FREE PORN VIDEO'S

by **admin_pornrev** » Wed Dec 25, 2013 3:00 am

Secret funding helped build vast network of climate denial thinktanks
FROM: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2 ... ks-network

Anonymous billionaires donated $120m to more than 100 anti-climate groups working to discredit climate change science

Suzanne Goldenberg, US environment correspondent
• guardian.co.uk, Thursday 14 February 2013 13.39 GMT
• Jump to comments (145)

Climate sceptic groups are mobilising against Obama’s efforts to act on climate change in his second term. Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Conservative billionaires used a secretive funding route to channel nearly $120m (£77m) to more than 100 groups casting doubt about the science behind climate change, the Guardian has learned.

The funds, doled out between 2002 and 2010, helped build a vast network of thinktanks and activist groups working to a single purpose: to redefine climate change from neutral scientific fact to a highly polarising "wedge issue" for hardcore conservatives.

The millions were routed through two trusts, Donors Trust and the Donors Capital Fund, operating out of a generic town house in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington DC.

Donors Capital caters to those making donations of $1m or more.

Whitney Ball, chief executive of the Donors Trust told the Guardian that her organisation assured wealthy donors that their funds would never by diverted to liberal causes.
The funding stream far outstripped the support from more visible opponents of climate action such as the oil industry or the conservative billionaire Koch brothers.

Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

"We exist to help donors promote liberty which we understand to be limited government, personal responsibility, and free enterprise," she said in an interview.
By definition that means none of the money is going to end up with groups like Greenpeace, she said. "It won't be going to liberals."

Ball won't divulge names, but she said the stable of donors represents a wide range of opinion on the American right. Increasingly over the years, those conservative donors have been pushing funds towards organisations working to discredit climate science or block climate action.

Donors exhibit sharp differences of opinion on many issues, Ball said. They run the spectrum of conservative opinion, from social conservatives to libertarians. But in opposing mandatory cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, they found common ground.

"Are there both sides of an environmental issue? Probably not," she went on. "Here is the thing. If you look at libertarians, you tend to have a lot of differences on things like defence, immigration, drugs, the war, things like that compared to conservatives. When it comes to issues like the environment, if there are differences, they are not nearly as pronounced."

By 2010, the dark money amounted to $118m distributed to 102 thinktanks or action groups which have a record of denying the existence of a human factor in climate change, or opposing environmental regulations.

The money flowed to Washington thinktanks embedded in Republican party politics, obscure policy forums in Alaska and Tennessee, contrarian scientists at Harvard and lesser institutions, even to buy up DVDs of a film attacking Al Gore.
The ready stream of cash set off a conservative backlash against Barack Obama's environmental agenda that wrecked any chance of Congress taking action on climate change.

Graphic: climate denial funding

Those same groups are now mobilising against Obama's efforts to act on climate change in his second term. A top recipient of the secret funds on Wednesday put out a point-by-point critique of the climate content in the president's state of the union address.

And it was all done with a guarantee of complete anonymity for the donors who wished to remain hidden.

"The funding of the denial machine is becoming increasingly invisible to public scrutiny. It's also growing. Budgets for all these different groups are growing," said Kert Davies, research director of Greenpeace, which compiled the data on funding of the anti-climate groups using tax records.

"These groups are increasingly getting money from sources that are anonymous or untraceable. There is no transparency, no accountability for the money. There is no way to tell who is funding them," Davies said.

The trusts were established for the express purpose of managing donations to a host of conservative causes.

Such vehicles, called donor-advised funds, are not uncommon in America. They offer a number of advantages to wealthy donors. They are convenient, cheaper to run than a private foundation, offer tax breaks and are lawful.

That opposition hardened over the years, especially from the mid-2000s where the Greenpeace record shows a sharp spike in funds to the anti-climate cause.
In effect, the Donors Trust was bankrolling a movement, said Robert Brulle, a Drexel University sociologist who has extensively researched the networks of ultra-conservative donors.

