Liberty
Matters News Service
January 22, 2004
TNC Under IRS Microscope
The Internal Revenue Service
is planning to move into the headquarters of The Nature Conservancy (TNC),
the world's largest environmental "charity," to conduct an investigation
of its financial dealings. It could take as long as a year. The organization
was informed last month that the IRS would begin a thorough examination of its
2002 tax returns and preliminary information promises "a pretty strong audit,"
according to former IRS commissioner Donald C. Alexander. The audit comes in
the wake of a series of articles in the Washington Post last year that exposed
"financial irregularities and conflicts of interest at the Conservancy."
According to information gathered by the Post, TNC repeatedly bought property
and sold the land to trustees at bargain basement prices. The trustees then
gave sizable cash donations to TNC, making them eligible for large tax deductions.
The organization's tax returns are mysterious, at best. Peter Dobkin Hall, of
Harvard University's Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations, described the
tax documents as "confounding." "It's not exactly what I'd call a transparent
organization. I couldn't find out a damn thing about them." The IRS frequently
audits private businesses, but rarely targets nonprofit organizations.
The Nature Conservancy "has assets of more than $3 billion and is the
eighth largest nonprofit [organization] in the nation."
IRS to Audit Nature Conservancy From Inside
Act
Al Gore Goofs Again
Timing is everything. Acting against the advice of advisors, former Clinton
VP Al Gore showed up in New York City, January 15th, to give a speech on
global warming. The event, sponsored by the far left-wing group MoveOn.org.,
occurred on the coldest day the city had seen in nearly fifty years. Gore said,
in effect, that the Bush/Cheney administration is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
the "coal, oil, utility and mining industries," whose policies are leading
the world to the brink of catastrophe. "While President Bush likes to project
an image of strength and courage, the real truth is that in the presence of
his large financial contributors, he is a moral coward," Gore said. The
former VP criticized Bush for trying to open the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge to oil exploration and accused him of gutting environmental laws and
failing to prevent "global warming," even as parts of New England were
experiencing wind chill factors of 100 degrees below Fahrenheit. Amy Ridenour,
president of the National Center for Public Policy Research, said Gore's remarks
were not worthy of notice. "No serious policy person could give the speech Al
Gore gave today," she said. Ridenour asked if Gore is so certain man-made
greenhouse gases are responsible for global warming, then why did the
Clinton/Gore administration not submit the Kyoto Protocol to the Senate
for ratification? It is hypocritical to accuse the Bush administration
of bartering the environment for "industry" bucks when "there is more money
available to those on Gore's politically-correct side of the global
warming issue."
Gore to Decry 'Global Warming'
Gore's Global Warming Speech Gets Icy Rebuke
The National Animal ID Plan Gains Momentum
Plans are
well under way to institute a national animal identification system that is
"vital to the well-being of all U.S. citizens." The U.S. Animal Identification
Plan executive summary states, in part, that it [USAIP] "[P]romotes human health;
provides wholesome, reliable, and secure food resources; mitigates national
economic threats; and enhances a sustainable environment." The vaguely-worded
plan lays out an ambitious effort to identify each and every animal, individually
and by group and also seeks to identify its location and track its movements.
Owners of cattle, swine, sheep goats, alpacas and llamas, deer and elk will be
expected to submit their livestock for identification by the proper authorities.
Poultry owners, and that includes those engaged in raising game birds, must
undergo the same process as will people who raise fish, shrimp and so on.
No one will be exempt, regardless of whether his animals are pets or for personal
use. The promoters recognize that the plan will be very expensive but, so far,
there is no concrete method laid out to pay for the state and federal costs to
carry it out. The 74-page proposal may be seen at: http://usaip.info.
Comments from agriculture interests or government entities will be accepted
until January 31, 2004 and may be e-mailed to: Communications@USAIP.info;
faxed to: 1-719-538-8847; or mailed to: USAIP Comments, 660 Southpointe Court,
Suite 314, Colorado Springs, CO 80906.
Animal ID Program
ELF Brags About $55 Million in Vandalism
"The Earth Liberation
Front alone caused upward of $55 million dollars in damages in a series
of anti-development and SUV-dealership attacks that captured headlines
across North America," states information on the group's Web site.
Among the list of 75 acts of vandalism was the September 5 incident in
which 12 SUVs were damaged at a Santa Fe, New Mexico dealership. The
underground demolition crew also took credit for disabling U.S. Forest
Service equipment in the Jemez Mountains on October 8. The FBI is
offering up to $20,000 for information leading to the capture and
conviction of members of ELF, the number one domestic terrorist concern.
'Earth Liberation Front' Admits SUV Vandalism
SUVOA Call on Ashcroft To Take Action