Science Museum climate sceptic exhibition sponsored by Big Oil

Yesterday The Times reported plans by the Science Museum to change the name of its exhibition on climate change in response to a perceived increase in public scepticism about the science of global warming.

The report said that:

“The museum is abandoning its previous practice of trying to persuade visitors of the dangers of global warming. It is instead adopting a neutral position, acknowledging that there are legitimate doubts about the impact of man-made emissions on the climate.”

Museum director, Professor Chris Rapley, told The Times:

“The Science Museum will not state a position on whether or not climate change is real, driven by humans or threatening.”

This was quickly seized upon by the most prominent climate denial websites.

Left Foot Forward now understands that the exhibition in question is sponsored by Shell, one of the biggest oil companies in the world and one of the most controversial multinationals in large part due to its climate wrecking practises and disinformation campaigns about climate science.

In the United States, Shell is part of the American Petroleum Institute, the organisation leading the campaign to peddle anti-science propaganda, and to orchestrate “astroturfing” “fake grassroots” campaigns against Obama’s clean energy reforms and the regulation of greenhouse gases.

In Canada, Shell is producing tar sands – the dirtiest oil there is, whilst here it is pulling out of renewable schemes. You have to ask: Is the Science Museum really representing the real scientific community, or pandering to the wishes of their corporate sponsors?

http://twitter.com/zliv/status/11036408762 Zoe J

RT @leftfootfwd: Science Museum climate sceptic exhibition sponsored by Big Oil: http://bit.ly/dwcVEf
http://twitter.com/f8vnz/status/11036421319 Philip Painter

RT @leftfootfwd: Science Museum climate sceptic exhibition sponsored by Big Oil: http://bit.ly/dwcVEf
http://twitter.com/andrewtindall/status/11036544596 Andrew Tindall

RT @leftfootfwd: Science Museum climate sceptic exhibition sponsored by Big Oil: http://bit.ly/dwcVEf
Mr. Sensible

Joss that is all that makes up the sceptics’ ‘case.’
http://twitter.com/twoseventwo/status/11037505816 Two Seven Two

Would we let the tobacco industry fund museum exhibits about the safety of their products? RT @leftfootfwd http://bit.ly/dwcVEf
http://twitter.com/victohenry/status/11037816390 Victoria Henry

Science Museum renames climate change exhibition, takes a "neutral" position. Oh and it's sponsored by Shell http://bit.ly/9aZ6d1 WTF
http://twitter.com/chris_coltrane/status/11038065796 Chris Coltrane

Science Museum renames climate change exhibition, takes a "neutral" position. Oh, and it's sponsored by Shell http://bit.ly/9aZ6d1
http://twitter.com/shrinkydinky/status/11038325319 Jamie

RT @victohenry: Science Museum renames climate change exhibition, takes a "neutral" position. Oh and it's sponsored by Shell http://bit.ly/9aZ6d1 WTF
Konnolsky

Here in my butcher’s shop in Smollensk my assistant Yuri is very puzzle about climates change. “Boss,” he is say “How can be any climate changings. Smollensk is always f*cking freezing.” I am agreement him, though smack ignorant head for swear. It is cold here, has always been cold here, and will always be cold here. Advantage is no need for fridge in shop.

So perhaps Shells is have point. Last year, I am go exhibition of climate changes at Smollensky Museum. Is sponsor by Big Oleg, he local oligarch, rich in oil and gas, and he provide my protection and that for most small business in Smollensk. It prove conclusive that climate change is invent by conspiracy of CIA, Ukraine and Poland in attempt force energy diversifyings and bankrupt Russia.

