Heartland response to Greenpeace news release

Dear Editor:

The news release by Greenpeace New Zealand currently on your site concerning my organization, The Heartland Institute, is riddled with errors and is designed to mislead, not inform. Please consider posting this reply.

Specifically:

* The list of 500 scientists whose work contradicts some of the basic tenets of global warming alarmism, plus a new list of 700 names whose research has found evidence of a natural 1,500 cycles in global climate, remain up on Heartland's Web site because both lists are accurate. They were composed by Dennis Avery, a senior fellow with the Hudson Institute, and S. Fred Singer, professor emeritus at the University of Virginia.

* Some of the scientists who are complaining have been misled about the nature of the lists, thinking they are being identified as coauthors with Avery or Singer of articles expressing skepticism about man-made global warming. In fact, they are merely listed in a bibliography of coauthors of scholarly articles that confirm key facts and theories that undermine the notion that the modern warming is entirely man-made or will be catastrophic.

* Some of the scientists who are complaining seem willing to be used by a notorious leftist attack group in the U.S., called DeSmogBlog, to cause a controversy where none exists. Real scientists don’t demand that their names be removed from the bibliographies of studies or reports they disagree with.

* The Heartland Institute is not a “neo-conservative”organization, is has not received any funding from ExxonMobil since 2006, and never received more than 5 percent of its annual budget from ExxonMobil or any other corporation. In 2007 it received 95% of its income from non-energy company sources. It has policies in place that protect its research and publications from any improper influence by donors.

* The Heartland Institute does not have “strong links with the tobacco industry.” As is the case with energy companies, Heartland has never received more than 5% of its annual income from all tobacco companies combined. No tobacco company executives serve on its board. It’s research and commentary on tobacco issues, like its work on other subjects, is based on sound science and respect for individual liberty and private property rights.

Heartland’s formal response to DeBlogSmog’s vicious smear appears here.

ENDS

www.heartland.org

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