19 Corporations linked to Heartland as scientists urge think tank to stop spreading misinformation
In the wake of reports linking theHeartland Institute to an alleged anti-science campaign, several scientists, as well as the President of the Union of Concerned Scientists, are publicly asking Heartland to to desist from spreading misinformation and attacking scientists. This news comes as 19 public corporations have been identified for supporting Heartland.
Scientists speak up
- At 3:24pm EST The Guardian published a report that linked to a letter from a group of climate scientists who have personally been on the receiving end of attacks from Heartland and bloggers funded by the thinktank, and whose email was posted online after a notorious 2009 hack, for Heartland to “recognise how its attacks on science and scientists have poisoned the debate about climate change policy.”
- Also on Friday afternoon in the United States, UCS President Kevin Knobloch published a blog post on the Heartland documents that finishes with this quote: “Heartland called for ‘common decency and journalistic ethics.’ I couldn’t agree more. But an even-handed application of either or both would never lead an organization to dream up a middle- and secondary-school curriculum that deceptively undermines the truth.”
- At 2:00pm EST Think Progress Green published a report revealing that the climate-denial think tank Heartland Institute received funding from at least 19 publicly traded corporations in 2010 and 2011. The companies’ combined contributions exceeded $1.3 million for an array of projects.
- Some companies have issued statements about their contributions, but none have committed to ending their support for the Heartland Institute.
- “Diageo provided a small contribution (nearly two years ago) to Heartland Institute – related to an excise tax issue,” a spokesperson said. “We vigorously oppose climate skepticism and our actions are proof of this. We will be reviewing any further association with this organization.”
- “GSK absolutely does not endorse or support the Heartland Institute’s views on the environment and climate change,” a Glaxo Smith Kline spokesperson said. “We have in the past provided a small amount of funding to support the Institute’s healthcare newsletter and a meeting.”
- General Motors defends the Heartland Institute as “careful and considerate,” even though the radical think tank has accused “Government Motors” of “corporate welfare-sucking” and told people to “never again buy a GM car or truck.”
- Forecast The Facts has established a petition to GM asking them to stop funding climate denial.
PDF of letter from scientists to the Guardian
PDF of Heartland’s 2012 Fundraising Plan (See: Table 8)showing the 19 corporations finically supporting the think tank.
Related Reports:
Guardian report on possible tax issues involving the Heartland Institute as well as the letter from 7 highly respected scientists.
UCS President’s post on Heartland documents.
ThinkProgress report on the 19 corporations financially supporting Heartland.
Notable Tweets
RT @TP_Green: EXPOSED: The 19 Public Corporations Funding The Climate Denier Think Tank Heartland Institute thkpr.gs/zdyRfZ #deniergate
RT @ShaunaDeNada Hey @NucorCorp what happened to this? Stop funding climate misinfo @heartlandinst http://pic.twitter.com/7
RT @JossGarmen Just blogged - #Deniergate: leaked dox reveal multi million dollar climate misinformation campaign http://bit.ly
RT @UCSUSA Living in a Glass House in the Heartlandhttp://ow.ly/98bt9 #climate #deniergate
RT @KellyRigg Nicely said RT @SLHDC: #climate scientists write an open letter to the Heartland Institute: http://bit.ly/wQdjRp #deniergate
Category: Alerts, North America
