Recent media publications by Energy Probe (particularly Tom Adams) maintain and even increase their tradition of unethical behavoir.
But unlike EP & TA, some professional environmental organizations do have a code of ethics.
Its instructive to compare theory to (bleak) reality.
One example is the National Association of Environmental Professionals (http://www.naep.org/ethics.html).
A few quotes :
Ethics
As an Environmental Professional I will:
not engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation or discrimination. [such as taking quotes out of context or ignoring data which invalidates public statements ]
........
be personally responsible for the validity of all data collected, analyses performed, or plans developed by me or under my direction. I will be responsible and ethical in my professional activities. [ ie. not basing analyses on outdated or invalid data ]
.......
examine all of my relationships or actions which could be legitimately interpreted as a conflict of interest by clients, officials, the public or peers. In any instance where I have a financial or personal interest in the activities with which they are directly or indirectly involved, I will make a full disclosure of that interest to my employer, client, or other affected parties. [ such as EP financing by oil & gas companies ]
........
not accept fees wholly or partially contingent on the client's desired result where that desired result conflicts with my professional judgement. [ ie. desired results like dismissing energy options other than fossil fuels ]
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Similarly, the CODE OF ETHICS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISTS, at http://www.oneworld.org/slejf/ethics.htm, includes the following :
4. The journalists should not be influenced on these issues by vested interests - whether they are commercial, political, and government or non-governmental. The journalist ought to keep a distance from such interests and not ally with them. As a rule journalists should report all sides in any environmental controversy. [ie. EP's subservience to the fossil-fuel industry ]
5. The journalist should as far as possible cite sources of information and avoid alarmist or speculative reportage and tendentious comment. He or she should crosscheck the authenticity of a source, whether commercial, official or non-governmental. [ooops -- this is EP's bread & butter... better ignore ethics...]
8. The environmental journalist should not hesitate to correct information that he or she previously believed was correct, or to tilt the balance of public opinion by analysis in the light of subsequent developments. [ contrast with EP's habit of sticking with old BS no matter what...]
Since the National Post regularly prints the EP/TA trash, they evidently don't care about ethics either.
My personal opinion only.
Jaro
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