Thosp's post raises several important questions. SLAPP suits are certainly not unique to areas involving "public participation". They are commonly used where ever the plaintiff thinks that the economic pressure of litigation will help his cause. The most common area of abuse in my experience is in criminal law, where defendants are denied effective counsel, or appeal, simply because they can't afford it or the cost/benefit ratio doesn't support it. There are periodic thrusts to "solve" the problem, but the solutions, on closer examination, often pose a greater threat than the "problem".

The question of whether "environmentalism is religion" has both a Yes and a No answer. The distinction seems to depend on the degree and quality of quantifiable evidence (i.e.; "science"). We live in an age where religious fundamentalism of many varieties is never far from the headlines or lead stories. The majoritarian view of US culture is that of a "judaeo-christian" perspective, and the depth and breadth of the rebirth of paganism in the culture is generally not well recognized. Lest we get lost in the trappings of any individual belief system, paganism is generally described as any belief system in which the god or gods tend to be nature-based. Much of what has been encompassed under the rubric of environtmentalism over the years has been based on good science, or at least found to be consonant therewith as time moved on, but there has also been much that is based on "belief" rather than "science". To be fair, this thing called "science" has also achieved a "religious " nature in some sectors. Without getting in any deeper, my personal view is that we would do better to treat each other with respect and honestly seek to work together on a rational basis. Name calling, however hig or low brow, isn't very productive of good outcomes.