Difference between revisions of "Frontiers of Freedom"

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'''Frontiers of Freedom''' was founded by ex-Republican Senator [[Malcolm Wallop]] in 1996, immediately after he retired from the Senate. The right-wing think tank describes itself as “a cutting-edge, forward-looking policy group advancing center-right principles in today's fast-paced news and information age. We work with grassroots activists throughout the country to protect private property rights, secure our national security, and promote sensible public policies critical to our country's liberty”[1].
+
'''Frontiers of Freedom''' was founded by ex-Republican Senator [[Malcolm Wallop]] in 1996, immediately after he retired from the Senate. The right-wing think tank describes itself as “a cutting-edge, forward-looking policy group advancing center-right principles in today's fast-paced news and information age. We work with grassroots activists throughout the country to protect private property rights, secure our national security, and promote sensible public policies critical to our country's liberty”<ref>Jason Wright of Frontiers of Freedom, [http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/archives/K/5/pub5912.html From: Jason Wright of Frontiers of Freedom], Science Blog, 11/6/2003, accessed 16 Mar 2010</ref>
  
'''Frontiers of Freedom''' calls itself the “antithesis” of the green movement. It is an often overlooked but key player in the current backlash.
+
In its mission statement, Frontiers of Freedom called itself "the antithesis to the Sierra Club and Vice President Al Gore's Earth in the Balance":
 +
:Frontiers works to advance States' rights, protect property rights, privatize Social Security, defend first amendment civil liberties, and among other efforts to reform the federal tax code, the Endangered Species Act, and the Food and Drug Administration.<ref>[http://www.heatisonline.org/contentserver/objecthandlers/index.cfm?id=3645&method=full ExxonMobil emerges as major funder of greenhouse skeptics], The Heat is Online website, accessed 16 Mar 2010</ref>
 +
 
 +
It is an often overlooked but key player in the anti-green backlash.
  
 
== Funding ==
 
== Funding ==
  
Frontiers of Freedom receives money of tobacco and oil companies, including [[Philip Morris Co]], [[ExxonMobil]] and [[RJ Reynolds Tobacco]]. According to the ''New York Times'': “Frontiers of Freedom, which has about a $700,000 annual budget, received $230,000 from Exxon in 2002, up from $40,000 in 2001, according to [[Exxon]] documents”[2].
+
Frontiers of Freedom receives money from tobacco and oil companies, including [[Philip Morris Co]], [[ExxonMobil]] and [[RJ Reynolds Tobacco]]. According to the ''New York Times'': “Frontiers of Freedom, which has about a $700,000 annual budget, received $230,000 from Exxon in 2002, up from $40,000 in 2001, according to [[Exxon]] documents” <ref> J. Lee, “Exxon Backs Groups That Question Global Warming”, The New York Times, 28 May 2003, p5 </ref>. In 2003, Exxon gave FoF $195,000<ref>GreenPeace Investigations [http://research.greenpeaceusa.org/?a=view&d=4389 ExxonMobil Public Information and Policy Research 2003] 5th October 2007. Accessed 5th February 2009</ref>, $250,000 in 2004<ref>GreenPeace Investigation [http://research.greenpeaceusa.org/?a=view&d=4380 ExxonMobil '04 Worldwide contributions and community investments] 5th October 2007. Accessed 5th February 2009</ref>, $140,000 in 2005<ref>GreenPeace Investigations [http://research.greenpeaceusa.org/?a=view&d=4387 ExxonMobil Public Info and Policy Research 2005] 5th October 2007. Accessed 5th February 2009</ref> and $180,000 in 2006<ref>GreenPeace Investigations [http://research.greenpeaceusa.org/?a=view&d=4381 ExxonMobil '06 Contributions and Community Investments] 5th October 2007. Accessed 5th February 2009</ref>.
 
   
 
   
[[George Landrith]], President of FoF told the ''New York Times'': “They've determined that we are effective at what we do”, He said [[Exxon]] essentially took the attitude, “We like to make it possible to do more of that[3]”.
+
[[George Landrith]], President of FoF told the ''New York Times'': “They've determined that we are effective at what we do”, He said [[Exxon]] essentially took the attitude, “We like to make it possible to do more of that <ref> J. Lee, “Exxon Backs Groups That Question Global Warming”, The New York Times, 28 May 2003, p5 </ref>”.
  
