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Friday, January 26, 2007
Finally ... HamNation Goes Green
Posted by: Mary Katharine Ham at 2:47 PM

This goes with my column for today, "The Mammal the Greens Forgot."

In Rosia Montana, Romania, George grew up in a one-bedroom apartment with seven other family members. Two thirds of the people in his village have no running water. They venture outside in brutal negative temperatures just to use the bathroom. Many of them, George included, hope a planned gold mine will bring jobs and a taste of modernity to a town long-ago abandoned by state-owned mines and gainful employment.

Almost 500 miles away, from her home in the prosperous, modern capital city of Bucharest, Belgian environmentalist Francoise Heidebroek says of Rosia Montana's poverty, "It is part of the charm of Rosia Montana and this lifestyle. You know, people will use their horse and cart instead of using a car. They are proud to have a horse."...

There are environmental concerns associated with any type of mining or big development, the dangers of which businesses have learned to mitigate as mining practices and environmental regulation has evolved. There are water supplies and birds and rare breeds of squirrels to protect. But there are also people to think of. "Mine Your Own Business" tells their story.

Environmentalists would do well to pay attention. McAleer and McElhinney have given them the opportunity to do so while sitting on their couches, watching their HD TVs in developed Westernized cities, far from the people they're trying to protect. Just the way they like it.

Sorry it's late. It took forever to load. Thanks to Bureaucrash for the footage and the t-shirt.

 



View in ascending order View in descending order
Dave writes: Monday, January, 29, 2007 7:42 AM
Me? Hypocrite?
Pointing out the flaw in Ham's argument is not hypocritical. What you probably think is that because I criticize a conservative then I'm automatically a liberal.

It's the "our side" verses "their side" thinking that is so prevalent. If someone doesn't agree with everything we say or do, then that person is not on our side and therefore belongs to their side and therefore embraces everything the other side thinks and does.

People that think that way miss one thing. Not everyone thinks that way. There are a lot of conservatives who disagree on some issues with other conservatives. That doesn't mean that they are liberals, and that doesn't mean that they embrace all liberal policy and everything liberals do.
Ray Ancel writes: Sunday, January, 28, 2007 11:05 PM
Wrong Dave
My sole intent was to point out what a hypocrite you are.

I did.

Thanks for your participation.

I'll let Mary Katharine defend herself.

Roger on the Right writes: Sunday, January, 28, 2007 3:26 PM
re: jetpilot's raving
"...but people should not let someone come in, use them, rape their land and leave for some lousy wage for a few years."

Yet, strangely enough, the people of that village want that "lousy" wage. One gets the feeling they are acting in their self-interest, as presumably are the mines.

Isn't it fun how free markets work? Buyers and sellers get what they want. The only ones disappointed are those who do not participate in the transaction, yet make outrageous moral pronouncements about those who do.

Screw the Left.
Grumpy writes: Sunday, January, 28, 2007 2:56 PM
Letting It Slide
Seriously, what artist did the Russian music at the end?
Dave writes: Sunday, January, 28, 2007 8:43 AM
Ray and Johnny
Ray uses the "Johnny-Was-Throwing-Stones-Toooooooooo" defense.

Rather than making a counter-argument to what I said, Ray's defense of Ham's video was to say that other people use the same tactic.

Although not very effective the "Johnny-Was-Throwing-Stones-Toooooooooo" defense is also a popularly used tactic - IN KINDERGARTEN!!!!!
jetpilot writes: Sunday, January, 28, 2007 3:26 AM
Dripping w/ sarcasm and tight t-shirt
Who paid for the documentary?

From their web site:

"Moving Picture Institute, a not for profit dedicated to advancing liberty through the medium of film"

"From 2000 to 2003 he was the Romania/Bulgaria Correspondent for the Financial Times. He has also written for the Economist from the region."

(real business guy, go figure)

Who or what company wants to mine in Romania/Bulgaria?

"Mine Your Own Business will make a lot of comfortable western people very uncomfortable indeed. It will show them the consequences of their blind faith in our new religion-the religion of environmentalism."

WOW! I don't think so. We are talking about one or two mines in freaking Romania/Bulgaria? WHO CARES!

The mining company no doubt will make millions. Nothing wrong with that, but people should not let someone come in, use them, rape their land and leave for some lousy wage for a few years. Not saying this will be the case, but than again IT'S Romania/Bulgaria! WHO CARES!!

Environmental issues are important, tempered with rational realistic balance of what is best for man, but there is nothing wrong with conservation and protection of the environment. It is fundamental of being good stewards of God's creation.

The earth is life. You would not abort a baby would you? Why would you knowingly harm mother earth which gives us life.

If the mines environmental impact is low, its safe for the workers and good for the people, who will be well paid, great. There should be plan's (money set aside) to restore the land after the mine is closed.

The come in rape the land and leave approach is bad business and bad for the earth. We learned it the hard way in the US.

