Larry Byrd, MS Environmental Management
Environmental Reclamation Specialist, Educator and Trainer

Environmental protection is important for every citizen of the United State. However,
people need to know the complete truth about how important it is to have fair
and objective environmental regulations. Economic growth, along with fair and
comprehensive environmental protection, can be accomplished with the goal of ensuring
a balanced business climate in conjunction with a fair and reasonable environmental
policy. The current business climate in America does not allow for economic growth
without punitive and unnecessary environmental requirements, and these are not
understood by business or government regulators.

It is essential that the United States have energy for our military and industry to thrive
in a very competitive marketplace. Environmental policies are necessary, however, they
need to be balanced and fair in order for industry to succeed and create employment
opportunities. A balanced approach is rarely discussed, and this has caused U.S.
citizens to take sides and oppose each other without understanding that job creation and
environmental protection can be accomplished with a comprehensive goal of utilizing our
own energy supplies at a fair cost for corporations and consumers alike.

There are areas in this country where energy development should be allowed, and other
locations where energy production should not be permitted. One example is how careful
planning and research can allow for the development of coal in the United States. There
is a plea for the shut-down of mountain top removal coal mining operations in West
Virginia. The primary reasons for shutting down coal mining in this location include: 1)
pollution of water supplies; 2) destruction of farmland and residences; 3) a change in the
natural hydro-logic drainage; 4) permanent natural scars to scenic landscapes; and 5) loss
of the current land uses and values of the land.

The initial reaction to the above findings favors closing down mountain top removal coal
operations in West Virginia. This seems reasonable to most, however, does that mean that
coal mining should be shut down nationwide? Some environmentalists have called for
shutting down all coal mining operations and bankrupting the industry. Idealistically, this
might work, however, coal accounts for over 40 percent of the generation of electricity
in the United States. In addition, the closing of mines would eliminate well-paying
employment opportunities throughout the country. We can shut down coal mines, but
what do we do with the personnel who lose their jobs?

At this time alternative energy is not cost effective or feasible to replace the conventional
fossil fuel types, which include coal, oil and natural gas. Until this is practical, coal
mining is essential to keep the U.S. competitive. Also, our manufacturing industry needs
to revitalize in order to balance our trade industry. This will allow us to continue to be a
world power in conjunction with preserving our current standard of living.

Coal mining can be eliminated in environmentally sensitive areas, and at the same time
can be expanded in other areas of the country. Fair environmental laws can be written
allowing for coal mining to continue and to further develop. However, the operations

must be conducted using the latest technology and training to allow for coal operations
to operate in an environmentally friendly manner. This can be done with the cooperation
of all those concerned, including engineers, environmentalists, politicians, land-use
planners, attorneys, and the citizens being impacted. Comprehensive training and
education should be available to workers losing their jobs. This should work hand-in-
hand with communities to re-tool and create industrial and manufacturing employment
opportunities to ensure that people are able to utilize their gifts and creativity in the
workplace. A balanced environmental approach will again demonstrate that American
exceptional ism is alive and well.

William Wiseman, Fort Mill Chapter of the Oak Initiative

“Wake up, Church in America”, I say, “Wake up!” It appears to me that many churchgoers
across America are either totally apathetic or completely oblivious to the grave dangers our
Nation faces. It seems that they are in the cauldron that has been slowly heated over a long
period of time, and that they have acclimated to the evil climate that has engulfed them. But I say
again, “Wake up!”, because the heat is being turned up, and you will soon be unable to escape
the bubbling quagmire.

In 2 Chronicles 7:14-15, we read: “Then if My people who are called by My name will humble
themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven
and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” (NLT) In this passage, God says nothing about
the people of the world repenting. Instead, He is calling those who profess to be His children to
take these steps.