FoF has also received some $388,450 in 13 grants from the following five conservative foundations[4]:
+
FoF has also received some $388,450 in 13 grants from the following five conservative foundations<ref> J. Lee, “Exxon Backs Groups That Question Global Warming”, The New York Times, 28 May 2003, p5 </ref>:
  
 
*[[Earhart Foundation]]  
 
*[[Earhart Foundation]]  
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==Principals==
 
==Principals==
  
Malcolm Wallop – The Founder of FOF. Republican Senator from 1977-1995. Wallop continues to have close connections to the current Republican Administration. He is seen as a friend of current Vice-president Dick Cheney, and Donald Rumsfeld has spoken at FoF conferences. Freedom staff have been invited to private briefings with President Bush on issues such as Kyoto.
+
*[[Malcolm Wallop]] – The Founder of FOF. Republican Senator from 1977-1995. Wallop continues to have close connections to the current Republican Administration. He is seen as a friend of current Vice-president [[Dick Cheney]], and [[Donald Rumsfeld]] has spoken at FoF conferences. Freedom staff have been invited to private briefings with President Bush on issues such as Kyoto.  
 
 
Wallop himself is an ultra conservative rancher from Wyoming, who works on tax reform, federal deregulation, energy policy, private property rights, and national defense. He is also a die-hard opponent of gun control. One of his nicknames amongst green activists is “strip-mine”.
 
 
 
Wallop sits on the boards of Hubbell, Inc, El Paso Energy Company, and Sheridan State Bank[5]. In the 2003 Senate lobbying records, [[Malcolm Wallop]] is a registered lobbyist for [[Sherritt International]], receiving $60,000 for the first six-month lobbying period. Sherritt is a diversified Canadian natural resource company that operates in Canada, Cuba and internationally[6]. He also listed as the lobbyist (actually he is Chairman) for the [[Western Strategy Group]], working for Belle Haven Consultants[7]. 
 
 
 
The [[Western Strategy Group]] is a New York- and Washington, D.C.-based public relations and government affairs firm. In 2002, Western Strategy undertook a due diligence exercise on behalf of the Itera Group of Companies, which are a privately held conglomerate with 80 percent of its principal activity in natural gas production, transportation and marketing. The company controls natural gas reserves half the size of ExxonMobil’s[8]. In 1999, [[Western Strategy Group]]’s clients included Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev, under attack about human rights abuses and lack of democracy[9].
 
 
 
Wallop spoke at the 1997 Wise Use Fly-in for Freedom along with Republican Richard Pombo. Also that year, Ebell is given as the press contact at Frontiers of Freedom for the launch of Ron Arnold’s book “Ecoterror – the Violent Agenda to Save Nature”, issued by the Centre for the Defence of Fee Enterprise. In 2001 FoF held another “Eco-Terror” conference with Ron Arnold.
 
 
 
George C. Landrith - President . Landrith was a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's Fifth Congressional District.
 
 
 
Jason Wright - Vice President. Challenged Rep. Christopher Cannon for the GOP nomination for Congress in Utah's 3rd District.  
 
  
[[Kerri Houston]] - Vice President of Policy
+
Wallop is a former Board member of [[Hubbell Inc.]], [[El Paso Energy Company]] and [[Sheridan State Bank]]. In and out of office he has concentrated on areas relating to tax reform, federal deregulation, energy policy, private property rights, and national defense<ref>Frontiers of Freedom [http://www.ff.org/index.php?id=19&option=com_content&task=view Meet Our Founder] Accessed 22nd January 2009</ref>.
[[Kimberly A. Martin]] - Director of Development
 
[[Amanda E. Telford]] - Director of Operations
 
  
[[Paul Driessen]] - from Ron Arnold’s Center for defence of Free Enterprise is also an adjunct fellow at the Atlas Economic Research Foundation, Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) and Frontiers of Freedom Institute[10].  
+
*[[George C. Landrith]] - President . Landrith was a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's Fifth Congressional District.
 
