Science and propaganda.Thanks for the thoughtful essay, "What Happens to Civilization When Its Main Source of Knowledge Is Ads?" [Note From a Worldwatcher, March/April]. Ed Ayres Ed Ayres is the founder of Running Times magazine and former editor of Worldwatch, a monthly environmental magazine frequently quoted by textbooks and the mainstream news media. mentions all-too-briefly the widespread use of misinformation mis·in·form tr.v. mis·in·formed, mis·in·form·ing, mis·in·forms To provide with incorrect information. mis and disinformation dis·in·for·ma·tion n. 1. Deliberately misleading information announced publicly or leaked by a government or especially by an intelligence agency in order to influence public opinion or the government in another nation: from "think-tanks" and "research institutes" like the Heritage Foundation and the Cato Institute "Cato" redirects here. For Cato, see Cato. The Institute's stated mission is "to broaden the parameters of public policy debate to allow consideration of the traditional American principles of limited government, individual liberty, free markets, and peace" by striving "to achieve , which are in actuality little more than industry shills. Perhaps in another article you can fully detail these wolves in scientific clothing, as well as industry's other shady means to get their two cents' worth of "science" counted for far more than it should. For example, for many years companies have been directly contracting academic research themselves. The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times Morning daily newspaper. Established in 1881, it was purchased and incorporated in 1884 by Harrison Gray Otis (1837–1917) under The Times-Mirror Co. (the hyphen was later dropped from the name). reported last December that ExxonMobil, in an appeal of the $5.3 billion penalty levied for the Exxon Valdez oil spill The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill is considered one of the most devastating man-made environmental disasters ever to occur at sea. Prince William Sound's remote location (accessible only by helicopter and boat) made government and industry response efforts difficult and severely taxed in Alaska, cited papers regarding jury competence, which research coincidentally supported lesser jury awards. Curiously though, the company didn't mention the fact that they had sponsored said research. Even more curious is that such company-sponsored research almost invariably in·var·i·a·ble adj. Not changing or subject to change; constant. in·var  i·a·bil favors industry's
viewpoint. The studies that don't agree with their pre-determined
position seem to get dropped in mid-stride.
The lines between good science and propaganda are blurring more quickly than ordinary citizens can keep up with. Which means we all need to stay that much more vigilant in order to safeguard our planet's future. Needless to say, I hope World Watch will stay on this issue. ERIK GEHRING Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts WORLD WATCH welcomes your letters. Please include your home town, country, and phone number (not for publication). Letters may be edited for clarity or brevity. Send them to: edayres@worldwatch.org --or-- Editor, World Watch 1776 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20036 U.S.A. |
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