Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise

A part of Ron Arnold's "Wise Use" movement, the Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise (CDFE) claims to be "a non-partisan education and research organization which works on free enterprise studies, public policy research, book publishing, conferences, white papers, and media outreach." Their website proclaims they track "threats to free markets, property rights and limited government."

Personnel

Ron Arnold, director Alan Gottlieb, founder

History

CDFE was founded in 1976 by Alan Gottlieb. Like the other "Wise Use" movement groups, it is an anti-environmental front-line right-wing think tank.

Focusing on the "threats" posed by environmentalists, CDFE runs seminars and conferences and radio programs, and puts out training videos, books, and newsletters, all with the intent of teaching Wise Use supporters how to "fight back" against environmentalists. In addition, director Ron Arnold, under the CDFE banner, has frequently testified before Congress on topics such as the threats of ecoterrorism,

Advisors have included: • Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) • Vice President and former Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney • Richard Ichord (American Freedom Coalition) • Barbara Keating (Consumer Alert) • William Simon (Heritage Foundation)

The CDFE website features categories such as "PETA-probe" and "eco-imperialism" and the latest headlines from the bastion of right-wing journalism, Fox News. They have two other websites: Undue Influence: "tracking the environmental movement's money, power, and harm" (http://www.undueinfluence.com/) and the anti-Rainforest Action Network site "RANamuck" where they talk about Rainforest Action Network's "ties to other radical groups, … their anti-capitalist ideology, and … their lawless and dangerous activities" (http://www.ranamuck.org/).

At CDFE's website you can also read "the rave reviews of Paul Driessen's new book [Eco-Imperialism: Green Power, Black Death] that exposes the green racist agenda to withhold malaria control and life-saving GMO crops from Africa and other developing nations. A horrifying account of green genocide." They fail to mention the known and significant hazards presented by GMO foods, and that most countries, including African countries, have banned them.

Funding

CDFE is a tax-exempt educational organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Tax Code. Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 91-0973976.

FUNDING (partial listing)

   * Coors Foundation
   * Georgia Pacific
   * Louisiana-Pacific
   * MacMillan Bloedel
   * Pacific Lumber
   * Exxon
   * DuPont, Agricultural Products Division
   * Boise Cascade
   * Seneca Sawmills
   * Sun Studs
   * Burkland Lumber
   * F.M. Kirby Foundation

Contact Information

Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise 12500 NE 10th Place
Bellevue, WA 98005
Tel.: 206.455.5038
http://www.cdfe.org/

Related Resources

Testimony of Ron Arnold, Hearing of the Crime Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee, Subject: Eco-terrorism, June 9, 1998, http://www.cdfe.org/ecoterror1.htm

"The Merchant of Fear," by Jim Halpin and Paul de Armond; detailed article on Ron Arnold and Alan Gottlieb, and their connections to the Wise Use movement and CDFE.