But activists on both sides fear their chance to build a new left may already have passed.

If Mr. Young's lawsuit is settled and the complex is constructed, environmental activists and residents fear that together the two retail centers could ruin the small-town nature of Water Mill forever.

Other anti-tobacco activists fear that if the proposal is adopted, it could become a model for other states and reverse the trend in efforts to restrict smoking in public places.

Syrian activists fear that a government crackdown during Ramadan could stall the uprising against the regime of president Bashar al-Assad.

Local activists fear that the situation will continue to deteriorate if NGOs are not allowed to work in Jumla.

Pro-choice activists fear that the demand for fetal tissue might be akin to the demand for babies - and equally exploitive of females.

Otherwise, the activists feared, there would never be a national outcry over AIDS.

In the apartheid "homelands" of Bophuthatswana and KwaZulu, political activists and organizers fear for their lives.

Overseeing fuel mileage falls under the purview of Transportation, not Energy, but some environmental activists feared that even so, Mr. Abraham would work against tighter regulations.

Yvonne could be located but not captured because animal rights activists and police feared that any approach could drive her out of the area and on streets.