In regard to your point about CCEF accepting funding from PXP, I have noticed the issue and the wider consequences. One of the long-term effects of nonprofits accepting money from groups like that is that depending on the amount of money and how it is used, the money can create a long-term dependency. I have seen a couple of environmental nonprofits accept money from corporations, then when the corporate purpose is fulfilled (like when the law they wanted gets passed with help of the nonprofit), then they have no need to continue to provide funding. The funding gets pulled, and the rug gets pulled out from under the nonprofit, leading sometimes to devastating consequences.
So, see attached link to Wired, where PXP was able to fund a university researcher, and that researcher wrote favorable studies.
www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/07/gas-fracking-science-conflict/
Susan Collins
Reading the Wired article, I have to emphasize that this is not about money or education or politics. It’s about ethics.
Ms. Collins’ comment (and the article link) make some excellent points. I posted the following comment on the previous article about this but I submitted it very late, so I am re-posting:
“The problem with money, Bud, is that it makes you do things you don’t want to do.”
– Gordon Gecko, from the film, “Wall Street”.
This is one of my favorite quotes because it is so very true.
Schools need money and probably would gladly accept it from anyone willing to give it legally. If the district is not indebted in any way, it would seem to be a no-brainer. Take the money. First on the list should be a science class to teach kids the pros and cons of the oil industry. Get an environmentalist to come in and teach a lesson.
The danger, in my mind anyway, is that this favorable PR will color the opinions of parents and community members when considering issues regarding the oil companies’ presence in the area. (“Hey, they helped the schools, give ‘em a break!”)
Oil companies are making record profits. This is the result of putting health and safety at risk (via methods such as fracking and offshore drilling) and price gauging. Greed is alive and well. They buy politicians and feed their greed… just business as usual for much (though not all) of corporate America nowadays.