"AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL WORKING ON ALTERNATE ENERGY"
November 1, 1991
Paul Brown
c/o: INE
P.O. Box 201
Los Altos, CA 94023
Greetings,
I have been involved with alternate energy research since 1978, while still a college student. Over the years I have heard many nightmare stories about people who developed something significant only to be persecuted, harassed, prosecuted, and even killed. I was sure that these stories were exaggerated or possibly the result of the inventor's own paranoia or such. Further, I met several inventors whom I felt were their own worst enemies (via fabrications of their imaginations) which confirmed my beliefs.
As time went on, and in about 1982, I became involved in work of some significance and received some minor criticism and skepticism that I found to be beneficial as well as practical, but no death threats or any of the other forms of persecution. I built experimental devices, learned things unavailable from books, filed for patents and in general felt very satisfied with my life, society and the scientific system.
However; things began to change, slowly and alarmingly. The more success I had in my endeavors - the more I began to attract dishonest and greedy people (I know this now but was unaware of it then). My life became more uncomfortable as time went on but I was not sure of the problem.
In 1987 we decided it was time to let the world know what we were working on and the results we were getting. It was a proud time for me. I thought we were doing the right thing. But this was the real beginning of the worst.
Since that February 1987 I or my company have been persecuted by the State Dept. of Health; then the Idaho Dept. of Finance filed a civil complaint against the company and myself; my license for handling radioactive materials was then suspended for 6 months; I began to receive threats (i.e. "We will bulldoze your home with your family in it."); securities fraud charges were then filed against my company and myself; then investigation by the Oregon Dept. Finance; then the tax man; then the Securities and Exchange Commission; my wife was assaulted; I lost control of my company; my home has been robbed three times and vandalized on four other occasions; twice now I have been accused of drug manufacturing; I lost my home; most recently my mother's car was pipe bombed. With each hardship I strive harder toward successful development of the technologies under my endeavor. But it only seems to get worse.
Someone once said, "Paranoia is only a heightened sense of awareness." He was right! It is hard for the average guy to comprehend these disasters happening to select people. I am here to tell you it is not coincidence. I now understand why some inventors drop out from society.
My advice to you is keep a low profile until you have completed your endeavor; be selective in choosing your business partners; protect yourself and your family; know that the nightmare stories are true.
R. E. McMaster elegantly summarizes the character of the suffering scientist (The Reaper, Vol. 15, No. 36, 9-4-91) *:
"The history of science and technology, the history of significant breakthroughs for mankind, which has launched him into new eras, is the history of 'tinkerers', of private individuals who have sacrificed their lives, time, money, reputations and families to research and experiment in their garages and basements in search of truths, the applications of which in their hearts they know exist ... These are the men of passion, of character and professionalism - great minds, holistic and synergistic minds, blessed with hands-on mechanical skills, working to bring scientific theory and concept into practical, working, useful, productive technology.
These are the men whom a life, love, liberty, law, light-oriented, long-term biased society would lift up. Unfortunately, the character of the modern world is just the opposite of the six 'Ls'. And so men suffer, are persecuted by the government and culture-at-large. They scramble for funds, are abandoned by their families, suffer the ridicule of their colleagues, are forced to stuff their thoughts and keep their mouths shut. They are lonely. And yet, they drive on in their relentless pursuit of truth to make this scientifically and technologically a better world.
There is something about the non-stop pain of long-term suffering which humbly grounds a man in reality. Under such continuous pressure, men break and either become bitter or better. They have neither the time nor the interest in the air heads who are wrapped up in materialism, conflict and leisure orientation of today's world. Nor do they belong to the group of intellectual acid-heads who read books, gather facts, and are ever learning and talking, but do not have the hands-on skills or the hearts to help their friends and fellow man when the need arises. Rather, such men are the point men, leading the dangerous platoon of life. They are self-assured and have few good, reliable friends... These are the me who challenge the new frontiers and the old order to make a better tomorrow. These are the loners who have been persecuted by both industry and government, who have endured grave injustices in search of scientific truth."
God speed, Good Luck in your endeavors, and Never lose The Faith.
Sincerely,
Paul Brown
---------------------
* The Reaper
P.O. Box 84901
Phoenix, AZ 85071
$5.00 per Back Issue
(800 528-0559)
(Transcribed from Paul Browns' Original Letter.)
(Return address changed by agreement.)