Dr. Sears, Monarchs, Bt corn

[Chip Taylor]

Paul Cherubini has provided us with another misrepresentation. None 
of the monies from either of the two projects cited below are used to 
support research by the scientists who promote these projects. The 
text cited below is not part of our promotional material for Adopt A 
Classroom. In addition to spending their unpaid time on these small 
efforts to stabilize conditions in Mexico, each of the scientists 
contribute their own funds to support these projects.  A complete 
accounting of the Adopt A Classroom expenditures can be found on our 
web site www.MonarchWatch.org. The research grants cited in the 
financial statement for the Scantuary Foundation were made to young 
Mexican scientists in support of their research on monarchs in the 
overwintering colonies. These small grants are an investment in 
education, an attempt to help Mexico develop its own cadre of 
scientists. As an annual contributor to this foundation, I support 
this effort.

Given the magnitude of the problems in Mexico, neither of these small 
projects, both of which are certain to get larger, is likely to have 
major impact. Nevertheless, the efforts of scientists and others who 
spend their own time and money to support these projects are certain 
to have a positive impact. Such an impact, even a small one, can be 
important in establishing the communication and good will necessary 
for a collaborative effort to conserve the watersheds, the forests 
and the monarchs in these mountains.

Chip Taylor
Monarch Watch

>
>Ron, below is a good example: (capitals my emphasis). Unless one
>reads this tear jerker ad carefully, they'd think they are sending money
>that would go directly to impoverished Mexican people. But as you
>can see the donations are really going to finance the butterfly research
>interests of American scientists:
>
>Linda Rogers wrote:
>
>"Below is a description of the Monarch Watch Program's
>"Adopt a Classroom"Project to aid the families and children in villages
>adjacent to the overwintering sites.  For more information, see
>the Monarch Watch website at www.monarchwatch.org.
>This special work INDIRECTLY HELPS preserve the forests while
>directly aiding the impoverished citizens.  So, if you'd like
>to SUPPORT THE TAGGING EFFORTS AND MIGRATION
>STUDIES; DONATE FUNDS and/orsupplies to extremely needy
>children; and help protect the forests you can do all of these things.
>Your concern and CONTRIBUTIONS will go to into a RESEARCH
>PROGRAM that has a built-in protection for the butterflies and
>forests in its sister project that contributes to the lives of the local
>citizens."
>
>And below another example of a monarch conservation foundation
>where ones donations are actually going to finance the butterfly research
>interests of American scientists (and not going to grow and plant trees):
>
>MONARCH BUTTERFLY SANCTUARY FOUNDATION
>" dedicated to preserving the monarch overwintering grounds
>    in Mexico "
>
>                1999 FINANCIAL STATEMENT
>
>  Total Income                                               $45,860.33
> 
>                                                                                                                              
>  Project Outflows:
>
>  1. World Wildlife Fund, Mexico                 $10,000.00
>  2. Mexico City Office Expenses                    $7,583.29
>  3. Research Grants                                        $5,000.00
>  4. Environmental Education Project               $1,127.00
>  5. Baskets*                                                    $1,230.00
> 
>                                                                                                                                   
>  Total Project Outflows:                                $24,940.29
> 
>                                                                                                                       
>  Operating/Fundraising Expenses                       $264.00
>  T-shirts**                                                          $896.00
>  Legal Fees/Tax Preparation                               $588.00
>  Certificates                                                          $65.00
>  Butterfly Gardens                                              $300.00
> 
>                                                                                                                                     
>  Total                                                               $2,113.00
> 
>                                                                                                                                
>Total Expenditures:                                        $27,053.29
> 
>                                                                                                                              
>Carry-over to 2000:                                       $18,807.10
> 
>                                                                                                                             
>  *Baskets are made by Ejido women
>  **T-shirts are used as premiums for donors

-- 

Monarch Watch
Email: monarch at ukans.edu
WWW: http://www.MonarchWatch.org/
Dplex-L: send message "info Dplex-L" to Listproc at ukans.edu
Phone: 1 (888) TAGGING (toll-free!) -or- 1 (785) 864 4441
Fax: 1 (785) 864 4441 -or- 1 (785) 864 5321
Snail: Entomology Program, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence KS 66045-7534