Environmental authorities should help people

To the editor,

Ten years ago this month a kind and gentle old man sacrificed his life to defend family, friends and co-workers against environmental extremists. Misunderstanding environmental science, the extremists thought they were doing a fine thing in causing the death.

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, environmental authorities were also unskilled in the sciences and refused to defend the victim against complex charges and dangerous environmental vandalism. After the death, authorities found themselves embarrassed and records disappeared mysteriously.

The December First Society was created to encourage people in the sciences. We want to end environmental extremism. Thousands of innocent people have died because of such crimes. We do not seek retribution or punishment. We only want to end death, vandalism, threats and spurious lawsuits. There is no reason for blind fear of the planet's chemicals.

Our view is that everyone is responsible to understand chemical persistence and to know that all things have chemical nature. We believe that environmental authorities are charted with the task of helping people with environmental issues and must never encourage criminals or tolerate extremism.

John H. ( Jack) Wiegman, president

The December First Society

Missoula