John Borowski (2005) [see REFERENCES below], an environmental and
marine science teacher at North Salem High School in Salem, Oregon,
recently sent a provocative open letter to executive director Gerald
Wheeler and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA).
Borowski's letter is accessible at "Common Dreams News Center"
<http://www.commondreams.org/>, "a non-profit news service providing
breaking news & views for the progressive community."
Borowski writes in part [bracketed by lines "BBBBBB. . . ." URL
insertions and notes by Hake are bracketed by [[. . .]]; ]:
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
The National Science Teachers Association . . .
.[[<http://www.nsta.org/>]]. . ., consisting of tens of thousands of
teachers, enlightens tens of millions of school children in the
United States yearly. This prestigious organization provides
incredible science data, yet some in the environmental education
community shudder at "partnerships" between multinational oil
corporations/their trade-groups and the National Science Teachers
Association (NSTA). Science education includes civics: the venue by
which science fluent citizens make choices about consumption and
ecological dilemmas. Oil multinationals look to influence our
youngest future voters by having a direct pipeline into classrooms
around our country. Their goal is transparent: provide a torrent of
anti-global warming propaganda. And in their eyes, being partners
with the NSTA gives them ultimate educational legitimacy.
With global climate change looming as the world's most dire
environmental challenge: it doesn't serve sound science education
institutions to partner with two of global warming's most outspoken
and "deep pocketed" antagonists, the American Petroleum Institute
(API) and the Exxon/Mobil Corporation. Their motives about climate
change are clear: debunk it, fund "scientists" to question it and use
environmental education as a forum to cast doubt on the creditability
of global climate change science. Unwittingly or not, the mission of
the NSTA is not well served by such alliances.
Currently, your last NSTA annual report. . . [[evidently NSTA
(2003)]]. . . calls API a "partner." The NSTA distributes an API
video called, "Fuel-less . . .You Can't Be Cool without Fuel.". . . .
[[My search of <http://www.nsta.org/> failed to locate this video]].
. . API brags on their website . . .
[[<http://api-ec.api.org/newsplashpage/index.cfm>]]. . . that they
conspired to create the "Science of Energy" a web link that is rich
in petroleum propaganda and avoidance of discussion on climate
change: with your own NSTA. The American Petroleum Institute's
website has a "Test Your Climate Knowledge" quiz. It casts dark
shadows on the Kyoto Protocol, states that only a fraction of carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere is produced by fossil fuel combustion and
makes a mockery of climate concerns. Ironically, the NSTA did stand
up to API: but why was it a fleeting moment?. . . [[My searches of
<http://api-ec.api.org/newsplashpage/index.cfm> failed to disclose
"Science of Energy" or "Test Your Climate Knowledge." The closest I
could find to the latter was
<http://www.classroom-energy.org/students/computer/index.html>]].
Mr. Wheeler you roundly criticized the American Petroleum Institute a
few years ago, deeming them as "irresponsible." ?. . . [[My searches
of <http://www.nsta.org/> failed to disclose Wheeler's criticism]]. .
. . Why? The N.Y. Times had broken a story . . . .[[possibly Cushman
(1998)]]. . . that the American Petroleum Institute, with its deep
pockets and alliance of 400 plus oil and gas companies, was scheming
to use school children as pawns! On the behalf of companies such as
Exxon, API would use $5 million to debunk global warming in
classrooms nationwide. This "Science Education Task Group" would help
destroy the reputation of the Kyoto Procotol and drive a stake
through the collective heart of initiatives to reverse climate
change. Why is the API still a functioning "partner" with the NSTA?
Your own website "Science of Energy" . .
.[[<http://www2.nsta.org/energy/>]]. . . has an icon that states it
is funded by the American Petroleum Institute. Isn't the American
Petroleum Institute indeed a poster child of "irresponsibility" today?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
For the American Petroleum Institute (API's) views on:
2. "Fundamental Climate Science Issues Raised In 6 Major National
Academy of Science Studies: The New View of Natural Climate
Variation," [Wojick (2003)].
C. "State of the Energy Industry 2005, Petroleum Issues" see
Cavaney (2005). Cavaney is president and CEO of the API.
D. Hubbert's Peak (in oil production), e.g., Bartlett (2005a,b):
A search for "Hubbert" and "peak production" on the API website
<http://api-ec.api.org/newsplashpage/index.cfm> yielded zero hits.
(e) Population [e.g. Bartlett (2005c)]: A search for "population" on
the API website
<http://api-ec.api.org/newsplashpage/index.cfm> yielded 52 hits, none
of them suggesting the importance of slowing population growth. For
example, API CEO Red Cavaney (2005) appears to accept population
increase as a given that necessitates a new U.S. Energy Policy. He
writes [bracketed by lines "CCCCC. . ."; my CAPS]:
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
But, at the outset, let me call attention to the DOE Energy
Information Administration's forecasts of increased energy demand
from 2003 to 2025. EIA projects that:
* Real GDP will increase by 95 percent;
* POPULATION WILL INCREASE BY 20 PERCENT;
* Total energy consumption will increase by 36 percent;
* Petroleum demand will increase by 39 percent;
* Natural gas demand will increase by 40 percent;
* Coal demand will increase by 34 percent; and
* Electricity consumption will increase by 50 percent.
. . . . . . . We need an energy policy that: ensures a diverse energy
supply; promotes energy efficiency, new technologies, conservation,
and environmentally compatible production; modernizes America's
energy production and distribution systems; strengthens our economy;
and creates new jobs. . . . . To conclude: All of these energy issues
and concerns you will hear today add up to a need for action.
America's energy problems are becoming acute. Why the continued
inaction by Congress? More people need to start asking that
question. It's plain and simple: Congress needs to pass
comprehensive energy legislation early in the new session. Too much
is at stake for our country, our economy, and our place in the world
to delay action any longer on this urgent national priority.
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
Considering all the above, is it good policy for NSTA to partner with
the American Petroleum Institute?
REFERENCES
Bartlett, A.A. 2005a. "Peak Oil," PHYSOC post of 9 Feb 2005
10:15:50-0700; online at
<http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A2=ind0502&L=PHYSOC&D=0&I=-3&X=31B636188B0545D039&Y=rrhake%40earthlink.net&P=4632&F=P>.
The encyclopedic URL indicates that PHYSOC is one of the few
discussion lists whose archives are closed to non subscribers :-( -
WHY ??. However, it takes only a few minutes to subscribe by
following the simple directions at
<http://listserv.uark.edu/archives/physoc.html>/ "Join or leave the
list (or change settings)" where "/" means "click on." If you're
busy, then subscribe using the "NOMAIL" option under "Miscellaneous."
Then, as a subscriber, you may access the archives and/or post
messages at any time, while receiving NO MAIL from the list!
Borowski, J.F. 2005. "An Open Letter to Executive Director Gerald
Wheeler and the National Science Teachers Association,"
CommonDreams.org, 7 July 2005; online at
<http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0707-21.htm>.
Wojick, D.E. 2003. "Fundamental Climate Science Issues Raised In 6
Major National Academy of Science Studies: The New View of Natural
Climate Variation," online at
<http://api-ec.api.org/filelibrary/ACF2EE.pdf> (500 kB). In his
preface Wojick acknowledges funding from the API.
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