| Dear UCS supporter, The coal industry's hidden attempts to intimidate scientists and discredit their research have finally been dragged into the light of day. The more we learn, the worse it gets. Recently revealed documents show that coal industry-backed legal groups like the American Tradition Institute—now called E&E Legal—have carried out a coordinated campaign of harassment against scientists researching climate change for years.1 They attack scientists in the media and abuse public records laws to demand cell phone records, receipts, personal emails—anything and everything they can think of to derail the scientific process, bully scientists, and drown them in legal fees. We're not just helping scientists deal with attacks. We're using cold, hard evidence of this harassment to push for better disclosure standards—and we need your help to do it. Last day! Become a member before MIDNIGHT to support experts targeted by industry-funded groups, and to develop clear standards that inform the public AND protect researchers from harassment. Click here to do your part. We've suspected that groups like E&E Legal were in the pocket of major polluters for years, and the evidence is now piling up. Leaked industry emails show that the same attorneys who led the harassment campaigns against climate scientists likely also received massive payments from Alpha Natural Resources, Arch Coal, United Coal, and other energy companies. These front groups then: -
Demand thousands of emails between scientists that contain private information, research drafts, and confidential peer review comments—few of which should be in the public record. -
Force universities to waste time and resources defending researchers in court. -
Scare off young researchers from entering the field. -
And delay the essential research we need to understand and combat climate change. So we're fighting back: -
We've published a thorough and critical report ("Freedom to Bully") that exposes the details of this problem.2 -
We're teaching individual scientists how to deal with hate mail, hostile bloggers, intrusive information demands, and attacks in the mainstream press. -
We're working with universities to develop clear standards for the disclosure of information, and pushing professional societies to offer assistance to researchers facing attacks. -
We're advocating for a fair and consistent interpretation of open records laws that make sure to protect privacy and academic freedom. We've set a goal of 1,500 member gifts by midnight tonight—and we're still 382 short. Click here to become a member and take a stand for sound science. Many issues we deal with are extraordinarily complex, and every scientist I know is fascinated by that complexity, by nuance, by shades of gray. But the situation here is crystal clear; the line is stark. On one side are front groups secretly backed by industry dollars, twisting the law to stifle scientific research. On the other, the hardworking scientists investigating the reality, risks, and response to climate change. I know which side I'm on. I hope you'll stand with me by becoming a UCS member today. Thanks for sticking up for scientists. Sincerely,  | 
Ken Kimmell
President
Union of Concerned Scientists |
1. http://www.theguardian.com/science/political-science/2015/aug/28/digging-into-big-coals-climate-connections
2. http://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/attach/2015/09/freedom-to-bully-ucs-2015-final.pdf (PDF) |
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