Science Teachers’ Organization Refuses To Accept Copies of Inconvenient Truth

Progress? I think not.

 

She went about it wrong.

She should have offered free copies to all of the school Libraries.

She is more than welcome to donate to us.

Bell Jr. High Library Media Center
620 Briarwood Rd.
San Diego, CA 92139

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Nov 27 2006, 09:40 PM) [snapback]354676[/snapback]</div>

Hello, fellow librarian! You're right --she should have offered copies to school libraries. Also, public libraries would welcome it.

Peace --

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dragonfly @ Nov 27 2006, 10:53 PM) [snapback]354681[/snapback]</div>

LOL. So did I.

Rest assured, if that DVD is in School Libraries, Science teachers will show it in the classroom. The NSTA doesn't speak for all of them.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Nov 27 2006, 11:20 PM) [snapback]354694[/snapback]</div>

Not in our school system. Put it in the library - keep it out of the classroom. Are they showing it in Florida :lol:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Nov 28 2006, 01:28 PM) [snapback]354829[/snapback]</div>

No reason to keep it out of the classroom. It portrays accurately the scientific consensus.

 

Moral to the story. When you have ficticious propaganda, you need to slip it into the library in a brown paper bag rather than try to get the science teacher to pimp your agenda.

note taken, thanks for the tip.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daronspicher @ Nov 28 2006, 04:00 PM) [snapback]354904[/snapback]</div>

That method seemed to work for the American Petroleum Institute, didn't it?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hyo silver @ Nov 28 2006, 03:11 PM) [snapback]354907[/snapback]</div>

What did they say that was incorrect?

 

The link below shows the NSTA's (National Science Teacher's Association) revised stance on distributing the video.

http://www.nsta.org/pressroom&news_story_ID=52977

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(shocker @ Nov 30 2006, 04:48 PM) [snapback]355993[/snapback]</div>

At the bottom of the link is a letter from NSTA to Laurie David. I can't tell if the NSTA is slapping LD down or what, but in the final reckoning she may get what she wants in spades and isn't that the pot at the end of the rainbow?

 

Reading their letter, i'd say it seems that they're trying to meet her halfway, which is enough. They stand by their statute which says they can't distribute it, but at the same time provide her with multiple avenues for getting the information and the DVD's out there.

 

RE, API inaccuracies
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Nov 28 2006, 04:41 PM) [snapback]354916[/snapback]</div>

>>In April of 1998, oil lobbyists met to launch a $6 million plan to cast doubt on global warming and thrust a dagger into public support for the Kyoto Protocol, a global plan to squelch climate change. One sentence of a leaked memo summed up the intentions of API. “Informing teachers/students about uncertainties in climate science will begin to erect barriers against further efforts to impose Kyoto-like measures in the future.†API would set up a $300,000 fund to dupe teachers and their students. Companies such as Exxon and Chevron attended this meeting and were key funders. According to API spokesman, Joseph Lastelic, “Most of the time, the balance is not there on the environment. It’s (environmental education) harming us economically and harming our energy security.†Using free videotapes, posters, overhead teacher’s visuals and computer software, API had a goal: “to get children to influence their parents’ views and to create a favorable image in the minds of future decision makers.†In other words: lie to children, omit any substantive discussion on the negative effects of continued oil use and use teachers as unwitting accomplices in a “big lie.â€

The N.Y. Times leaked the story and API came under strong criticism. The Executive Director (Gerald Wheeler) of the National Science Teachers Association, the largest group of science teachers in the nation, called API’s efforts “irresponsible.â€<<
--John F. Borowski, an education advisor to the Native Forest Council. His numerous pieces have appeared in the N.Y. Times, UTNE Reader, Z Magazine and numerous websites.

Text from the American Petroleum Institute Leaked Memo

“Strategies and Tactics. Identify, recruit and train a team of five independent scientists to participate in in media outreach. These will be individuals who do not have a long history of visibility and/or participation in the climate change debate. Rather, this team will consist of new faces who will add their voices to those to those recognized scientists who are already vocal.â€

(Source: Environmental Defense/John H. Cushman, “Industrial Group Plans to Battle Climate Treaty,Industrial Group Plans to Battle Climate Treaty,†The New York Times, April 26, 1998.)

To read a full copy of the NY Times article on the disinformation campaign, go to: http://www.heatisonline.org/contentserver/...amp;Cache=False

 

Thank you. As a member of NSTA, I will remind them of long-term ethics vs. short-term gain.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Nov 28 2006, 12:41 PM) [snapback]354916[/snapback]</div>

i suppose you missed the article where BP was admitting that GW was happening and the reason for their turnaround was a near unanimous verdict by the scientific community that human actions were accelerating GW's onset.

in the same article, Exxon-Mobile executives were "considering rethinking funding for a think tank dedicated to debunking GW"....

guess that doesnt mean that they said anything incorrect, but they did try to figure out a way to mislead... something they have a lot of experience with

 

"The producers of Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth recently tried
passing out 50,000 free DVD copies to NSTA teachers but were turned
down. Intent on distributing free copies of this documentary to
teachers, they are now taking teachers requests for free DVD."

I've ordered one for the library, one for each science teacher, plus a few English and Social Studies teachers I know do research and persuasive essay assignments. If we're lucky, we'll get a few. I know they will be well-used and well-appreciated.

The NSTA should have contacted the ALA and arranged distribution through school librarians. If they had, they never would have been turned down. As is, I'm happy to have the opportunity for my school to get a few free copies. Lord knows I have NO BUDGET to buy anything.