Fort McMurray, Alberta – Operation Arctic Shadow by kris krüg
From DeSmog Canada:
The province of Alberta has recently released a development plan for public schools that enlists Suncor Energy and Syncrude Canada in the creation of future Kindergarten to grade three curriculum. Oil giant Cenovus will partner in developing curriculum for grades four to 12.
…Canada’s oil and gas industry has taken a notable interest in curriculum design and the general project of ‘energy literacy’ in recent years.
The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), the country’s largest oil and gas lobby body, caused uproar last year when it partnered with the Royal Canadian Geographic Society in the creation of ‘Energy IQ,’ described as “an energy education resource for all Canadians…to engage Canadian teachers and students through curriculum-linked in-class learning tools, and to increase energy knowledge among the general public and community leaders.”
…Fenton suggests Canadians should keep in mind CAPP’s “dubious distinction of being Canada’s most vocal proponent of tar sands, fracking and other fossil fuel development.” He adds the industry lobby group is the largest in the country and has been a key player in Canada’s withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol, eliminating environmental laws, and undermining climate legislation. They are also a big spender when it comes to oilsands advertising.
This is one of those initiatives that leaves me at a loss for commentary. I do note the similarity of this strategy to that long employed by creationists to promote their beliefs using school curriculum.
One would think that if the oil industry were confident in the soundness of their arguments, they would be satisfied to simply provide money to support science education and leave it at that. Then again, Canada’s scientists have been unmasked as a dangerous and seditious group. Who knew that facts could be so disloyal to the national interest?
Via @sleslie