+
*[[Jason Wright]] - Vice President. Challenged Rep. Christopher Cannon for the GOP nomination for Congress in Utah's 3rd District.
Dr. [[S. Fred Singer]] - Adjunct Fellow.  One of the world’s leading climate sceptics. President of the Science & Environmental Policy Project and member of ESEF (see below).
+
*[[Kerri Houston]] - Vice President of Policy
 
+
*[[Kimberly A. Martin]] - Director of Development
Christopher C. Horner - Senior Adjunct Fellow. Horner serves as Counsel to the climate sceptic coalition called the Cooler Heads Coalition, of which Frontiers of Freedom is an active member. He is also an adjunct policy analyst at the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI).  
+
*[[Amanda E. Telford]] - Director of Operations
 +
*[[Paul Driessen]] - from [[Ron Arnold]]’s [[Center for defence of Free Enterprise]] is also an adjunct fellow at the [[Atlas Economic Research Foundation]], [[Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow]] (CFACT) and [[Frontiers of Freedom Institute]]<ref> Frontiers of Freedom [http://www.cdfe.org/Paul.htm. Paul Driessen], page now removed. </ref>
 +
*Dr. [[S. Fred Singer]] - Adjunct Fellow.  One of the world’s leading climate sceptics. President of the [[Science & Environmental Policy Project]] and member of [[ESEF]] (see below).
 +
*[[Christopher C. Horner]] - Senior Adjunct Fellow. Horner serves as Counsel to the climate sceptic coalition called the [[Cooler Heads Coalition]], of which [[Frontiers of Freedom]] is an active member. He is also an adjunct policy analyst at the [[Competitive Enterprise Institute]] (CEI).
  
 
== Issues ==
 
== Issues ==
 
   
 
   
National Defence – Committed to a strong national defence and need for a missile defense system
+
*'''National Defence''' – Committed to a strong national defence and need for a missile defense system
 
+
*'''Energy Policy''' – FOF “is committed to advancing the need for a sensible comprehensive energy policy that includes coal, gas, oil, hydro- and nuclear energies”.
Energy Policy – FOF “is committed to advancing the need for a sensible comprehensive energy policy that includes coal, gas, oil, hydro- and nuclear energies”.
+
*'''Climate Change''' - FoF describes itself as an “international leader in combating the proliferation of politicized and sensationalized “science” about global climate change”. Leading opponent of the Kyoto Protocol and a member of the Cooler Heads Coalition (see CEI).
 
+
*'''CAFÉ Standards''' – Against increasing fuel efficiency standards
Climate Change - FoF describes itself as an “international leader in combating the proliferation of politicized and sensationalized “science” about global climate change”. Leading opponent of the Kyoto Protocol and a member of the Cooler Heads Coalition (see CEI).
+
*'''Endangered Species Act''' – For reform of the ESA
 +
*'''Environment''' - Aggressively trying to undermine tax deductible status of Environmental NGOs.
  
CAFÉ Standards – Against increasing fuel efficiency standards
+
=== Climate ===
  
Endangered Species Act – For reform of the ESA
+
[[Myron Ebell]] who is one of the US’s leading political climate sceptics at the [[Competitive Enterprise Institute]], worked at [[FoF]] from early 1996-99. At the [[CEI]] Ebell chairs the [[Cooler Heads Coalition]], of which FoF is a member. [[Frontiers of Freedom]] is also a joint signatory on [[CEI]] letters on climate along with many right wing and wise use groups. [[Christopher Horner]], a Senior Fellow at [[FoF]] is also an adjunct policy analyst at the [[Competitive Enterprise Institute]](CEI).
  
