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Brian Ewart Responds

Brian Ewart Responds image
Parent Issue
Month
April
Year
1989
Copyright
Creative Commons (Attribution, Non-Commercial, Share-alike)
Rights Held By
Agenda Publications
Letter to the Editor
OCR Text

Brian Ewart Responds

SMERA Information Officer Banner is correct that SMERA was registered in Washtenaw County in December 1988. The Information Banner fails to provide is that of the six individuals signing the document every one of them is an employee of Gelman Sciences. In addition, both this document and SMERA 's post office box are listed in the name and/or home address of Gelman Sciences Special Counsel, Edward Levitt. Of SMERA's "approximately" one dozen members, every one identified thus far, with the exception of spokesperson Banner, is an employee of Gelman Sciences.

Apparently it is Mr. Banner's opinion that the facts could lead one to conclude that SMERA is a "front." Indeed, some AGENDA readers and Michigan environmentalists reached this conclusion simply from reading the SMERA advertisements printed in AGENDA, statements for which some SMERA representative is willing to hire a professional writer and sign $300 checks each month to have published. It was, after all, public concern that inspired the investigation.

Is SMERA the "front" that these individuals suspect? Charles Gelman is clearly quoted in the article as saying he does not believe SMERA is a front for anybody. Edward Levitt is quoted as denying SMERA takes its "marching orders" from any industry or individual. The statement signed by Banner repeats the claim. History tells us that industrial interests have used front groups to promote their cause but that not all groups promoting industry have been front groups. The reader is assumed to be capable of reaching his or her own conclusion.

Lastly, I agree with Mr. Banner that my affiliation with Tocsin should have been noted. A statement conceming this affiliation and my experience as a University of Michigan graduate student researching the pro-nuclear movement and its industry sponsors was submitted with the article. The decision not to publish the statement was AGENDA'S.