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Thursday, April 10, 2008 

Category: News and Politics
The fight to stem global warming -- perhaps the greatest fight in our species’ history -- has an ominous new front: our public schools.

Friends of the Earth has received a copy of American Government, published by mammoth Houghton Mifflin, which is used in AP government classes in high schools nationwide. The latest edition’s chapter on "Environmental Policy" contains a discussion of global warming so biased and misleading it would humble a tobacco industry PR man:

    * "It is a foolish politician who today opposes environmentalism. And that creates a problem, because not all environmental issues are equally deserving of support. Take the case of global warming." (p. 559)

    * "The earth has become warmer, but is this mostly the result of natural climate changes, or is it heavily influenced by humans putting greenhouse gases into the air?" (p.559)

    * "On the one hand, a warmer globe will cause sea levels to rise, threatening coastal communities; on the other hand, greater warmth will make it easier and cheaper to grow crops and avoid high heating bills." (p. 559)

    * "But many other problems are much less clear-cut. Science doesn’t know how bad the green-house effect is." (p. 566)

These are not quotes from oil company press releases.  These and other such statements are made by the authors of American Government in the same omnipotent, textbook tone with which we are all familiar.

Two of the world’s most respected climate scientists, Dr. James Hansen and Dr. Michael MacCracken, have weighed in with Houghton Mifflin to denounce the book and demand revisions. "I find it alarming that a widely-used textbook from a respected publisher would contain so many gross errors," wrote Hansen. "Failure to correct the book’s errors will leave students gravely misinformed about the facts and science of global warming, one of the most serious problems that we as a society and a species face."

You can read Dr. Hansen’s Letter and Dr. MacCracken’s letter for more information.

Friends of the Earth has set up a two-in-one action on this issue: We will send a message from you to Houghton Mifflin asking them to revise the book and issue a corrective packet to all school districts using the current book -- and we will copy each of your governors, letting them know how outraged you are that state tax dollars are being spent in this dangerous manner.

Be heard, right now!

6:04 PM
 
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Matt

 
You want to talk about an omnipotent textbook tone? How about all these "green" lemmings shoving unproven drivel down our throats and claiming it's scientific fact? How about the liberally biased news media stating that global warming is a national security issue? That statement was quite possibly the most hypocritical thing I've ever heard in my life.
YOU my friend are using an "omnipotent, textbook tone" in this very blog!

You are right on one point though. Global Warming isn't up for debate. It's an unproven theory with little to no scientific evidence. We shouldn't even be bringing it up.


Let them know how outraged I am that tax dollars are being spent in this dangerous manner? For crying out loud, there are a BILLION other ways that my tax dollars are being wasted that outrage me much, much more.


Stop trying to sound like you know all, and are the end authority on Global Warming. Do some research, gather some evidence. It just might change your mind.

 
Posted by Matt on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 6:25 PM
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Earth Mama Megan

 
I wanted to thank you for this post! With my own eyes I have seen global warming in action. It is happening right outside everyone's doorsteps. I'm so upset that experiences that I had as a child, my son will not be able to have the same wondrous experiences due to the earth's fragile state.

 
Posted by Earth Mama Megan on Thursday, August 14, 2008 - 8:32 PM
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