The Center for Biological Diversity is in the vanguard of the fight to save, not just endangered species, but the entire planet. It understands that we are destroying a celestial gift that we have not even begun to see, let alone understand. Are we to leave future generations a diminished treasure? Romney, Trump et al would do well to channel their millions toward this effort.

What organization is doing more to stop the Japanese whaling industry? I suppose one could say that the great civil rights leaders broke laws also, or faced trumped up charges in order to obstruct their action.

I am 73, a farm kid whose first prize ever, $10, was for a conservation scrapbook. My dad, with a seventh-grade education, won an award for his conservation practices. Those efforts (in the days of heavy nitrogen fertlizer) seem virtually in vain, but thanks to the Center, I feel that we have someone still leading the way and battling hard.