Just about one year ago, I resigned from the North American Wood Ape Conservancy (NAWAC). It was a decision of conscience instigated by the ethical choices being made by the group’s leadership I found indefensible, not because I didn’t agree with the mission of the organization or had lost interest in the subject. 

Collecting compelling, concrete evidence of the existence of the North American Wood Ape remains, in my opinion, one of the top natural conservation imperatives of our time. It will rewrite our understanding of and approach to the wild areas of our continent and our place in the family tree of life on Earth. While I’ve left that group, I’ve remained open to being part of or helping to found another group as long as those involved held certain ethical positions. 

• They must renounce groundless and/or reckless conspiracy theories
• They must embrace and respect a scientific approach 
• They must appreciate and seek out the strength that comes from diversity of human experience
• They must stand for and defend the rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights, illustrated by the Declaration of Independence, and codified in the Constitution.

The very nature of the subject of our shared interests (a mythical, monster-like figure lurking in the shadows of the deepest, darkest forests) suggests anyone willing to accept and promote groundless and fantastical conspiracies without basis in fact cannot and should not be taken seriously. By definition, defending their adherence to a scientific approach is a preposterous position. So those who allow the disease of conspiracy to pollute their logic simply have no place in any group I’d be part of. The need for “boots on the ground” will never outweigh the need to be believable and reliable and trustworthy. 

Diversity in any organization or pursuit is a significant strength. I see that every day in the company I lead and the country I call home. I would need a commitment by a group to be inclusive and pursue and embrace all aspects of diversity: thought, experience, and identity.

The last issue is one that we shouldn’t need to talk about in the United States. But we live in dangerous times where people in powerful positions are using their platforms to erode public trust in our basic institutions and traditions and divide and incite us as we haven’t been in 150 years. I believe we are on the precipice of something I never though we’d see in this country. So while it should go without saying, it needs to be said now. Because if we don’t have basic freedoms of speech and assembly or live in a country where everyone isn’t provided an opportunity to a free and fair vote and the legitimate winners of elections aren’t allowed to exercise their mandate, then nothing else matters. 

And clearly, the issues we have in our country today with regard to these concerns are intrinsically entwined with belief in dangerous conspiracies and a shocking lack of respect for the diversity our country has supposedly stood for for centuries. 

Luckily, shortly after my departure from the NAWAC, a group of friends with similar ideals came together to found exactly that kind of organization. We call it the Wood Ape Research Group (WARG) and we’ve spent the past year doing the basics of building a new organization: establishing a research area, buying required equipment, and formalizing our shared commitment. 

We would like to grow our numbers with similarly aligned individuals who value diversity, respect scientific methodology, and defend free and fair representative democracy and we will be sharing more news about that in the future. 

Earlier this year, after a great deal of thought, I decided to resign from the North American Wood Ape Conservancy. It was not an action I took lightly and the circumstances that led me to that choice cause me pain every day.

We are at a point in our history where I believe it is existentially critical for people of good faith and conscience to set aside loyalty to political brands and defend the core principles upon which the United States was founded. All of us have a responsibility to use our voices to denounce authoritarian, corrupt, and anti-democratic actions by leaders of our country. These are issues that rise above partisanship and “politics.” And the future will judge each of us for how we behave now, at this critical time.

There are people within the NAWAC who I love like brothers. Truly, family. And it’s because of that love that my decision to leave the organization is so painful. But not as painful as my disappointment in those who know better than to accept what the current president is doing to this country and who have chosen to remain silent. Men with whom I have had spirited conversions about the ideals that make our country great. Ideals that used to rise above party and labels but that ultimately they refuse to defend as leaders among their peers.

There have been actions threatened and taken by the president and his enablers that are fundamentally counter to our founding principles. They are gross abuses of power and attempts to maintain a grip on authority and power at the expense of our most basic freedoms and rights. Opposition to these actions should not be controversial. They should not be “political.” All Americans with even a rudimentary understanding of our history and the precepts of our democratic institutions should easily denounce this man and what he says, does, and stands for. Indeed, I believe it is our responsibility as Americans to do so, loudly and often.

But they do not. They remain silent. They do not exercise their rights and step up as the leaders they are to call wrong wrong. Identify evil as evil. They prevaricate and obfuscate and rationalize while one man does everything he can to divide and enrage and shred the emotional and philosophical foundations of our Union.

Their silence is equivalent to complicity. I find it to be profoundly, deeply disappointing. And it makes me fear for my country in a way I never have in my life.

Beyond all that, the leadership of NAWAC allows members who follow bizarre and dangerous conspiracy theories to remain in the group. Beliefs that have been identified by the FBI as a leading domestic terror threat. And they do so for two reasons. One, I believe it highly likely there are those within the leadership of that group who believe these outrageous things themselves. And two, they hide behind the fig leaf of not judging the “politics” of their members. They choose the easy path of non-confrontation.

Hate and intolerance are not “political.” Racism is not “political.” Celebrating and even advocating for violence against Americans is not “political.”

Allowing adherence to unfounded and shocking conspiracy theories within an organization supposedly dedicated to scientific inquiry is itself an indictment against that organization. Demonstrating an inability to deploy critical thinking skills in one aspect of life should cause deep concern when considering an ability to do so in all aspects of life. There should be no place for weird conspiracy beliefs within the NAWAC by definition.

I do not believe the NAWAC is a racist, hateful, intolerant, or violent organization. But I believe those things are tolerated and rationalized within it since those who think that way are thought to be useful in satisfying the objectives of the organization. And as someone who has devoted untold hours and energy and resources to help advance those objectives, it leaves me almost indescribably saddened and disappointed.

I cannot place the objectives of that organization, as much as I believe and support them, above the very existence of our nation and Union. I cannot associate with intolerant, hateful people even incidentally. I cannot place my love of my dear friends in that group above the threat the current president and his supporters and enablers represent to all of us.

All I can do is use my voice and whatever leadership I have earned to try and help them see the error of their decisions and inaction. All I can do is to decline my continued participation, association, and fellowship with them and their organization.