The activist in the short clip where mild. The BIG Irishman (producer) was more intimidating than the protesters, ha ha ha. He was big red faced, head taller, Irishman; They where afraid. Oh my, so much for the radical protesters.

Look their heart's are in the right place, and it's not like they where throwing blood on J-lo's fur coat. They serve a purpose, a check and balance against greed and harming the earth and people needlessly. Nothing wrong with that even if it means some mines don't get dug. Those people are not starving of being killed in a civil war in Iraq.

I don't get how we in america can say what is going on in Romania/Bulgaria?

I'll have to see the propaganda, oh I mean documentary film I guess. Gore had his agenda, michael moore had his.

IF YOU DON'T THINK THIS IS PROPAGANDA FOR SOMEONE TO MAKE MONEY, THAN YOU ARE A FOOL.

WHY ROMANIA/BULGARIA? IT'S SOMEONE'S SPECIAL INTEREST AND IT'S NOT FOR THE PEOPLE IN THOSE VILLAGES.

NEITHER GROUP, MINING COMPANY OR THE ENVIRONMENTALIST GIVES A RATS PA-TOOT ABOUT THE VILLAGE PEOPLE (not the YMCA ones, ha ha).

THERE ARE SMALL AMERICAN TOWNS THAT DIE OUT AND DISAPPEAR ALL THE TIME. I MEAN THEY CAN MOVE, CAN'T THEY? WHERE IS THEIR DOC-U-BORING FILM.

What material is so important to mine? Nothing, just profit for a company and some JOBS for some in a village. Who cares. Well its good to make fun of the Greens for Ms. Ham.

I get sick of the stereotype cliche' of the left verses right. The Green's are special group (special ed) and not representative. I suppose all republican men are like Mark Foley & Ted Haggard and like mining of their.....

There is no doubt temperatures have raised in the world. Scientific fact. The controversy is not that they have increased, just if it's normal changes or man made. SO STOP THE MADNESS.

Ham as usual is dripping with sarcasm so thick you could cut it with a knife, but I like how she hugged herself, pushing her tight t-shirt up, in a conservative way, ha ha he he. I got global warming; I got your global warming right here.

I love how the guys go on about malkin or ham, I LIKE YOU 2nd AS MUCH? ha ha son get a girlfriend. Trust me you don't want Ham, she will make you cry like a little girl. Besides she is in love with some Fox news anchor? I don't remember, I think it's Bill O. Ham likes falafel sponges may be? I know Bill will call if he sees the video. Hey new name for Bill O's show, the Falafel Factor.
Ray Ancel writes: Saturday, January, 27, 2007 11:27 PM
Dave's right
"It's done all the time. Find a bad environmentalist. It's not hard. A lot of nut jobs become environmentalists. Show him or her on film and expose his or her stupid ideas.

Then make a sweeping comment that all environmentalists are bad (or stupid or crazy or misled).

It works every time.

People have been doing this effectively for decades with immigrants, black people, liberals, etc..."

.... Christians, conservatives, Christians, corporations, Christians, gun owners, Christians, pro-lifers, Christians, Republicans, Christians, right-wing radio listeners, Christians, Fox News watchers, etc....

"A very effective argument"

Right again, Dave. For instance, how many people do you think know that there are more convicted public school teacher pedo's/perverts than Catholic priests?

Not many.

Roger on the Right writes: Saturday, January, 27, 2007 3:18 PM
Hammy, I love your stuff!
Hammy, I love your stuff. Well done. Funny, fun, and to the point.

This whole Left/Right thing is based on differences in fundamental assumptions and values. The more the world knows about the Left, the more it appreciates the Right.
Dave writes: Saturday, January, 27, 2007 7:38 AM
Good Production
A very effective argument. That's right. It's done all the time. Find a bad environmentalist. It's not hard. A lot of nut jobs become environmentalists. Show him or her on film and expose his or her stupid ideas.

Then make a sweeping comment that all environmentalists are bad (or stupid or crazy or misled).

It works every time.

People have been doing this effectively for decades with immigrants, black people, liberals, etc...
ck2007 writes: Friday, January, 26, 2007 6:17 PM
Great Movie
I can't wait to see this movie get nominated for an Oscar for best documentary just like "An Inconvenient Truth"!

Wait...don't tell me you think politics actually plays a role in who wins an Oscar. (sarcasm)

Great column MKH.
Stormhawk writes: Friday, January, 26, 2007 5:44 PM
to spread truth
Anyone know how to get a copy for a public screening? I have venues.
Abu Daboo Doo al Bedrocki writes: Friday, January, 26, 2007 3:01 PM
Loved it!
I would love to see it, but the local Stalinists who own all the art houses in Raleigh don't like to show anything that doesn't push their agenda (i.e. Bowling for Columbine, Fahrenheit 9/11, An Incontinent Truth, etc.).
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