I imagine just about everyone at one time or another has been
added to a mailing list of an organization or candidate who
doesn’t align with their worldview. An amusing example of this
hit the emailbox of the Commonwealth
Foundation, via an message signed by environmentalist Teresa
Heinz Kerry (renowned wife of two Johns), who asked recipients to
provide their nominees for this year’s Heinz Awards (no,
they’re not called Heinies for short):
For most of the program’s history, we have honored five
awardees, one each in fields of great importance to John
(Heinz), including arts and the humanities, the environment,
public policy, technology, and the human condition. Last year,
we made an exception to this approach, honoring 10 individuals
for their work on the environment, one of John’s highest
priorities. This year we want to take this focus even
further.
The world is at a crucial moment, brought there by the
scale of the human enterprise on Earth. Scientists refer to the
cumulative effects of human activities and natural processes on
the Earth as global change. The risks of failing to address
global changeare too great to accept. Therefore, we seek
nominations of people who are addressing global change in
unique, innovative and powerful ways.
Note that environoiacs are now moving from “global warming” and
“climate change” to “global change.” Let’s prevent humans from
doing anything to affect the planet!
You might also recall that Commonwealth Foundation is the
Pennsylvania think tank that
called for an independent, outside investigation of Climategate’s
hockey stick scientist Michael
Mann. I am sure they can come up with some innovative
candidates for the awards. If I had the opportunity I would
choose the Climategate whistleblower, who certainly instigated
“global change” on the climate issue.