Union of Concerned Scientists
| A bunch of tree-huggers |
| Save the rainforests! |
| Watch that carbon footprint! |
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is an American environmental organization founded in 1969 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which claims 400,000 members.[1] The organization focuses on seven primary causes:
- Protecting scientists from political pressures to distort their findings.
- Popularizing the scientific consensus on global warming.
- Promoting clean vehicles (electric cars and biofuels).
- Promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency.
- Opposing nuclear power,[2] while claiming to be neither pro- or anti-nuclear.
- Advocating for nuclear disarmament and actions that reduce the risk of nuclear terrorism
- Promoting "sustainable agriculture" (essentially organic food, but slightly more inclusive) while opposing genetically modified crops.
[edit] Back-and-forth with Mark Lynas
UCS criticized Mark Lynas over his recent speech in support of genetically engineered crops.[3] Doug Gurian-Sherman, a member of UCS, claimed on the organization's blog that Lynas is "attempting to discourage real scientific debate" and complained that Lynas' speech received "uncritical reception" by the media.[4] In response, Lynas called UCS "one of the most ideological of all the green groups" and took particular issue with the organization's casual dismissal of the position of the American Association for the Advancement of Science on GMOs, saying that UCS "has no respect for scientific consensus in areas where real scientists conflict with its biases".[5]
[edit] Footnotes
- ↑ Union of Concerned Scientists - About Us
- ↑ Ostensibly, UCS does not have a position, but they have participated in anti-nuclear fundraising and their pages on nuclear power are exclusively negative. Their pages on global warming do not contain any mention of nuclear power.
- ↑ Mark Lynas: Lecture to Oxford Farming Conference, 3 January 2013
- ↑ The Equation: Science, Dogma, and Mark Lynas
- ↑ Mark Lynas: Response to UCS 'Science, Dogma and Mark Lynas'