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Further Clarification from EarthSave Seattle re: Robert Cohen February 20, 2002 -- Stewart Rose, who ran the EarthSave Seattle Taste of Health where Robert Cohen and Sue Aberle claim Mr. Cohen was booked and then cancelled due to pressure from dairy-related sponsors, has written further clarification of what actually took place. Subject: Re: Robert Cohen Dear Jeff, I was Chair of Taste of Health and also Vice Chair of EarthSave Seattle during most of the time under consideration. Before that I was a board member. I believe Sue Aberle first brought up the idea of Robert Cohen speaking at Taste Of Health a couple of months before I became Chair of Taste of Health and I remember objecting to it immediately for the reasons stated in my previous e mail and made sure everyone knew how I felt about it. When Sue Aberle approached me again with Robert Cohen's offer to speak at Taste of Health, I rejected it immediately while giving a very full explanation why. When I rejected it this time, I was acting as Chair of Taste of Health and Vice Chair of EarthSave Seattle. Because I felt strongly about it, I wanted to make sure that she understood that there was absolutely no chance of Robert Cohen speaking in any event that I was responsible for. Please note that while I was very firm in my explanation to her, I was also very polite. I had numerous occasions to socialize with Sue and her husband Steve. I can remember at least 3 occasions when I discussed the matter very fully with her. However, my explanations were to no avail and in the end I had to pull rank. I remember my frustration in not being able to get her to understand why I was making the decision that I did. What I remember is that she said that Robert Cohen offered to speak at Taste of Health. I told Sue that we would have to turn down the offer. A short time later, I received a telephone call from someone representing Robert Cohen offering to speak at Taste of Health. I personally turned down the offer. There was no mention by this person of Robert Cohen already being booked and as best as I can remember the phone call it sounded purely as an offer. There were no complaints or protestations from the caller and the conversation was very short and polite. I do not remember the name of the person who called. I also can not remember exactly how I turned down the offer but it was something like "thanks but we have already made our plans for speakers" which was true at that point. I issued Robert Cohen no invitations and I authorized no invitations. If Robert Cohen was invited to Taste of Health, the person inviting him had no authority to do so. Amanda says that there is a remote possibility that Sue Aberle, herself, may have made an invitation to him before I was Chair of Taste of Health when she went to the big Toronto Veg Society event a couple of years ago but that is only conjecture. In any case, she knows of no authorization for it. Amanda also points out that Sue Aberle may have mentioned his name in passing before Amanda or I knew who he was. Copying and pasting from your e mail "> Rob and Sue have said -- that he was booked and then cancelled." Robert Cohen was never "booked" for Taste of Health. Unless there is some misunderstanding or something slipped through, I do not remember Robert Cohen ever being booked for Taste of Health. Copying and pasting from your e mail >"I have received inquiries from people saying, "Is what
Cohen saying As I said in my previous e mail, the sponsors did not even know that Robert Cohen had offered to speak. I was the only one speaking with sponsors so I should know. In addition to being Taste of Health Chair, I was still working on my old job of getting sponsorship for the event. I am very unhappy to learn that I am being discredited in the e mail you describe. Please forward a copy of that e mail to me if you have it. Stewart Rose |