Out of Control

It should be no surprise by now that the environmental movement has been dominated by radicals who choose extremism over meaningful discourse. The Washington Times today, however, includes a story that paints a shockingly bleak picture of environmentalists. On July 13, Michael T. Eckhart, president of the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) sent a letter to Marlo Lewis, senior fellow of the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), which contained these lines:

It is my intention to destroy your career as a liar… If you produce one more editorial against climate change, I will launch a campaign against your professional integrity. I will call you a liar and charlatan to the Harvard community of which you and I are members. I will call you out as a man who has been bought by Corporate America. Go ahead, guy. Take me on.

The substance behind hatred and ferocity of this letter shows that Mr. Eckhart does not care about finding the truth or pursuing debate and discussion surrounding climate change, but just wants his own views to be accepted by all. That he is willing to threaten another person for holding a contrary opinion is deplorable, but likely, the sentiment of many other environmentalists.

But all is not lost. The Environmental Protection Agency is now reconsidering its membership with ACORE as a result of this letter. Perhaps the EPA’s response is a sign that there is hope for environmentalism in a sane, rational world.