"This is what I call the counter-movement, a large-scale effort that is an organised effort and that is part and parcel of the conservative movement in the United States " Brulle said. "We don't know where a lot of the money is coming from, but we do know that Donors Trust is just one example of the dark money flowing into this effort."

In his view, Brulle said: "Donors Trust is just the tip of a very big iceberg."

The rise of that movement is evident in the funding stream. In 2002, the two trusts raised less than $900,000 for the anti-climate cause. That was a fraction of what Exxon Mobil or the conservative oil billionaire Koch brothers donated to climate sceptic groups that year.

By 2010, the two Donor Trusts between them were channelling just under $30m to a host of conservative organisations opposing climate action or science. That accounted to 46% of all their grants to conservative causes, according to the Greenpeace analysis.

The funding stream far outstripped the support from more visible opponents of climate action such as the oil industry or the conservative billionaire Koch brothers, the records show. When it came to blocking action on the climate crisis, the obscure charity in the suburbs was outspending the Koch brothers by a factor of six to one.

"There is plenty of money coming from elsewhere," said John Mashey, a retired computer executive who has researched funding for climate contrarians. "Focusing on the Kochs gets things confused. You can not ignore the Kochs. They have their fingers in too many things, but they are not the only ones."

It is also possible the Kochs continued to fund their favourite projects using the anonymity offered by Donor Trust.

But the records suggest many other wealthy conservatives opened up their wallets to the anti-climate cause – an impression Ball wishes to stick.

She argued the media had overblown the Kochs support for conservative causes like climate contrarianism over the years. "It's so funny that on the right we think George Soros funds everything, and on the left you guys think it is the evil Koch brothers who are behind everything. It's just not true. If the Koch brothers didn't exist we would still have a very healthy organisation," Ball said.

•
•
•

• More on this story
•

How Donors Trust distributed millions to anti-climate groups
The secretive funding network distributed $118m to 102 groups including some of the best-known thinktanks on the right

FROM: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/ ... l-networks

Suzanne Goldenberg
Suzanne Goldenberg
The Guardian, Friday 15 February 2013 00.46 AEST

exhibitors promote their oil and gas related businesses : funding climate change deniers
Dozens of exhibitors promote their oil and gas related businesses. By 2010, Donors Trust had distributed $118m to 102 thinktanks or action groups. Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

The secretive funding channel known as the Donors Trust patronised a host of conservative causes.

But climate was at the top of the list. By 2010, Donors Trust had distributed $118m to 102 thinktanks or action groups which have a record of denying the existence of a human factor in climate change, or opposing environmental regulations.

Recipients included some of the best-known thinktanks on the right. The American Enterprise Institute, which is closely connected to the Republican party establishment and has a large staff of scholars, received more than $17m in untraceable donations over the years, the record show.

But relatively obscure organisations did not go overlooked. The Heartland Institute, virtually unknown outside the small world of climate politics, received $13.5m from the Donors Trust.

Americans for Prosperity, the Tea Party group seen as the strike force of the conservative oil billionaire Koch Brothers, received $11m since 2002.

Levi Russell, spokesman for Americans for Prosperity, declined to comment on the importance of that support to the organisation. "We're very grateful for each of the millions of activists and donors that make what we do possible," he said in an email.

The secretive funding network also funded individuals, such as Jo Kwong, an official at the Philanthropy Roundtable who was awarded $200,000 in 2010. And there was strong interest in funding media projects.

Some of the groups on the Donors Trust list would have struggled to exist without being bankrolled by anonymous donors.

The support helped the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (Cfact), expand from $600,000 to $3m annual operation. In 2010, Cfact received nearly half of its budget from those anonymous donors, the records show.

The group's most visible product is the website, Climate Depot, a contrarian news source run by Marc Morano. Climate Depot sees itself as the rapid reaction force of the anti-climate cause. On the morning after Obama's state of the union address, Morano put out a point by point rebuttal to the section on climate change.

The gregarious Morano is a former aide to the Republican senator Jim Inhofe notorious for declaring climate change the greatest hoax on mankind.

