Talk:Science and Public Policy Institute

Repeated deletion of content
There has been a repeated deletion, by an IP address, of the following content:
 * It was formerly known as the Center for Science and Public Policy for the Frontiers of Freedom [1], a conservative think tank founded by former Republican senator Malcolm Wallop[2].

I have repeatedly undone this deletion because the IP party has not used the talk page or edit summaries to back their contention that the SPPI and CSPP were not related. The same party deleted sourced material regarding ExxonMobil's gifts to FOF, and attempted to create a link to sell videos here. A google search of the two organizations reveals markedly similar philosophies. They are, at the very least, highly sympathetic organizations. If they are indeed unrelated, then a change to the article's content ought to be discussed here first, with rationale supported by reliable sources. JNW (talk) 22:03, 30 August 2008 (UTC)

I emailed Robert Ferguson the Head of SPPI in regards to this entry. His reponse was "SPPI is, and always has been, an independent corporation registered in the State of Virginia. It has NEVER had any affiliation with, or funding from, Frontiers of Freedom Foundation (FOF) or Exxon -- not ever!

Wikipedia's entire global warming listings and entries are controlled by one man in the UK. He created the smear entry for SPPI, needing some way to tie SPPI to Exxon. So he fabricated the direct connection to FOF, thereby giving an indirect connection to Exxon. We have gone into the site and corrected this dozens of times, only to see those corrections automatically deleted within seconds. We have complained and they simply do not respond...it is with malice. Your colleagues have allowed themselves to be what Vladimir Lenin labeled "willing dupes." This is precisely the effect Wiki wants: intellectual laziness breeding ignorance and prejudice. They have passed judgment on themselves.

So why do you allow this intellectual dishonesty to continue? I thought Wikipedia would be free of political agendas. It is this sites responsibility to check their sources. I emailed Mr. Ferguson last night and he responded promptly the next day with the info above. So is this what you promote on Wikipedia "intellectual laziness, ignorance and predjudice. I use to come to this site for info, however I don't think I can trust it's content anymore.

M. Andrews,USA —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.119.38.62 (talk) 23:49, 31 January 2009 (UTC)


 * The 2004 and 2006 form 990s (the most recent available) filed by Frontiers of Freedom list Robert Ferguson as a director of the organization. See http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2006/541/773/2006-541773197-038e81a5-9.pdf#page=19 and indicate he that he spent 40 hours per week working for Frontiers of Freedom.  If the groups are not connected, its kind of bizarre that the head of one just so happens to have a full-time job running the other.

Smptq —Preceding undated comment added 23:54, 11 December 2009 (UTC).

Primary Source
This is a primary source and contains an address of an identifiable living person so i am removing it. mark nutley (talk) 19:37, 27 June 2010 (UTC)

Non-profit status
Quoting a mission statement from a website is sort of trashy in this case, because it is unclear if this organization is even a nonprofit, as stated on their website. Sourcewatch doesn't seem to think so, anyways- see http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Science_and_Public_Policy_Institute Anyone know their np status? I came to wikipedia to learn more about this organization, and the page is currently useless, and seems biased. I really wanted to know who funded them, and my best answer seems to be that at one time, exxonmobil may have indirectly funded them. I wish someone could provide the information I actually wanted to find out. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.79.17.23 (talk • contribs)


 * Its pretty hard to believe it makes a profit. Sourcewatch says "SPPI is not a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit" which is some USA thingy. But even they seem a little unsure William M. Connolley (talk) 08:41, 12 February 2013 (UTC)

Updates, SPPI dormant, and some better history
SPPI seems to have gone dormant, last post was December 2015.

It never was a 501(c)(3), and in fact, was in essence was a front for the Idsos' Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change, Ferguson was the highest-paid employee for a few years, although that fact only appeared in IRS records, with connection to CSCDGC hidden.

See http://www.desmogblog.com/sites/beta.desmogblog.com/files/fake2.pdf pp.77-82 for discussion. That is not RS, but has many references to RS material, like from IRS Form 990s, which include some peculiar money transfers.

This probably isn't worth updating, as it was never more than a website, and a PO box in a UPS store within walking distance of Ferguson's house in Haymarket, VA. But if somebody wants to update it, they might as well have the available information. JohnMashey (talk) 06:23, 24 May 2016 (UTC)

CSPP vs. SPPI
So I just removed a NYT ref that mentions the Center for Science and Public Policy but not the Science and Public Policy Institute. SourceWatch says they're not exactly the same:
 * ''Connections to FoF's Center for Science and Public Policy
 * ''Prior to founding SPPI in approximately mid-2007, SPPI's Ferguson was the Executive Director of the Center for Science and Public Policy (CSPP), a project of the corporate-funded Frontiers of Freedom Institute. SPPI's blog is run by a web designer who has also reported helping at Frontiers of Freedom.[7]
 * SPPI is in the same building as CSPP, though in different offices - SPPI at Suite 299[8] and CSPP at Suite 2100.[9] YoPienso (talk) 01:59, 25 August 2016 (UTC)

WikiProject Science Policy
I am not familiar with WikiProject Science Policy, so I ask:

This anti-science propaganda organization uses the words "science" and "policy" in its name, but does that mean it is in any way relevant to science policy? --Hob Gadling (talk) 09:02, 26 September 2020 (UTC)
 * Actually, I am not familiar with WikiProjects in general, so: Is it justified to give the article Medium importance in the WikiProjects Environment and Climate change? --Hob Gadling (talk) 09:05, 26 September 2020 (UTC)