All- 

Haans, aside from the revolutionary tone you brought to your original post, there is in fact a valid point glaring from within your original and finger-pointing, hella short-toned note to Ohio-birds. A softer question could have begun a very intriguing conversation and elicited solid commentary and answers, and ultimately, action. Example: "what stances are Ohio's major birding/bird conservation groups taking on the Scott's Miracle Grow disaster?" 

Each of Ohio's birding/conservation organizations are working tirelessly and daily on MULTIPLE conservation issues. If we all composed ONE list of the issues we are battling, it would be mind-blowing. I understand that some issues may seem moot in comparison to the nationwide devastation that Scott's unleashed, but careful not to undermine the hundreds of other battles that Ohio and National organizations are going toe-to-toe with daily. 

I understand you very well. Consider that you did indeed bring up a valid issue, a very large one that could be discussed endlessly, but Ohio is fighting the good fight on so many massive levels. The Scott's fight is a good one and folks SHOULD be aware of the devastation caused by hunger of money and ignorance, but to pin fault to Ohio organizations on that matter is a serious bummer, man. Take your energy to aligning with an organization(s) to trump disasters such as Scott's. 

While it is absolutely great to question the choices of organizations and voice opinions, know that hundreds to thousands of folks are battling unsurmountable odds with numerous conservation related issues with often little monetary backup to go to war with devastating actions of Big Business. Often we're fighting with the one thing that guarantees our triumph: pure passion. Join us. Cheers.


JB

Jen Brumfield
Cleveland, OH
Bird illustrator and birding tour guide
[log in to unmask]
www.jenbrumfield.com
www.northnw.wordpress.com


On Sep 7, 2012, at 8:36 PM, Haans Petruschke <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Kim echos my point exactly.  How may birds will die because of these 1000
> balloons which will likely deflate and photo degrade within 100 miles of
> the release point?  How many birds were killed by this corporation's
> insidious pursuit of profit above the welfare of the birds they marketed
> their product  to attract? Why were no Ohio, or national, "bird
> conservation" organizations, calling for a boycott of Scotts Miracle Grow
> products when this criminal violation of pesticide laws became apparent 2
> years ago?
> 
> It is incredulous that such organizations can be aware of  1000 helium
> balloons being released in rural Ohio, and unaware of a major criminal act
> that killed countless birds in Ohio, by a major Ohio corporation.
> 
> If Black Swamp Bird Observatory, wishes to claim ignorance, it is
> understood as during that time frame it was far more concentrated on other
> specious concerns. But this does not hold true for the aforementioned
> larger "bird conservation" oriented organizations.
> 
> Always the troublemaker
> 
> Haans Petruschke
> Kirtland
> 
> On Fri, Sep 7, 2012 at 8:15 PM, Kim Kaufman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
>> In response to Mr. Petruschke's complaint:
>> 
>> Having just spent the last 16 hours doing bird conservation work and
>> fighting a 1000 helium balloon release in Van Wert County, I find this kind
>> of blast particularly offensive.  I speak only on behalf of myself and my
>> thoughts do NOT represent any of our other nonprofit partners called on the
>> carpet here, but...Give me a break!
>> 
>> The story was broadcast far and wide on Facebook by many of us.  And in
>> fact, Ann Oliver just posted a link to the story on Birding Ohio.
>> 
>> Back to work. My day isn't over.
>> 
>> Kim Kaufman
>> 
>> 
>> ------------------------------
>> *From*: "Haans Petruschke" <[log in to unmask]>
>> *Sent*: Friday, September 07, 2012 8:04 PM
>> *To*: [log in to unmask]
>> *Subject*: [Ohio-birds] Scotts Miracle grow settlement
>> 
>> 
>> Hi,
>> 
>> Today the Scotts Miracle Grow company of Marysville Ohio settled with the
>> US EPA for a pittance of a criminal fine of $12.5 million for applying
>> pesticides, which killed Ohio birds, to its brand of bird seed. This story
>> first broke more than 2 years ago, and while the sale of this
>> seed undoubtedly killed countless birds in Ohio, it got nary a mention from
>> the Ohio Ornithological Society, Black Swamp Bird Observatory, the Ohio
>> Audubon Society and Chapters, nor national
>> organizations supposedly concerned with bird conservation like: the
>> American Bird Conservancy, National Audubon Society, or Cornell Ornithology
>> Laboratory. This lack of attention to this issue is absolutely stunning.
>> 
>> Are these organizations truly concerned with bird conservation?
>> 
>> As I did 2 years ago on Facebook, I again call for a boycott of all Scotts
>> Miracle Grow products. It doubt any of the aforementioned organizations
>> will have the courage to do the same.
>> 
>> Haans Petruschke
>> Kirtland
>> 
>> ______________________________________________________________________
>> 
>> Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
>> Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
>> Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at
>> www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.
>> 
>> You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
>> http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
>> Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]
>> 
> 
> ______________________________________________________________________
> 
> Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
> Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
> Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.
> 
> You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
> http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
> Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]
> 

______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.

You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]