According to Cfact's tax filings, Morano, listed as communications director, was the most highly paid member of the organisation.

However, Craig Rucker, the group's executive director, insisted the funding was not critical to their work. "It is not crucial in the least. Climate Depot's continued operation is not linked to funding from any particular source," he said.
Green light
Sign up for the Green light email

The most important environment stories each week including data, opinion pieces and guides.
Sign up for the Green light email

Print this

Article history
Environment

Climate change scepticism ·
Climate change ·
Green politics

Science

Climate change

World news

United States ·
US politics

More analysis

More on this story

Australia blog about climate change science media coverage : Anti-carbon tax protesters in Canberra

How climate scientists are being framed

Graham Readfearn: To turn the public off climate change, right-wing media is blaming scientists for hurting kids and being puppets of totalitarianism

Secret funding of climate sceptics is not restricted to the US

Share
inShare
Email

What's this?
More from the Guardian

Sugar battery offers hope of green-powered gadgets within three years 22 Jan 2014
Britain's best fish'n'chip shops 23 Jan 2014
I witnessed Ohio's execution of Dennis McGuire. What I saw was inhumane 22 Jan 2014
Australian Industry Group fails to back Coalition's Direct Action climate policy 24 Jan 2014
Past power failures 'dress rehearsals' for frequent future blackouts 26 Jan 2014

What's this?
More from around the web

A clean start - Clear the clutter in your home this new year (Energy Australia)
Latest solar cell breakthrough a nark’s worst nightmare (solarquotes.com.au)
China’s Green Awakening (The Financialist)
Old-Think Gradually Bleeds out of Climate Debates (Bloomberg)
5 Reasons We Should Be Happy In Middle Earth (MYOB)

Ads by Google

Australia's Recession

Discover the 3 reasons Australia is about to end its 22 year run

http://www.dailyreckoning.com.au

Brain Training Games

Train memory and attention with scientific brain games.

http://www.lumosity.com

Immigration to Australia

Do you qualify for a Visa? Find out now for free!

http://www.noborders-group.com

Today's best video

The Musketeers
The week in TV
Telly addict Andrew Collins reviews Sunday night dramas The Musketeers (above), Death in Paradise and Mr Selfridge
19 comments
Greig Laidlaw
Six Nations 2014: what are Scotland's chances?
Robert Kitson assesses the prospects of Scotland, who have struggled in recent tournament
40 comments
Arsene Wenger, manager of Arsenal looks on during FA Cup Fourth Round match between Arsenal and Cove
Arsène Wenger rejects José Mourinho's criticism
Arsène Wenger denies that Arsenal get more rest between fixtures
Thousands of chickens escape in China
Thousands of chickens cross the road
More than 2,000 chickens escape after a lorry overturns in China

Win £10,000 of renewable energy kit for your home

Great Energy Race main image

Are you a great, undiscovered energy-saving talent? Enter The Great Energy Race and you could win £10,000 in renewable energy kit. Find out more

The NSA files trailblock image

Follow NSA-related developments as controversy over leaks continues to make headlines

On Environment

Most viewed
Latest

Last 24 hours

1. Public support for fracking in Britain falls for a second time
2. Dredging rivers not full answer to flooding – Environment Agency
3. Green shoots - your winter photographs
4. IPCC hearing brings UK closer to US polarisation on climate change
5. UK homes kept 4C warmer than in 1970, report shows
More most viewed

Hot topics

Climate change news
Climate change facts
Green news roundup
Green living
Sea ice

License/buy our content
|
Privacy policy
|
Terms & conditions
|
Advertising guide
|
Accessibility
|
A-Z index
|
Inside the Guardian blog
|
About us
|
Work for us
|
Join our dating site today

