Groups debate how to save environment

Adam F. Jarrold Arizona Daily Wildcat Student Environmental Action Coalition members Ben Hale (right), an environmental policy and economics graduate student, and Chris Ford, a theater arts senior, respond to statements made by members of the Libertarian Students at an Earth Day debate on the UA Mall yesterday.

SEAC accepted the Libertarian Students' challenge of a three-way debate between the two groups and the College Republicans on Earth Day, but the College Republicans did not participate.

Ben Hale, a SEAC member and environmental policy and economics graduate student, said his group accepted the challenge even though it believed the two groups would not compromise on their positions.

"I think it's a little bit on the brazen side. I'm not happy it's on Earth Day, but I'll accept it with open arms," Hale said before the debate.

The debate, which attracted about 25 students, focused on free-market trade and its consequences on the environment.

"The biggest business in the country is our federal government," said Jackie Casey, a member of the Libertarian Students and non-degree seeking graduate student.

Casey, who writes a biweekly opinion column for the Arizona Daily Wildcat, suggested that "the best way to protect the environment is to protect what is yours."

The Libertarian Students said during the debate that the U.S. government is destroying the environment. The best way to protect it, they said, is to put federal land in the hands of citizens.

"People protect and nurture what is theirs, while public resources are nobody's responsibility," Casey said.

"Privatize air, land, sea and animals and you will be using the only solution that respects an individual's right to property and puts conservation as the first priority," she said.

SEAC members argued that the federal government can protect the environment by regulating toxic dumping and air pollution.

"We need to have a government agency to regulate what corporations and individuals put into our environment ," said Chris Ford, a SEAC member and theater arts senior. "It's as simple as that."

A member of the audience asked a Libertarian student for the group's position on the legalization of marijuana.

Casey said the plant "helps everyone" and that the Libertarians support its legalization without government taxation.

"Why tax a budding industry that helps everyone from the sick to the poor to the trees?" Casey said.

Ford said in SEAC's closing remarks that it is important for citizens to become active in governmental issues.

"We strongly believe in protecting the environment. We strongly believe in enforcing these laws," he said.

"It's up to the citizens, we the people, to get in there and stop pollution," Ford said.

The debate lasted an hour, followed by an informal discussion among listeners and group members.

Casey said she was happy with the outcome of the debate, although she was disappointed that the College Republicans did not attend.

Jeff McCue, chairman of the College Republicans and a chemistry freshman, said he was not aware of the Libertarians' challenge to debate the College Republicans and SEAC.

"I'm having a real internal cohesion problem within my club," McCue said.

Casey said SEAC members were "really good sports" for participating in the debate, held for the first time on Earth Day.

Uldis Balodis, a linguistics sophomore, said he enjoyed watching the debate.

"I thought it was really interesting. I wish the other party would have been here. They should put on more things like this," he said.