Environment - Aggressively trying to undermine tax deductible status of Environmental NGOs (see below
+
But FoF has a history of working on climate issues in its own right. In August 1997, FOF, organised a Countdown to Kyoto conference in Canberra in conjunction with the Australian APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation) Centre. According to Australian newspapers, its aim was to "bolster support" for the government's increasingly isolated position on global warming in preparation for Kyoto <ref> Beder, S, Vidal, J and Brown, P., “Who killed the Kyoto summit”? The Guardian, 7 December 1997.</ref>
  
Climate
+
It was attended by, amongst others, the Australian Deputy Prime Minister [[Tim Fischer]] and Environment Minister [[Robert Hill]], Wallop and Senator Chuck Hagel, the co-sponsor of a Senate resolution advising then President Bill Clinton that any agreement seen to harm United States economic interests should be abandoned and would not be supported by the Senate.
  
Myron Ebell who is one of the US’s leading political climate sceptics at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, worked at FoF from early 1996-99. At the CEI Ebell chairs the Cooler Heads Coalition, of which FoF is a member. Frontiers of Freedom is also a joint signatory on CEI letters on climate along with many right wing and wise use groups. Christopher Horner, a Senior Fellow at FOF is also an adjunct policy analyst at the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI).
+
Also in attendance were [[John Dingell]], D-Mich and the climate sceptics Professor Patrick Michaels, Professor John Christy and Cornell University professor [[Jeremy Rabkin]] who noted that it was Kyoto’s intention to “create a international super-agency that not only possesses police powers sufficiently strong to bring miscreant countries to heel, but also wisdom enough to run the world economy.”<ref> Frontiers of Freedom, [http://www.ff.org/about/ website] </ref>
  
But FOF has a history of working on climate issues in its own right. In August 1997, FOF, organised a Countdown to Kyoto conference in Canberra in conjunction with the Australian APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation) Centre. According to Australian newspapers, its aim was to "bolster support" for the government's increasingly isolated position on global warming in preparation for Kyoto[11].
+
In 2002, FOF held a briefing at the National Press Club with the [[Cooler Heads Coalition]], entitled: Experts Discuss Why United States Should Withdraw Its Signature From Kyoto; Whatever Happened To Global Warming Anyway. Wallop spoke, so did [[Fred Singer]], [[John Daly]], a climate sceptic from Australia, and Christopher Horner, from the FoF / CEI. <ref> US NewsWire “Experts Discuss Why United States Should Withdraw Its Signature From Kyoto; Whatever Happened To Global Warming Anyway”? 14 May 2002.</ref> The year before the FOF had held another symposium that argued that "there is no significant man-induced global warming.”<ref> Associated Press “Uw Professor At Heart Of Debate, But Has Enough Confidence To Buy On The Beach”, 17 April 2000. </ref>
 
 
It was attended by, amongst others, the Australian Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer and Environment Minister Robert Hill, Wallop and Senator Chuck Hagel, the co-sponsor of a Senate resolution advising then President Bill Clinton that any agreement seen to harm United States economic interests should be abandoned and would not be supported by the Senate.
 
 
 
Also in attendance were John Dingell, D-Mich and the climate sceptics Professor Patrick Michaels, Professor John Christy and Cornell University professor Jeremy Rabkin who noted that it was Kyoto’s intention to “create a international super-agency that not only possesses police powers sufficiently strong to bring miscreant countries to heel, but also wisdom enough to run the world economy.”[12]
 
 
 
In 2002, FOF held a briefing at the National Press Club with the Cooler Heads Coalition, entitled: Experts Discuss Why United States Should Withdraw Its Signature From Kyoto; Whatever Happened To Global Warming Anyway. Wallop spoke, so did Fred Singer, John Daly, a climate sceptic from Australia, and Christopher. Horner, from the FoF / CEI[13]. The year before the FOF had held another symposium that argued that "there is no significant man-induced global warming[14].”
 
  
 
==Contact==  
 
==Contact==  
Line 78: Line 65:
 
*'''Web address:''' http://www.ff.org.
 
*'''Web address:''' http://www.ff.org.
  