•
•
• inShare
• Email
What's this?
More from the Guardian
• Firefighters laugh off jokes at their expense by police and ambulance crews 08 Feb 2013
• McDonald's storms France with the McCamembert burger 12 Feb 2013
• The 10 rules for bald men – including David Cameron 12 Feb 2013
• Boris Johnson's sticky pollution solution shown to be a £1.4m failure 13 Feb 2013
• David Miliband to head global fight to prevent eco-disaster in oceans 09 Feb 2013
What's this?
More from around the web
• Women with wanderlust (Global Connections)
• Vast Oil Reserve May Now Be Within Reach, and Battle Heats Up (The New York Times)
• The 7 Things Pet Owners Do That Drive Veterinarians Crazy (Vetstreet)
• If You Have Gmail... You Must Have This (Inc.com)
• Sustainability… A Growing Trend in Today’s Marketplace (Lightboxes)

Recommended for you

Sport
Oscar Pistorius questioned after girlfriend shot dead

Environment
Colourful 'solar glass' means entire buildings can generate clean power

Environment
Two-thirds of Americans want Obama to act on climate change, says poll

Environment
Boris Johnson's sticky pollution solution is a £1m failure, say experts

News
Ethiopia looks to realise its geothermal energy potential

News
Oscar Pistorius to appear in court charged with murder - live updates

Environment
Obama gives Congress climate ultimatum: back me, or I go it alone

Environment
Daryl Hannah leads celebrity Keystone XL protest at White House gates
Online science writing Masterclass
•
In this digestible online video, former Guardian Science Editor Tim Radford reveals his approach to science writing. Find out more and watch now
Today's best video
•
Love is in the air - a short story
In this short film, romance blossoms in the breath of a young couple on a cold February evening
•
Kate bikini photos' publication defended by editor
Australian magazine used pictures of a pregnant Duchess of Cambridge
•
Tropical wildlife
Images of wildlife in tropical forests around the world captured on film
•
Hula hoop dancers set world record
4,483 people keep their hoop spinning for seven minutes
Guardian Audio Edition
•
This Week
"Google for spies" - Raytheon's Riot programme draws anger from civil rights groups; the Arab unrest continues but the global protest movement is here to stay; twenty years since its release, Bill Murray's comedy Groundhog Day has an enduring appeal.
Guardian environment journalists
Follow the latest environment news, comment and analysis on Twitter
•
dpcarrington: #greendeal: 40% of UK public have now heard of Green Deal. Decent result for <£3m http://t.co/OtIMPuLn via @BusinessGreen #eg
about 21 hours, 42 minutes ago
•
suzyji: Yes, Obama will say the words #climate change in SOTU address. Here's what to expect http://t.co/ktTfC7bm #eg
about 1 day, 19 hours ago
•
dpcarrington: #nuclear: ICYM, DECC-EDF haggle hotting up. @Tim_Webb_ says stand-off over strike price threatening whole deal http://t.co/Pv7p1mPn #eg
about 1 day, 21 hours ago
• Follow our journalists on a Twitter list
On Environment
• Most viewed
• Latest
Last 24 hours
1. 1. Camera traps capture 1m images of wildlife in the tropics - video
2. 2. Colourful 'solar glass' means entire buildings can generate clean power
3. 3. Boris Johnson's sticky pollution solution shown to be a £1.4m failure
4. 4. Daryl Hannah leads celebrity Keystone XL protest at White House gates
5. 5. Obama gives Congress climate ultimatum: back me, or I go it alone
6. More most viewed
Find the cheapest gas & electricity deals
Compare 1,000s of tariff deals from top suppliers
Enter your postcode: Select your usage: Low Medium High

This week's bestsellers
1. 1. Turned Out Nice Again
by Richard Mabey £7.19
2. 2. How to Build a Habitable Planet
by Langmuir £22.36
3. 3. Structural Geology
by Haakon Fossen £40.00
4. 4. London's Lost Rivers
by Paul Talling £7.99
5. 5. Colliding Continents
by Mike Searle £20.00
Search the Guardian bookshop

Weekend+ Print and Digital Subscription
•
Get the Guardian on your iPad and iPhone, plus Saturday Guardian and Observer papers for just £5.99 per week. Learn more

© 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.

FREE PORN VIDEO'S

Secret funding helped build vast network of climate denial

Secret funding helped build vast network of climate denial

Who is online