Tag Archives: Charity Navigator

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Don’t let them scare Scientists into silence


Union of Concerned Scientists

We can’t let politicians or ideologues scare scientists into silence.

Give scientists the tools to stand strong. Make a tax-deductible gift today.

 

When Dr. Shaun Marcott published a groundbreaking paper showing the world is warmer today than it has been for thousands of years, climate deniers started a smear campaign.1 They sent him hate mail and spread misinformation—which some reporters bought into.

When Dr. Joseph Skorupa found that phosphate mines were poisoning fish, his supervisors at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service threatened repercussions if he took his research on The Daily Show. Skorupa says they told him agency leaders would “make your life hell” and even punish his colleagues.2 He declined the show’s invitation.

As you’re considering your year-end charitable giving, think about the researchers who will be targeted in 2014. Think about the critical research that will be suppressed. And know that a gift you make today can help provide scientists the support to fight back. It’s not an easy job, but UCS members know what’s right isn’t always easy.

Help us defend science and scientists! Make a tax-deductible year-end gift today to reach our ambitious $400,000 goal for December.

Your gift today will help equip scientists to dive into the most pressing policy debates of our time—our ailing food system, dirty energy production, and a changing global climate. Because of you, more scientists will be able to fight the misleading rhetoric of industries and front groups.

Our Science Network gives 20,000 scientists and technical experts the chance to connect with policy makers and directly impact laws and policies that affect our families and our planet. We teach scientists how to clearly communicate their research to the public. And how to respond to attacks.

Please make a tax-deductible gift now and help defend scientists from attacks.

When you donate today, you’re making a wise investment.

UCS has received Charity Navigator‘s esteemed 4-star rating for the last seven straight years—an honor shared by only 2 percent of charities, and we were named one of the most effective organizations working on climate change by Guidestar‘s Philanthropedia.

UCS supporters are people from all walks of life—parents and businesspeople, biologists and physicists, teachers and students—more than 350,000 citizens and scientists who are committed to defending science, year in and year out. Thank you for being part of this powerful community.

Kathleen Rest Sincerely, Kathleen Rest Kathleen Rest, PhD, MPA Executive Director

1. http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2013/03/response-by-marcott-et-al/ 2. http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/vergano/2013/04/06/hansen-federal-scientists-communication/2053077/
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Shutting down the government​, going after science


Help empower your fellow scientists—and stop politicians from suppressing science

Union of Concerned Scientists

When politicians mock scientists and their work, we can’t stand idly by.

Help make the case for science.

Make a special tax-deductible gift today.

DONATE NOW

When reckless politicians shut down the government this fall, they didn’t just go after the health care law—they gloated about sending home thousands of safety inspectors, experts, and scientists from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Staffers on the Senate Environment Committee publicized a list of reasons the shutdown was good, in which they mocked the EPA and celebrated the fact that 15,000 EPA workers were off the job.1

The most effective way to undermine science is to get rid of the scientists. But the ideologues and short-sighted politicians on Capitol Hill didn’t anticipate the scientists fighting back. During the shutdown, UCS heard from hundreds of federal scientists and experts about how it was affecting them—and the important and sometimes time-sensitive work they should have been undertaking. Then we pushed this information out to policy makers and the media to show, in vivid terms, the value of science to our nation.2

But science faces a new round of attacks in the coming budget battles. If you want to keep driving rapid-response information and campaigns that defend science from politicians who find the facts inconvenient, now is the time to pitch in.

Make a tax-deductible year-end gift today to reach our ambitious $400,000 goal for December.

Scientists are one of the most respected groups in the United States.3 Decision makers pay attention when they speak. That’s why it’s so important to our democracy that scientists be allowed to speak.

And you help make that possible. UCS supporters were instrumental in passing groundbreaking whistleblower protections for federal scientists. With your help, we shared the stories of more than 400 federal experts who talked about censorship at their agencies—and politicians listened.

Your gift today will help equip scientists to dive into the most pressing policy debates we face—from the Farm Bill to wind power to the impacts of climate change—and refute the misleading and deceptive rhetoric of cynical industries and front groups.

Our Science Network gives 20,000 scientists and technical experts the chance to connect with policy makers and directly impact laws and policies that affect our families and our planet. We teach scientists how to clearly communicate their research to the public. And how to respond to attacks.

But we need your help to make sure more scientists are seen, heard, and heeded.

Please make a tax-deductible gift now and help defend scientists from attacks.

When you donate today, know that you’re making a wise investment.

UCS has received Charity Navigator‘s esteemed 4-star rating for the last seven straight years—an honor shared by only 2 percent of charities, and we were named one of the most effective organizations working on climate change by Guidestar‘s Philanthropedia.

UCS supporters are people from all walks of life—parents and businesspeople, biologists and physicists, teachers and students—more than 350,000 citizens and scientists who are committed to defending science, year in and year out. Thank you for being part of this powerful community.

Kathleen Rest Sincerely, Kathleen Rest Kathleen Rest, PhD, MPA Executive Director

1. http://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Minority.Blogs&ContentRecord_id=bcf73a09-9371-2ef5-f1cf-9ca752c89cad 2. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=government-shutdown-was-temporary-the-damage-to-science-permanent 3. http://www.pewforum.org/2013/07/11/public-esteem-for-military-still-high/
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Support … Union of Concerned Scientists


Want to know how you can help advance scientific solutions for a healthy environment and a safer world for as little as 40 cents per day? By joining the Union of Concerned Scientists‘ Partners for the Earth monthly giving program.

