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THE WITNESSUPDATE: After dropping support for ALEC, Pepsi distances itself from the Heartland Institute’s climate denial.
In the last week, we have seen some of America’s most recognizable corporate brands sever their ties to ideological front groups that demonize inconvenient science and peddle policies that are generally bad for people. Continue reading
PolluterWatch: Greenpeace Investigates Heartland Institute Leaked Documents – click to see investigation and ongoing updates.
Perhaps the most outrageous revelation of “Denialgate,” the leak of internal Heartland Institute budget and fundraising documents detailing their 2012 work plan to obstruct global warming policy, is a project to develop school curricula to teach K-12 students that there is doubt over the causes and implications of global warming.
What hasn’t been reported is the complementary role of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which has peddled laws written by corporate lobbyists through state legislatures that make it easy for its dirty energy members, such as Exxon, Koch Industries and Peabody coal, to influence how climate science is presented to students. The so-called “Environmental Literacy Improvement Act,” which has been introduced in seven states and became law in at least three, would establish a state-level council to oversee all scientific material presented to students, allowing companies to smother classroom science with K street politics. This council would notably exclude anyone with environmental science credentials, instead composing itself in the following proportions:
“Section 4. {Appointment and Composition of the Council}
A. Composition: The Council shall consist of members who have expertise in the following areas in the respective proportions:
40 percent natural sciences (not environmental science)
40 percent economic sciences
20 percent educational curriculum”
Basically, it ensures that climatology will be underrepresented. Note that environmental science is interdisciplinary, open to a variety of natural science expertise in order to study complex natural systems that cannot be confined to a single topic of study. See our annotated version of the ALEC bill showing how ALEC’s language can be used to peddle global warming denial in schools. Continue reading
During the school year, we have our “Fun Friday” afternoons. We open the many letters we receive from school groups, tape up our favorite pictures, and send back brochures, book marks, and personalized letters. We truly enjoy reading about the many ways classes make a difference in their schools and their creative fundraising initiatives. During one staff meeting, we even broadcast a homemade video which a school group showed in their community as a fundraiser!
Now that the school year is starting up again, here are some ideas if you or your classmates want to get involved but aren’t quite sure how:
As an academic project, one group tackled global warming as a four part project including a written report, a photo report, a display board, and an action point. For their action point, they chose to raffle off three themed baskets with gift cards. The raffle tickets were sold at their class exhibition and then donated.
Student led environmental groups have set-up donation tables with materials we’ve provided covering deforestation, oceans, and toxics. A high school group chose toxic electronics, which includes video games(!), as their fundraising topic because of its relevance to their everyday lives.
One determined club made hand-sewn canvas totes to promote reusable bags and sold their totes during the school’s Earth Day festivities. They donated the proceeds raised from selling their totes to classmates, staff, and community members.
Classes have organized weekend walk-a-thons, yard sales, and recycling drives in their communities to raise awareness and fully understand how they can go green in their own lives.
If your school doesn’t have an Environmental Club, you should start one with the help of a teacher and classmates! Clubs are a great way to tell your fellow students about the importance of recycling, using reusable bags and water bottles, and turning off lights and electronics when leaving the classroom. As your club grows, you can get involved in or organize school-wide volunteer opportunities, pressure your administration to make environmentally wise purchases for the classroom, and your classmates to be responsible!
We love to hear what projects you and your friends take on at school and at home! Send us your drawings, photos, and information requests to the below DC address and we’ll try our best to get a package out to you!