UN Gives Confidential Press Contacts to Political Allies

    CHICAGO, Dec. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In order to receive press
 credentials and gain access to the United Nations' conference on climate
 change in Bali, world environment and climate change journalists were
 required to register with the UN media office in Bonn, Germany.
 
 
 
     To achieve the desired press coverage, the UN media office provided the
 list of credentialed journalists to its political allies.
 
 
 
     No fewer than four organizations immediately started saturating the
 list with press releases. Press releases have already been distributed by
 Greenpeace (3), Union of Concerned Scientists (1), Environment Press of the
 European Parliament (2), and Panos (1).
 
 
 
     Cindy Baxter of Greenpeace admitted having the UN media list.
 
 
 
     Audio file:
 
     www.fromtheheartland.org/live/archive/2007/12/05/un_gives_confidential_
 press_co/
 
 
 
     UN Media List:
 
 
 
     http://www.heartland.org/privatePDF/bali-accredited-journalists.xls
 
 
 
     She sent out the alarmist press release: "Don't Cook the Climate,"
 Greenpeace tells crucial UN climate talks. The release boasts of
 Greenpeace's over-the-top street theater with a 20-foot-high thermometer
 with the message, "Don't Cook the Climate."
 
 
 
     The press releases are filled with alarmist hyperbole designed to cause
 fear and panic. The extremism of the releases borders on religious
 zealotry, with apocalyptic phrases like "biggest threat civilisation has
 ever faced" and "for the very survival of the planet."
 
 
 
     This egregious breach of ethics breaks a core rule of journalism: that
 the foundation of democracy is based on seeking truth and providing a fair
 and comprehensive account of events with thoroughness and honesty.
 
 
 
     "This is a sad day for the UN, but not unexpected. They have
 purposefully rejected any dissenting opinions. Now that the science has
 reversed on them, the UN is resorting to bully tactics and manipulation to
 achieve their political goals," said James M. Taylor, senior fellow for
 environment policy at The Heartland Institute. "The first victim of global
 warming was science and truth with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
 Change. Now it appears every aspect of the UN has become politicized."
 
 
 
     Audio file:
 
     www.fromtheheartland.org/live/archive/2007/12/05/un_gives_confidential_
 press_co/
 
 
 
     UN Media List:
 
     http://www.heartland.org/privatePDF/bali-accredited-journalists.xls
 
 
 
     Press Releases:
 
 
 
     "Don't Cook the Climate" Greenpeace Tells Crucial UN Climate Talks -
 http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=22404
 
 
 
     Union of Concerned Scientists Sending Scientists, Policy Experts to Un
 Climate Meeting http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=22405
 
 
 
     Overcoming the communication deficit | how Panos and the Climate Change
 Media Partnership are encouraging debate on climate change in the South -
 http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=22406
 
 
 
     Stopping Deforestation: moving towards a mechanism for emissions
 reductions for the second commitment period -
 http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=22407
 
 
 
     Greenpeace launches landmark proposal for reducing tropical
 deforestation at Bali Climate Talks -
 http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=22408
 
 
 
     MEPs to attend the UN Climate Change conference-
 
     http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=22409
 
 
 
     Halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050: MEPs outline the mandate for
 
     Bali- http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=22410
 
 
 
     For more information about The Heartland Institute, please contact Tom
 Swiss, director of public relations at 312/377-4000, email
 tswiss@heartland.org. Listen to audio file:
 www.fromtheheartland.org/live/archive/2007/12/05/un_gives_confidential_pres
 s_co/
 
 
 
     View UN media list:
 
 
 
     http://www.heartland.org/privatePDF/bali-accredited-journalists.xls
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

SOURCE The Heartland Institute