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So "the very foundations of our democracy" are threatened by environmentalists (Soapbox, March 18)?

A frightening claim, particularly when it is made with the democratic authority of an unelected member of the House of Lords. Who are these fanatics? Are they people who oppose genetically modified crops, along with a majority of the population in the UK; supporters of organic food, perhaps misled by authoritative scientific research showing organic production is better for wildlife; opponents of the measles, mumps and rubella jab; users of alternative medicine; and perhaps creationists too?

These last three groups have nothing to do with most environmentalists, but they are prone to irrational enthusiasm, so why not create guilt by association?

Most environmentalists are passionate about science - how else can we discover and manage global threats such as climate change? But we are suspicious of establishment figures using claims to a higher rationality to maintain the status quo.

Mark Huxham
School of Life Sciences
Napier University