==References==
+
==Notes==
 +
<references/>
 +
 
  
*[1] http://www.ff.org/about/
+
[[Category:Think Tanks]]
*[2] J. Lee (2003) “Exxon Backs Groups That Question Global Warming”, The New York Times, 28 May, p5
+
[[Category:Climate Change Sceptics]]
*[3] J. Lee (2003) “Exxon Backs Groups That Question Global Warming”, The New York Times, 28 May, p5
 
*[4] http://www.mediatransparency.org/search_results/info_on_any_recipient.php?133
 
*[5] http://www.ff.org/about/mwbio.html
 
*[6] http://sopr.senate.gov/cgi-win/opr_gifviewer.exe?/2003/01/000/392/000392281|2
 
*[7] http://sopr.senate.gov/cgi-win/opr_gifviewer.exe?/2003/01/000/392/000392278|2
 
*[8] PR Newswire (2002) “Western Strategy Group Announces Completion of Due Diligence Investigation for ITERA Executives”, New York, 5 February.
 
*[9] J. Matloff (1999) “Oil - or Rights - in Central Asia?”, Christian Science Monitor, 15 January, p6
 
*[10] www.cdfe.org/Paul.htm
 
*[11]  Beder, S, Vidal, J and Brown, P (1997) “Who killed the Kyoto summit”? The Guardian, 7 December.
 
*[12] A. Chase (1997) “Why Are We Rushing Like Lemmings To Kyoto?” Anchorage Daily News, 8 November; S. Evans (1997) “Greenhouse Gas Debate Heats Up”, The Dominion, Wellington, 3 November.
 
*[13] US NewsWire (2002) “Experts Discuss Why United States Should Withdraw Its Signature From Kyoto; Whatever Happened To Global Warming Anyway”? 14 May.
 
*[14] Associated Press (2000) “Uw Professor At Heart Of Debate, But Has Enough Confidence To Buy On The Beach”, 17 April.
 

Latest revision as of 12:00, 5 October 2010

Frontiers of Freedom was founded by ex-Republican Senator Malcolm Wallop in 1996, immediately after he retired from the Senate. The right-wing think tank describes itself as “a cutting-edge, forward-looking policy group advancing center-right principles in today's fast-paced news and information age. We work with grassroots activists throughout the country to protect private property rights, secure our national security, and promote sensible public policies critical to our country's liberty”[1]

In its mission statement, Frontiers of Freedom called itself "the antithesis to the Sierra Club and Vice President Al Gore's Earth in the Balance":

Frontiers works to advance States' rights, protect property rights, privatize Social Security, defend first amendment civil liberties, and among other efforts to reform the federal tax code, the Endangered Species Act, and the Food and Drug Administration.[2]

It is an often overlooked but key player in the anti-green backlash.

Funding

Frontiers of Freedom receives money from tobacco and oil companies, including Philip Morris Co, ExxonMobil and RJ Reynolds Tobacco. According to the New York Times: “Frontiers of Freedom, which has about a $700,000 annual budget, received $230,000 from Exxon in 2002, up from $40,000 in 2001, according to Exxon documents” [3]. In 2003, Exxon gave FoF $195,000[4], $250,000 in 2004[5], $140,000 in 2005[6] and $180,000 in 2006[7].

George Landrith, President of FoF told the New York Times: “They've determined that we are effective at what we do”, He said Exxon essentially took the attitude, “We like to make it possible to do more of that [8]”.

FoF has also received some $388,450 in 13 grants from the following five conservative foundations[9]:

Principals

  • Malcolm Wallop – The Founder of FOF. Republican Senator from 1977-1995. Wallop continues to have close connections to the current Republican Administration. He is seen as a friend of current Vice-president Dick Cheney, and Donald Rumsfeld has spoken at FoF conferences. Freedom staff have been invited to private briefings with President Bush on issues such as Kyoto.

Wallop is a former Board member of Hubbell Inc., El Paso Energy Company and Sheridan State Bank. In and out of office he has concentrated on areas relating to tax reform, federal deregulation, energy policy, private property rights, and national defense[10].

Issues

  • National Defence – Committed to a strong national defence and need for a missile defense system
  • Energy Policy – FOF “is committed to advancing the need for a sensible comprehensive energy policy that includes coal, gas, oil, hydro- and nuclear energies”.
  • Climate Change - FoF describes itself as an “international leader in combating the proliferation of politicized and sensationalized “science” about global climate change”. Leading opponent of the Kyoto Protocol and a member of the Cooler Heads Coalition (see CEI).
  • CAFÉ Standards – Against increasing fuel efficiency standards
  • Endangered Species Act – For reform of the ESA
  • Environment - Aggressively trying to undermine tax deductible status of Environmental NGOs.

