Don’t let anti-science think tanks bully researchers!

Our opponents have gone too far. Stand up for science with a tax-deductible, year-end donation of $5 today. Dear Kevin, A corporate-funded think tank compared climate scientists to terrorists.1 Extremists sent threats to a British researcher, telling him to kill himself and that they wished someone would shoot him between the eyes.2 Our opponents have ratcheted up their rhetoric this year and taken the war on science to a disturbing new level. They’ve moved beyond just casting doubt on objective research—they are now threatening scientists—and in some instances, their families—with violence. Fortunately, with supporters like you, we can shine a light on the organizations that incubate this hostility, responding swiftly in the media and providing scientists with the tools they need to fight back. Don’t let anti-science think tanks bully researchers. Pitch in $5 today and help us make sure the truth gets out there. There’s no simple fix for the war on science. UCS supporters get that. Our opponents are too fixated on a desired outcome to accept objective science, and too well-funded to back down easily. But that doesn’t mean facts don’t matter. With extreme weather clobbering the country and hostile politicians trying to undermine the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and gut clean energy initiatives, we need practical science-based solutions more than ever. At UCS, we pride ourselves on being a nimble organization, able to confront attacks on science coming from many different directions. And with an incredible community of supporters who help defend science and scientists, we’ve been successful in 2012 by: Running campaigns to target corporate sponsors of misinformation: Through a series of public events and online actions, UCS mobilized supporters to call out Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation and demanded they be accountable for the climate science misinformation seen on Fox News and the Wall Street Journal opinion pages. Winning whistleblower protection for federal scientists: Together, we built a bi-partisan coalition of Senators and Representatives who passed legislation protecting—for the first time—federal employees who expose censorship or misuse of government science. Defending scientists in court: UCS helped repel an effort by Virginia’s Attorney General to subpoena the personal correspondence of a former University of Virginia scientist whose research he found objectionable. When a corporate front group went after the same emails, UCS helped convince a Virginia court that no special interest group should be given such access. Chip in $5 to help expose corporate-sponsored misinformation and challenge the political distortions made by climate change deniers. It would be naïve to think that the war on science will stop in 2013—but with your support today, we can fight back by equipping scientists with the information they need to defend themselves and their work. Our programs and campaigns protecting science and scientists are why GuideStar’s Philanthropedia named the Union of Concerned Scientists one of the top three most effective non-profits—of any size—working on climate change today.3 We can’t do it without you. Thank you for being part of our community of supporters who make sure facts matter. Sincerely, Kevin Knobloch President 1. http://blog.ucsusa.org/whos-the-crazy-one-here/ 2. http://blog.ucsusa.org/speaking-up-for-scientists-who-receive-death-threats-2/ 3. http://www.myphilanthropedia.org/blog/2012/08/21/press-release-18-high-impact-climate-change-nonprofits-identified-by-121-experts/

The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet’s most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.