Advocacy group demands textbook revision

April 10, 2008

A U.S. advocacy group said it's upset over statements downplaying global warming that are included in a high school textbook.

The Friends of the Earth is asking the publisher, the Houghton Mifflin Co., to correct statements about global warming in its "American Government" textbook used in high schools nationwide.

The group claims a chapter in book concerning environmental policy is so biased and misleading "it would humble a tobacco industry PR man."

Two of the textbook's statements Friends of the Earth finds objectionable are, "Science doesn't know how bad the greenhouse effect is," and "On the one hand, a warmer globe will cause sea levels to rise, threatening coastal communities; on the other hand, greater warmth will make it easier and cheaper to grow crops and avoid high heating bills."

The group said one of the world's most respected climate scientists, James Hansen, director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, has also demanded revisions.

Hansen said, "Failure to correct the book's errors will leave students gravely misinformed about the facts and science of global warming -- one of the most serious problems that we as a society and a species face."

Copyright 2008 by United Press International


print this article email this article download pdf blog this article bookmark this article     Stumble it Digg this share on Facebook retweet share on Reddit add to delicious
Rate this story - 3.3 /5 (9 votes)

Rank Filter

Move the slider to adjust rank threshold, so that you can hide some of the comments.


Display comments: newest first

  • Valentiinro - Apr 11, 2008
    • Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
    I think school kid's opinions on history textbooks fit into 3 categories.
    a) They feel the books are feel-good BS designed to make them like their government.
    b) They don't care about history classes.
    c) They believe that the books are accurate.

    From my experiences in high school I think category c is the smallest.

    Anyone else want to share their high school history textbook experiences?
  • bfreewithrp - Apr 14, 2008
    • Rank: not rated yet
    In the News.Global Warming, truth or consequences.
    http://www.quazen...is.51904
    Al Gore's Decree on Global Warming is Not Our Only Crisis
    What about Global Pollution? Are we forgetting something?
    http://www.quazen...--.17376
    Is Global Warming, or Global Pollution the Issue?
    We should tackle world pollution first
  • snwboardn - Apr 14, 2008
    • Rank: 3 / 5 (1)
    Well it is American Government... Not science class.

April 10, 2008 all stories

Comments: 3

3.3 /5 (9 votes)
  • Stumble this up

  • Digg this

  • share this

  • hide
  • Related Stories




  • hide
  • Relevant PhysicsForums posts

  • Climate Science Update
    created 11 hours ago
  • The IPCC and the term "most"
    created Nov 23, 2009
  • Is global warming a fact?
    created Nov 23, 2009
  • Random variability of wind patterns
    created Nov 23, 2009
  • More from Physics Forums - Earth

Other News

Fermi Telescope Peers Deep into Microquasar

Fermi Telescope Peers Deep into Microquasar (w/ Video)

Space & Earth / Astronomy

created 8 hours ago | popularity 4.5 / 5 (4) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has made the first unambiguous detection of high-energy gamma-rays from an enigmatic binary system known as Cygnus X-3. The system pairs a hot, massive ...


The Energy Sources of Ultraluminous Galaxies

The Energy Sources of Ultraluminous Galaxies

Space & Earth / Astronomy

created 8 hours ago | popularity 4.4 / 5 (8) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- Ultraluminous infrared galaxies ((ULIRGs) are galaxies whose luminosity exceeds that of a trillion suns; for comparison, the Milky Way galaxy has a typical (and much more modest) luminosity ...


Space shuttle Atlantis, 7 astronauts back on Earth (AP)

Space shuttle Atlantis, 7 astronauts back on Earth

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created 9 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

(AP) -- Space shuttle Atlantis and its seven astronauts returned to Earth with a smooth touchdown Friday to end an 11-day flight that resupplied the International Space Station.


Herschel takes a peek at the ingredients of the galaxies

Herschel takes a peek at the ingredients of the galaxies

Space & Earth / Astronomy

created 6 hours ago | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- The European Space Agency has today released spectacular new observations from the Herschel Space Observatory, including the UK-led SPIRE instrument. Spectrometers on board all three Hershel ...


China is set to launch its second moon orbiter next October, state media have reported

China to launch second lunar probe: state media

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created 13 hours ago | popularity 5 / 5 (4) | comments 0

China will launch its second moon orbiter next October, state media reported Friday, as it powers ahead with a space programme that has sparked concerns abroad.