Climate

Myron Ebell who is one of the US’s leading political climate sceptics at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, worked at FoF from early 1996-99. At the CEI Ebell chairs the Cooler Heads Coalition, of which FoF is a member. Frontiers of Freedom is also a joint signatory on CEI letters on climate along with many right wing and wise use groups. Christopher Horner, a Senior Fellow at FoF is also an adjunct policy analyst at the Competitive Enterprise Institute(CEI).

But FoF has a history of working on climate issues in its own right. In August 1997, FOF, organised a Countdown to Kyoto conference in Canberra in conjunction with the Australian APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation) Centre. According to Australian newspapers, its aim was to "bolster support" for the government's increasingly isolated position on global warming in preparation for Kyoto [12]

It was attended by, amongst others, the Australian Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer and Environment Minister Robert Hill, Wallop and Senator Chuck Hagel, the co-sponsor of a Senate resolution advising then President Bill Clinton that any agreement seen to harm United States economic interests should be abandoned and would not be supported by the Senate.

Also in attendance were John Dingell, D-Mich and the climate sceptics Professor Patrick Michaels, Professor John Christy and Cornell University professor Jeremy Rabkin who noted that it was Kyoto’s intention to “create a international super-agency that not only possesses police powers sufficiently strong to bring miscreant countries to heel, but also wisdom enough to run the world economy.”[13]

In 2002, FOF held a briefing at the National Press Club with the Cooler Heads Coalition, entitled: Experts Discuss Why United States Should Withdraw Its Signature From Kyoto; Whatever Happened To Global Warming Anyway. Wallop spoke, so did Fred Singer, John Daly, a climate sceptic from Australia, and Christopher Horner, from the FoF / CEI. [14] The year before the FOF had held another symposium that argued that "there is no significant man-induced global warming.”[15]

Contact

  • Address:
  • 12011 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway
  • 3rd Floor (Suite 310)
  • Fairfax, Virginia 22033

Notes

  1. Jason Wright of Frontiers of Freedom, From: Jason Wright of Frontiers of Freedom, Science Blog, 11/6/2003, accessed 16 Mar 2010
  2. ExxonMobil emerges as major funder of greenhouse skeptics, The Heat is Online website, accessed 16 Mar 2010
  3. J. Lee, “Exxon Backs Groups That Question Global Warming”, The New York Times, 28 May 2003, p5
  4. GreenPeace Investigations ExxonMobil Public Information and Policy Research 2003 5th October 2007. Accessed 5th February 2009
  5. GreenPeace Investigation ExxonMobil '04 Worldwide contributions and community investments 5th October 2007. Accessed 5th February 2009
  6. GreenPeace Investigations ExxonMobil Public Info and Policy Research 2005 5th October 2007. Accessed 5th February 2009
  7. GreenPeace Investigations ExxonMobil '06 Contributions and Community Investments 5th October 2007. Accessed 5th February 2009
  8. J. Lee, “Exxon Backs Groups That Question Global Warming”, The New York Times, 28 May 2003, p5
  9. J. Lee, “Exxon Backs Groups That Question Global Warming”, The New York Times, 28 May 2003, p5
  10. Frontiers of Freedom Meet Our Founder Accessed 22nd January 2009
  11. Frontiers of Freedom Paul Driessen, page now removed.
  12. Beder, S, Vidal, J and Brown, P., “Who killed the Kyoto summit”? The Guardian, 7 December 1997.
  13. Frontiers of Freedom, website
  14. US NewsWire “Experts Discuss Why United States Should Withdraw Its Signature From Kyoto; Whatever Happened To Global Warming Anyway”? 14 May 2002.
  15. Associated Press “Uw Professor At Heart Of Debate, But Has Enough Confidence To Buy On The Beach”, 17 April 2000.