Please Help the World's Rarest Butterfly

[Paul Cherubini]

Neil Jones wrote:

> Oh well, as I said Mr Cherubini's understanding of conservationists'
> motives is not noted for its rational nature.

The reason I drive radical conservationists up the wall is because I am always pointing
out the ways butterflies can coexist with intense human activity such as real estate
development and agriculture. Examples: Bt corn and black swallowtails, monarch
overwintering sites in city parks near downtown Los Angeles and San Francisco.
If coexistance is possible, millions of public dollars need not be spent purchasing
butterfly sanctuaries in pricey areas like Palos Verdes where the land costs hundreds of
thousands of dollars per acre. About the only way the radicals have of dealing with
people like me is to call us "nature haters".

Radical conservationists, on the other hand, try to convince the public coexistance
is not possible or desirable even when they know otherwise. Keeping the
public deeply worried seems to be their goal and the way to maximize the flow
of grants, foundation money and donations coming their way, not to mention
increasing the memberships of the organizations they lead.

For example, your website about endangered California checkerspot butterflies
blames their demise on development and global warming.You failed to point out the
endangered Bay checkerspot butterfly actually dissappeared from sites that were fenced
off from cattle grazing. I therefore assume you have a problem letting the public know
this rare butterfly can not only coexist, but can even benefit from human activity.
What is your motive for not wanting to let the public know about this fact that
would, admittedly, probably defuse public interest in making grants, donations,
writing Congressmen, joining the Xerces Society, etc?

Paul Cherubini