"RADICAL" ENVIRONMENTALISM IN ELMIRA, ONT. - IS IT POSSIBLE?

The following little gem I did not learn about until many, many years afterwards. In the early days (1990-1993) there was talk among APT members about bringing in the "big guns". Greenpeace, Environmental Defence, EarthFirst and groups with a multinational, if not worldwide reputation were front and centre. It has been my understanding for about the last twenty years that that idea was "democratically" voted down by APT members. Of course I was an APT member at the time and was, like most of the rest, not solicited for my vote on the matter. In fact in hindsight I expect that the issue was kept very close to home, as in perhaps maybe even only four or five members of the coordinating committee for APT. I will suggest that as I am still in contact with two of the earliest days APT coordinators that it behooves me to ask again some pointed questions on the matter. .......................................................................................................... One of the arguments used against bringing in the "big guns" was that it would offend the very conservative, quiet and religious population of Elmira thirty years ago. Of course however accurate that was then, it certainly is less so nowadays with the major influx of new residents since. I have my own ideas as to both who on APT and why they did not want others stepping in and possibly leading the charge. Finally it's even possible that the new APT leadership after, Susan Rupert, truely believed that they could sucessfully slay the twin dragons of Uniroyal Chemical and the Ontario M.O.E. all by themselves. Well that sure hasn't worked to the point that they have become cheerleaders now for that pair and their ongoing feeble and unsucessful efforts. .......................................................................................................................... Perhaps it's way too late now. But a steer can always try. For example think about citizen activists ignoring protocol and trespassing laws and taking their own soil samples. Wow wouldn't that give Lanxess, MOE/MECP and their political fellow travellors nightmares?