National Post (Don Mills, Ontario), May 20, 2008

BRUCE COX DEFENDS GREENPEACE (AND TAKES ON PATRICK MOORE)

[Rachel's introduction: Patrick Moore, one of the founders of Greenpeace, has had a change of heart in midlife and now spends his days providing high-priced consulting services to polluters, promoting nuclear energy, and bashing Greenpeace and other environmental groups. Here Bruce Cox, the head of Greenpeace Canada, replies to a recent Moore essay.]

By Bruce Cox

Patrick Moore used an article about himself in the National Post on May 1 to launch yet another tirade against Greenpeace (Full Comment, May 12.)

In his article, he accuses Greenpeace and other environmental groups of "name-calling." For the record, no one with Greenpeace called him any names in the article and no one from Greenpeace Canada was even quoted.

Mr. Moore took offence at the term "Eco Judas," referenced by the writer. It may be harsh, but consider this: Mr. Moore left Greenpeace and now works for the nuclear industry, logging companies, the fish- farm industry and other large corporations he once opposed. His positions on climate change, nuclear power, clear cutting forests and uranium mining are the opposite of every major environmental organization in the country. How should one characterize his behaviour?

Mr. Moore accuses Greenpeace of failing to engage him in the issues in an article we did not initiate or write, but OK, let's examine the issues he raises.

On the use of chlorine, Greenpeace never called for a "ban" as Mr. Moore asserts. Greenpeace campaigned against organo-chlorines like dioxin and successfully fought to eliminate chlorine from the pulp and paper bleaching process in Ontario and B.C. because it was polluting rivers and lakes. Greenpeace has always maintained exceptions for drinking water and pharmaceutical uses and never called for an outright ban.

Mr. Moore is alone in his recollection of a fight over chlorine and/or use of science as his reason for leaving Greenpeace.

On forests, Mr. Moore writes, "Greenpeace is basically anti-forestry." Completely wrong. Greenpeace has worked with the forest industry around the world. We take strong hard-line positions on forest protection, but have a proven track record of working in collaboration with industry and stakeholders when industry has shown a willingness to find sustainable solutions. Currently, Greenpeace is working with forest companies, First Nations, forest communities and government to secure the future of British Columbia's Great Bear Rainforest; Patrick Moore and Greenspirit are not.

On genetically modified organisms, Mr. Moore writes that "there is not a shred of evidence of harm to health or the environment." In fact, there is little or no independent research on the long-term health and environmental impacts of genetically engineered organisms. Yet we continue to develop and release them into the environment.

Greenpeace opposes genetic engineering because we adhere to the "precautionary principle" (where scientific evidence is insufficient, inconclusive or uncertain, err on the side of caution). We say the onus should be on industry to prove a substance is safe before releasing it into the public. The reverse has had catastrophic results in the past from Thalidomide use to ozone-depleting CFCs.

Mr. Moore might want to read the 2007 peer-reviewed study by Gilles- Eric Seralin et al in the science journal Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology showing elevated liver, kidney and growth problems in lab rats fed on genetically engineered corn.

On the question of nuclear power, Mr. Moore rattles off a list of countries using nuclear and says nuclear generation has "virtually no emissions." Good corporate spin but he fails to mention that globally last year more megawatts of energy came from renewable sources than nuclear generation. This trend will increase as jurisdictions like Germany, Spain and Belgium phase out nuclear generation, and renewable energy becomes more widespread.

As for being virtually "emissions free," radioactive emissions are inherent in the nuclear fuel chain. From uranium mining to waste storage, radioactive emissions and leaks occur at almost every stage of fuel production and use.

After two decades of working for industry and opposing the positions of every major environmental group in Canada, surely it's time Patrick Moore stopped promoting himself as an "environmentalist"?

Bruce Cox is Executive Director of Greenpeace Canada. Greenpeace does take corporate donations.

Copyright 2008 Canwest Interactive