Those of us in The Oak Initiative are called to be oaks of righteousness. I see a large part of
that calling as being watchmen on the wall of our Nation. Ezekiel 33:3-6 states: “When the
watchman sees the enemy coming, he sounds the alarm to warn the people. Then if those who
hear the alarm refuse to take action, it is their own fault if they die. They heard the alarm but
ignored it, so the responsibility is theirs. If they had listened to the warning, they could have
saved their lives. But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn't sound the alarm to
warn the people, he is responsible for their captivity. They will die in their sins, but I will hold
the watchman responsible for their deaths.” (NLT)

I see the enemy coming, and in many instances already within the camp. So, as I sound the
trumpet, I trust that the following article will help serve to wake up those who slumber. It is
taken from an Op-Ed in Arutz Sheva (www.israelnationalnews.com) and is an excellent work
that reveals the truth in a simple way. When we know the truth, it will set us free.

Why The Peaceful Majority Is Irrelevant By Paul E. Marek

Paul E. Marek is a second-generation Canadian whose grandparents fled Czechoslovakia just
prior to the Nazi takeover. He is an educational consultant specializing in programs that protect
children from predatory adults.

I used to know a man whose family were German aristocracy prior to World War II. They owned
a number of large industries and estates. I asked him how many German people were true Nazis,
and the answer he gave has stuck with me and guided my attitude toward fanaticism ever since.

“Very few people were true Nazis,” he said, “but many enjoyed the return of German pride, and
many more were too busy to care. I was one of those who just thought the Nazis were a bunch of
fools. So, the majority just sat back and let it all happen. Then, before we knew it, they owned us,
and we had lost control, and the end of the world had come. My family lost everything. I ended
up in a concentration camp and the Allies destroyed my factories.”

March 18, 2007

We are told again and again by experts and talking heads that Islam is the religion of peace, and
that the vast majority of Muslims just want to live in peace. Although this unquantified assertion
may be true, it is entirely irrelevant. It is meaningless fluff, meant to make us feel better, and
meant to somehow diminish the specter of fanatics rampaging across the globe in the name of
Islam.

The fact is that the fanatics rule Islam at this moment in history. It is the fanatics who march.
It is the fanatics who wage any one of 50 shooting wars worldwide. It is the fanatics who
systematically slaughter Christian or tribal groups throughout Africa and are gradually taking
over the entire continent in an Islamic wave.

The fanatics rule Islam at this moment in history. It is the fanatics who bomb, behead, murder,
or execute honor killings. It is the fanatics who take over mosque after mosque. It is the fanatics
who zealously spread the stoning and hanging of rape victims and homosexuals. The hard,
quantifiable fact is that the “peaceful majority” is the “silent majority,” and it is cowed and
extraneous.

Communist Russia was comprised of Russians who just wanted to live in peace, yet the Russian
Communists were responsible for the murder of about 20 million people. The peaceful majority
were irrelevant. China’s huge population was peaceful as well, but Chinese Communists
managed to kill a staggering 70 million people. The average Japanese individual prior to
World War II was not a war-mongering sadist. Yet, Japan murdered and slaughtered its way
across Southeast Asia in an orgy of killing that included the systematic murder of 12 million
Chinese civilians - most killed by sword, shovel and bayonet. And who can forget Rwanda,
which collapsed into butchery? Could it not be said that the majority of Rwandans were “peace
loving”?

History lessons are often incredibly simple and blunt; yet, for all our powers of reason, we
often miss the most basic and uncomplicated of points. Peace-loving Muslims have been made
irrelevant by the fanatics. Peace-loving Muslims have been made irrelevant by their silence.
Peace-loving Muslims will become our enemy if they don’t speak up, because, like my friend
from Germany, they will awaken one day and find that the fanatics own them, and the end of
their world will have begun.

Peace-loving Germans, Japanese, Chinese, Russians, Rwandans, Bosnians, Afghanis, Iraqis,
Palestinians, Somalis, Nigerians, Algerians and many others, have died because the peaceful
majority did not speak up until it was too late. As for us, watching it all unfold, we must pay
attention to the only group that counts: the fanatics who threaten our way of life.

"ONE MAN WITH COURAGE IS A MAJORITY" - Thomas Jefferson

Will you show courage? Will you speak the truth? Will you be the one person that makes a
difference? I pray that you will and that you will encourage others to do the same. The time to
lay down our apathy and act is now! Let freedom ring!