 

You can be confident your donations to UCS are spent wisely. We are accredited with the Better Business Bureau, have received four stars from Charity Navigator, and earned an ‘A’ rating from the American Institute of Philanthropy.
Better Business Bureau, Charity Navigator, American Institute of Philanthropy

 

WWW.UCSUSA.ORG

The Partners for the Earth program ensures that UCS has the funds needed to bring scientists and activists together to fight to cut pollution and global warming emissions, promote clean energy and transportation solutions, reduce the threat of nuclear weapons—and much more—every day of the year. Plus, it’s easy and convenient for you!

To become a Partners for the Earth member, select an amount that is comfortable for you and it will be automatically debited each month from your credit card. Additional benefits to you include:

  • Your gifts go to work faster;
  • You receive special updates on our progress;
  • You save time and trouble—no need to write checks or fill in credit card information;
  • You receive less mail—your membership is automatically renewed;
  • You strengthen the Union of Concerned Scientists with steady, reliable support; and
  • It’s easy to participate!

For less than you would spend on a cup of coffee per day, you can make a world of difference for the planet we live on. Join the Partners for the Earth program today. Thank you for your ongoing support.    WWW.UCSUSA.ORG

Kevin Knobloch Sincerely,
Kevin Knobloch
Kevin Knobloch
President

P.S. As a Partners for the Earth member, you are in control. You decide the amount of your monthly gift, and you can change or cancel your pledge at any time. Please join today.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Who stands up for science? UCS does. Will you join us?


Right now we’re witnessing an all-out war on science, the environment, and human health.

“I think that the science is inconclusive on this. I personally believe that the solar flares are more responsible for climatic cycles than anything that human beings do.”

—Representative Jim Sensenbrenner (R WI), new vice chair of the House Science Committee

A number of irresponsible corporations are spending millions to deceive the public about climate change science. Media personalities are spreading false information and discrediting scientists. And many elected officials are not only blocking efforts to address America’s energy and climate crises—they’re also threatening to roll back many of the hard-fought human health and environmental protections we’ve won in the last few years!

“I think that the science is inconclusive on this. I personally believe that the solar flares are more responsible for climatic cycles than anything that human beings do.”

—Representative Jim Sensenbrenner (R WI), new vice chair of the House Science Committee

You can help UCS expose and challenge attacks like this on science—become a member today.

Become a member of UCS today and join us in exposing and challenging these attacks on science and effective, life-saving public policies.

Politicians and media pundits who claim “global warming is a hoax”, that it’s just “sunspot activity,” or who accuse climate scientists of being “political hacks and leftists” can’t change the scientific evidence. The climate is changing and if we don’t take action there will be devastating consequences for our health, economy, and environment.

We must act now to stand up to vocal global warming deniers and advance science-based solutions that can rein in climate change. Please become a member of UCS today.

With your membership gift, UCS will work to:

Expose and challenge attacks on climate science and scientists;

Advocate for strong, science-based state and regional climate programs that can reduce heat-trapping emissions at the local level;

Push state utility commissions to shut down the oldest and dirtiest coal power plants; and

Continue to press the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce global warming emissions from cars, trucks, power plants, and other large industrial polluters.

Our opponents are well coordinated, well funded, and have a singular goal of protecting their own interests. If you’ve ever considered taking your support of our critical work to the next level—now is the time to do it. Please become a member of UCS today.

We may not have the deep pockets of the oil and coal industries and electric utilities who oppose progress on global warming and clean energy—but we do have scientific facts and dedicated supporters like you. I hope you’ll join us as a member today to ensure we can continue to challenge attacks on science and work for a healthy environment and a safer world.

Sincerely,

Kevin Knobloch

President

P.S. You can be confident your donations to UCS are spent wisely. We are accredited with the Better Business Bureau, have received four stars from Charity Navigator, and earned an ‘A’ rating from the American Institute of Philanthropy.

~ Recent Post

Breaking: Unrest in Southern Sudan


IRC

Recent elections in Sudan could lead to a new outbreak of violence once the results are made public. I urge you to support the International Rescue Committee’s life-saving work today as they prepare to assist victims of the renewed strife. The IRC has been working in the area for over 20 years providing health care and emergency aid.

Don Hazen
Executive Editor, AlterNet.org

Unrest in Southern Sudan

Brewing unrest in Southern SudanDear AlterNet Reader,

Another potential war is looming in Sudan — a country widely known for the brutal conflict in its Darfur region.

On January 9, voters in Southern Sudan went to the polls to cast their votes to decide whether they would secede from the north. While results won’t be known for a week, the outcome may heighten tensions in a decades-old conflict between the regions.

The International Rescue Committee is preparing to help innocent families, should violence and tribal strife suddenly escalate in the aftermath of the vote. We are preparing for an influx of people crossing the border from the north and those fleeing violence within Southern Sudan itself.

IRC working in Southern Sudan

We have readied emergency supplies, including clean water, food and shelter materials and are distributing them across the region.

Right now, your donation to the IRC will enable us to deliver practical support and aid to people — like those in Southern Sudan — who are struggling to survive.

The IRC has worked in Southern Sudan for more than 20 years. In addition to emergency aid, our staff there — a majority of whom are Sudanese nationals — currently provide essential services like health care and education to more than 600,000 people.

While the political tensions between the north and south are vastly complex, one thing is simple. We must do everything in our power to protect innocent lives. That is why the IRC is providing critical aid to families in Sudan and in 40 other countries and 22 U.S. cities.

With your support, we can continue this important work.

Sincerely,

All of us at the International Rescue Committee

P.S. Ninety cents of every dollar we spend is used to support IRC programs all over the world. And we are proud to have earned four stars from Charity Navigator for four straight years.

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IRC