So you should be happiness with your Science Museum, which is show great lead against Western Imperialist puppet Al Gore and his Inconvenient Tooth. Though Yuri says hope Gore right as then shop become warm. He is ask for it now!
http://twitter.com/garydunion/status/11038811422 Gary Dunion

"Public scepticism" = huge pile of cash. Shell literally buys climate doubt from SciMus http://bit.ly/9aZ6d1 (Ta @chriscoltrane @victohenry)
Liz McShane

Konnolsky – you would definitely give Borat/Sacha Baron Cohen a run for his money! Do you drive a Trabant?
http://twitter.com/garydunion/status/11039169489 Gary Dunion

Correction: last link via @chris_coltrane. I'M STILL VERY ANGRY ABOUT IT, BTW. http://bit.ly/9aZ6d1
Konnolsky

No. Is mint conditions 1999 Mercedes Benz. Big Oleg give for present (I hide gun for him once in cow rectum). I only pay him 100 roubles per month for car on top of protection monies. He very flexible and only want shop and house if payments late. He promise leave knee caps alone.
http://twitter.com/hannahnicklin/status/11039567551 hannahnicklin

RT @chris_coltrane: Science Museum renames climate change exhibition, a "neutral" position. Oh, it's sponsored by Shell http://bit.ly/9aZ6d1
http://twitter.com/ilovewestleeds/status/11039716421 Jane Earnshaw

RT @hannahnicklin: RT @chris_coltrane: Science Museum renames climate change exhibition, a "neutral" position. Oh, it's sponsored by Shell http://bit.ly/9aZ6d1
Liz McShane

Konnolsky – when is you next gig at the comedy club?
http://twitter.com/abi281/status/11039892020 Abi S

RT @chris_coltrane: Science Museum renames climate change exhibition, takes a "neutral" position. Oh, and it's sponsored by Shell http://bit.ly/9aZ6d1
http://twitter.com/luluartist/status/11040152857 Lucy Bannister

Very disappointed in the Science Museum;Shell sponsored #climate exhibition renamed 2 b 'neutral' http://bit.ly/9aZ6d1 (via @chris_coltrane)
http://twitter.com/allyd70/status/11042013642 Allan Douglas

RT @josiefraser: Science Museum climate sceptic exhibition sponsored by Shell RT @hannahnicklin RT @chris_coltrane: http://bit.ly/9aZ6d1
http://twitter.com/burntturnip/status/11042261887 Liam B….bad joke

Science Museum renames climate change exhibition, takes "neutral" position. Sponsors? Shell http://bit.ly/9aZ6d1 Et tu, er, Science Museum
http://twitter.com/chickenings/status/11044780334 Kyra Ings

RT @josiefraser: Science Museum climate sceptic exhibition sponsored by Shell RT @hannahnicklin RT @chris_coltrane: http://bit.ly/9aZ6d1
http://twitter.com/ving_faction/status/11046015146 Ving Faction

Science Museum climate sceptic exhibition sponsored by Big Oil http://j.mp/bvRGKi
http://twitter.com/illystraight/status/11046612081 karen harvill

RT @hannahnicklin: Science Museum renames climate change exhibition, a "neutral" position. Oh, it's sponsored by Shell http://bit.ly/9aZ6d1
Josh

Oh behave you silly boys. Oil companies have funded environmental causes too. The Guardian’s Environment page is sponsored by Shell. But you have to remember, rational, objective science does not matter to the global warming alarmists. The universities do not give research grants to sceptics. It is all piled into those ‘who believe.’ We have to get our funding from somwhere, and if an oil company is allowed to fund global cooling deniers, they should be able to fund anthropogenic climate change sceptics. You claim to campaign against media manipulation, so I assume you campaign against manipulation of data. When one of the most important climate change research centres is manipulating data, and the IPCC is admitting errors left, right and centre, how can we trust you corrupt morons?
http://twitter.com/richardtrillo/status/11052512130 Richard Trillo

RT @leftfootfwd: Science Museum climate sceptic exhibition sponsored by Big Oil: http://bit.ly/dwcVEf <Eurrgh, depressing and sickening
http://twitter.com/audreydixon/status/11056150296 audrey dixon

RT @leftfootfwd: Science Museum climate sceptic exhibition sponsored by Big Oil: http://bit.ly/dwcVEf
Joss Garman

Joe Romm over at Climate Progress has done an excellent piece on this too that’s well worth checking out: http://climateprogress.org/2010/03/25/london-science-museum-climate-exhibit-rapley-shell-skeptics/#more-21862
http://twitter.com/ellispritchard/status/11058575392 ellispritchard

RT @chris_coltrane: Science Museum renames climate change exhibition, takes a "neutral" position. Oh, and it's sponsored by Shell http://bit.ly/9aZ6d1
http://twitter.com/pauldburgess/status/11065205320 Paul Burgess

