One of our country's leading civics textbooks has this to say about global warming: "Science doesn't know whether we are experiencing a dangerous level of global warming or how bad the greenhouse effect is, if it exists at all."
American Government, is used in high school Advanced Placement classes around the country. The textbook claims that that "the scientific community is divided over the issue."
The first time I read this I couldn't even believe it.
This has to stop. Please join us and other organizations around the country in demanding that Houghton Mifflin pull these books from classrooms and revise them to give our children unbiased and factual information on global warming. We will add your voice to thousands of others and deliver your message straight to Houghton Mifflin.
http://www.fusewashington.org/page/s/HoughtonMifflin
American Government, is in its 11th edition and is used in high school Advanced Placement classes around the country. The textbook claims that that "the scientific community is divided over the issue" and that "Science doesn't know whether we are experiencing a dangerous level of global warming or how bad the greenhouse effect is, if it exists at all." The book goes on to portray environmentalists as "elites who often base their arguments on ideology as much as facts."
The textbook goes on to a lengthy presentation of the "skeptics" positions, with passages such as "Activists say that a warmer earth will be bad for humankind; skeptics say that a warmer earth will make it easier to grow crops and feed people."
American Government, was written by James Q. Wilson and John DiIulio, Jr. Wilson was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush in 2003. DiIulio, a University of Pennsylvania professor, was formally the first head of Bush's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.
The publishers of the book, Houghton Mifflin, claim that the 11th edition of the book was revised to "reflect current developments in environmental policy research," but there are no new citations listed. Our children deserve more than this.
Join me in writing Houghton Mifflin, the publishers of American Government, to demand they give our children unbiased and factual information on global warming. Then ask your friends to do the same.
http://www.fusewashington.org/page/s/HoughtonMifflin
Thanks for all you do!
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For more information on this story and the textbook at question, please visit the following website:
Center for Inquiry Textbook Critique
http://www.centerforinquiry.net/news/cfi_issues_critique_of_civics_textbook/
Great news! Yesterday, Governor Gregoire signed into law all three of the progressive bills we contacted you about last week.
In bill signing ceremonies yesterday afternoon, the Governor signed Local Solutions to Global Warming, the Working Families Tax Credit, and the nation's toughest law against Toxic Toys. Combined, these new laws mean a Washington that is safer, healthier, and offers more equal opportunities to its residents.
This is a major victory! Thousands of you signed our petition to the Governor, which we delivered to her office last week. In addition, we assembled a coalition of more than 40 progressive organizations to sign a letter to the Governor supporting the three bills.
But our work isn't quite over yet. If we're going to continue building a strong relationship with our elected officials, we can't just contact them when we want something -- it's just as important to thank them when they do the right thing.
So please take a moment right now to say thank you to the Governor for her leadership.
Just follow the link below to the contact form on the governor's website. You don't need to write a novel -- just a, "thank you for signing the three progressive bills!" will do the trick.
http://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/default.asp
Thank you for getting involved, and for all of your work throughout the session!
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