The 2012 Science and Democracy Editorial Cartoon Contest | Union of Concerned Scientists

The 2012 Science and Democracy Editorial Cartoon Contest

DOWNLOAD: 2012 UCS Science and Democracy Cartoon Contest Topic Areas

Welcome to the seventh annual UCS editorial cartoon contest!

Contest Theme

We’re seeking your creative take on the important role science should play in American democracy—and the barriers that get in the way.

A functioning democracy depends on the ability of citizens and elected officials to identify and rely upon legitimate sources of scientific information essential to ensuring the nation’s well-being and security. But today, science that is accepted as established knowledge in the expert community and by governments of other leading nations is commonly rejected in American public discourse.

Political ideologies, powerful financial interests, and a 24-hour digital news cycle that demands sensation and controversy have resulted in polarized debates in which facts are often disregarded or misrepresented.  The persistent disregard for scientific evidence jeopardizes the ability of our nation’s leaders and citizens to make informed decisions and respond effectively to complex 21^st-century challenges. It also threatens the principles of transparency and accountability on which our democracy depends.

We strongly encourage you to review our broad list of suggested topic areas to ensure that your entry or entries are right for this contest. 

more: The 2012 Science and Democracy Editorial Cartoon Contest | Union of Concerned Scientists

hurdy gurdy - over 100 videos | news

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There are now over one hundred videos in my Hurdy Gurdy playlist!

hurdy gurdy - YouTube

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see also

hurdy gurdy instruction - YouTube: 28 videos to date

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The Hurdy Gurdy Weekly is mentioned in the recent newsletter of Bagpipe & HurdyGurdy Foundation in Denmark! Thank you!

Draailier Doedelzak ‏@DraailierDoedel
@r_cherwink I've mentioned your Weekly in the newsletter of our Bagpipe & HurdyGurdy foundation. It's in Dutch (sorry) http://draailier-doedelzak.nl/document/2012_mei_Nieuwsbrief.pdf

The newsletter is a PDF. Here is the website: Stichting Draailier en Doedelzak. They have an event on June 3 - see http://draailier-doedelzak.nl/agenda.htm.

translate to English

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Space Aliens

Remember when all we had to fear was Martians?

Fight Oil with Water: Chevron's Embarrassment in Ecuador

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Every day Chevron tries desperately to greenwash its image. "We Agree" and "Will You Join Us" are perfect examples of empty gestures aimed at making Chevron appear the "good" oil company. The reality is, millions of dollars blown on ad campaigns and PR firms like Sam Singer in San Francisco do nothing to alleviate environmental damage and human suffering caused by their operations. Chevron even convinced Business and Social Responsibility to feature the company as a leader for "community engagement."

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AMAZON WATCH | Fight Oil with Water: Chevron's Embarrassment in Ecuador

How can you help the communities of the Amazon fighting oil contamination and a historic health crisis? With water.

Use the tools on this page to help spread the word about ClearWater, a community-led project that is providing immediate relief to the people of the Ecuadorean Amazon. The same powerful communities that have been waging a 19-year battle to bring Chevron to justice for its toxic legacy in the Amazon are now building safe drinking water systems for themselves.

> Fight oil with water - Give ClearWater | Rainforest Action Network

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Fossil Fool: let's call fracked gas "renewable energy" | We Are Power Shift

Fossil Fool: let's call fracked gas "renewable energy" | We Are Power Shift: Posted on May 21, 2012 by Brian Kunkemoeller, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnait, OH Posted in University of Cincinnati Beyond Coal

We may have front runners for next years "fossil fool." Seriously.

In the most ridiculous public testimony I've ever seen (which is really saying something), representatives from the University of Cincinnati and Kent State University today co-testified that their fracking gas fired plants should count as renewable energy, padding the pockets of publicly funded polluters and spiking demand for fracked gas in Ohio.

It's "just like solar," quipped UC Utilities Director Joe Harrell when questioned by a member of the Ohio State Energy and Public Utilities Committee why he thought his fossil fool based facility was renewable energy. "It captures heat."

Tom Euclide from Kent State apparently agrees. Together, they're doing anything they can to keep getting a good fix for their fossil fuel addictions.

Wind farmers had something to say about that during their testimony: giving rebates to these Universities will make them think twice about building new wind farms in Ohio if the state can't even recognize the difference betweenrenewable and non-renewable energy. 

Maybe the committee should consult the kids in the video. They even give installation instructions.

What's really amazing is that a bill may go to the floor of the Ohio Senate by the end of the week, giving these fracking gas plants a huge paycheck. 

Tell this guy that that's just ridiculous: Committee Chairman Peter Stautberg (614) 644-6886 call right now! 

This is Not Cool: Murderers, Tyrants, and Madmen - YouTube

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This is Not Cool: Murderers, Tyrants, and Madmen - YouTube

Recently, the Heartland Institute, a hotbed of Climate Contrarianism, posted a billboard near a Chicago freeway. The Billboard suggested that those who accept mainstream science in regard to climate change, are like Ted Kaczinsky, the Unabomber. Heartland promised to follow up with similar billboards featuring Fidel Castro, Osama Bin Laden, and Charles Manson. When a scathing barrage of internet protests and parodies went viral, Heartland was forced to withdraw the billboard, and post a defense on its website. Even then, they continued to maintain that "the most prominent advocates of global warming are not scientists, they are murderers, tyrants, and madmen."

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