Science Museum takes "neutral" stance on climate change following Shell sponsorship. http://bit.ly/9h0lod Appalling. Any ideas for protests?
http://twitter.com/beforethelaw/status/11065994791 Rob Smith

RT @BurntTurnip: Science Museum renames climate change exhibition, takes "neutral" position. Sponsors? Shell http://bit.ly/9aZ6d1 Et tu, er, Science Museum
http://twitter.com/mosmi/status/11083409834 Alan Morton-Smith

Bad form, @sciencemuseum. RT @leftfootfwd: Science Museum climate sceptic exhibition sponsored by Big Oil http://bit.ly/9aZ6d1
http://twitter.com/davidawoodward/status/11085214703 David Woodward

RT @leftfootfwd: Science Museum climate skeptic exhibition sponsored by Big Oil: http://bit.ly/dwcVEf
klem

You make it sound like this is something new. Yes the museuam is pandering to it’s financial supporters, just like any organization which requires funding from outside sources panders to it’s supporters. This is what they are supposed to do. They are concerned that they will not hit their numbers and run into financial trouble. You also make it sound like money from Big Oil is evil, implying that money from Big-Green is pure and saintly. Lol! Man you have a clear and simple view of the world.
http://twitter.com/frabcus/status/11097891204 Francis Irving

Shell paying the Science Museum to pretend that Climate Change isn't real? Seems so. http://bit.ly/9aZ6d1
http://twitter.com/qwghlm/status/11098164355 Chris Applegate

Utterly shameful: Science Museum refuse to take position whether global warming is real after getting money from Shell http://bit.ly/bGaiam
http://twitter.com/jakeg82/status/11098282010 Jake Gordon

RT @frabcus: Shell paying the Science Museum to pretend that Climate Change isn't real? Seems so. http://bit.ly/9aZ6d1
http://twitter.com/jenni_jackson/status/11098609389 Jenni Jackson

Tsk… Shell-sponsored Science Museum exhibition goes neutral on our part in global warming: http://twurl.nl/mrzftx
http://twitter.com/rptb1/status/11098675814 Richard Brooksby

RT @frabcus: Shell paying the Science Museum to pretend that Climate Change isn't real? Seems so. http://bit.ly/9aZ6d1
http://twitter.com/floppy/status/11098725217 James Smith

RT @frabcus: Shell paying the Science Museum to pretend that Climate Change isn't real? Seems so. http://bit.ly/9aZ6d1
http://twitter.com/paulgrahamraven/status/11098746994 Paul Graham Raven

*sigh* RT @qwghlm: Science Museum refuse to take position whether global warming is real after getting money from Shell http://bit.ly/bGaiam
http://twitter.com/brunns/status/11098771083 Simon Brunning

RT @qwghlm: Utterly shameful: Science Museum refuse to take position whether global warming is real http://bit.ly/bGaiam
http://twitter.com/barnetakela/status/11099571867 Graham Steed

RT @qwghlm: Utterly shameful: Science Museum refuse to take position whether global warming is real after getting money from Shell http://bit.ly/bGaiam
http://twitter.com/catspin/status/11099913467 Dave Parry

RT @qwghlm: Utterly shameful: Science Museum refuse to take position whether global warming is real after getting money from Shell http://bit.ly/bGaiam
James Grant

Why are you not starting a petition? (Or haven’t I looked carefully enough?)
Graeme Kemp

April Fool?!
http://twitter.com/rochelleh/status/11293091252 rochelle

RT @victohenry: Science Museum renames climate change exhibition, takes a "neutral" position. Oh and it's sponsored by Shell http://bit.ly/9aZ6d1 WTF
http://twitter.com/cl_green/status/11307485987 Creative Loafing

Science Museum plans climate skeptic exhibition sponsored by Big Oil (via @leftfootfwd) #green #climatechange http://bit.ly/cpqOvW
http://twitter.com/gerbilmark/status/11481969713 mark pryke

@Greenpeace Science Museum climate sceptic exhibition sponsored by Shell: http://tinyurl.com/yjqxhjl #Shell