000 square foot house. Hendricks was responsible for the “Gateway Canyons Resort,” a big development of “motels, restaurants, retail stores and one of the largest vintage automobile museums in the world,” on what was once open land near Gateway, Colorado. Hendricks, who has given large donations to many environmental groups, has also largely escaped criticism by them for his development.

And then there’s Hansjorg Wyss, the gazillionaire who sat on the boards of the Wilderness Society and Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA), who used to fly his Gulfstream IV into the remote corners of Utah’s backcountry so he and his staff members could take a hike. According to Stiles, on a cross-country trip, the “GIV” spews about 1.5 to 2 times the amount of carbon into the atmosphere than the average American produces from “all activities in an entire year.”

The thrust of Stiles’ article, though, is about how big money warps environmental groups’ agendas. When Bonderman’s equity corporation, Texas Pacific Group (TPG), acquired TXU, a huge Texas power company, and promised to “transform the utility company into one of the greenest in the nation,” he was praised by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), which helped draft the plan for the transformation. A few months later, Bonderman announced that the TXU would continue with plans to build what will become the nation’s largest nuclear power plant. EDF was silent on the issue, which was odd considering it’s own statement in the previous year’s newsletter: “Serious questions of safety, security, waste and proliferation surround the issue of nuclear power. Until these questions are resolved satisfactorily, Environmental Defense cannot support expansion of nuclear generating capacity.”

Stiles also has a problem with environmental groups such as SUWA, which has distanced itself from him, encouraging an “amenities,” i.e. tourist-based, economy, while at the same time trying to block extraction of the oil and coal resources which will be necessary to fuel it.  Or rather, he has a problem with them not fighting the amenities economy as strongly as they did the extractive industries. As you might guess from the Zephyr’s motto—“Clinging Hopelessly To The Past Since 1989”—Stiles is a bit of a throwback.  I disagree with him on some issues like motorized access to public lands. But I find myself nodding my head every time I read one of his articles.

[End of article]

<quote>...encouraging an “amenities,” i.e. tourist-based, economy, while at the same time trying to block extraction of the oil and coal resources which will be necessary to fuel it.</quote>

That of course is the crux of the post!

Heller had it right with Milo Minderbinder...and he is alive and well. Bonderman is right out of the mold. He and Texas Pacific were deep in Oregon's Democrat well with past Portland Mayor, Governor and Carter Admin. Transportation Sec. Neil Goldschmidt to wrest control of PGE from the wreckage of Enron, but got stopped by bureaucrats in the PUC. That it had become public that Goldschmidt had been screwing his kid's babysitter while he was mayor, a girl of 14 or so, did the cause little good. Oregon politics is still smarting from the seeps and trickles of information of who knew what and when, including past Attorneys General, Supreme Court Justices, State Police drivers, Portland cops, and all the connected Democrats who have staffed Oregon government for the last 24 years. The snot from the political nose is still running on that deal..although Democrats have forgiven him because, you know, what goes on in the bedroom is private, but they still don't want to be seen with him....so he and his newer wife, a former utility company CEO, spend a lot of time in the south of France. And he probably advises Bonderman still. Old Neil was smarter than most, even if not in control of the lust in his loins.

Any concern for the environment by big bucks is all about either making more big bucks, or keeping big bucks already in hand. Conservation easements, a nice piece of work, are merely a way to have big tax liabilities erased and let the taxpayers buy half the ranch. If the dollar output is after CEs is halved by forgiven taxes, the ranch was sold for half price of what anyone without the tax liability would have to pay...and there are myriad carry forwards, and the like, to make a big property buy a good tax avoidance program. Then you can make a bunch of money by selling some it once again, easements and all, and be into half the ranch for nothing. And you know what people who have nothing invested in something care about? Nothing. So all the environmental fervor, is in fact the rush of making money. Add to that the trust and foundation tax avoidance programs, and the NGOs of green are really a national tax avoidance scheme, along with "green" energy, and the millionaires in Congress pull in the big money to keep it that way...

No cutting public timber, and now purposefully letting it burn, is not a plan that hurts big timber. Golly Gee, it reduces the supply and raises prices. So when this recession ends, the Big Timber Barons will once again be making big money, and their tax rate will that of a pauper, because Senator Baucus got them a tax reduction, the poor dears. All in the name of conservation, of course. All in the program to buy out PCT surplus, cutover lands, and put them in public ownership, much through the designated middle man enrichment scheme of TPL and TNC buying the land, and then selling it to USFS.....SO WHY DON'T WE JUST TAKE OUT THE MIDDLE MAN AND LET THE USFS BUY IT THEMSELVES???? Gotta fund the NGOs by the backdoor. Gotta do it. Good conservation practice. Good for the environment to have a healthy multibillion dollar a year NGO making more millions.

hi guys
Any concern for the environment by big bucks is all about either making more big bucks, or keeping big bucks already in hand. Conservation easements, a nice piece of work, are merely a way to have big tax liabilities erased and let the taxpayers buy half the ranch

max

<a >New Mexico Drug Treatment</a>

you continue to complicate my views, Christian. thanks for this.