Changes

'''GreenFacts''' (formerly '''GreenFacts Foundation''', sometimes misspelled "Green Facts") is a Brussels-based non-profit organization that was created founded in 2001 with funding from the Belgian chemical and pharmaceutical company [[Solvay]]. It also claims to be "an independent, non-advocacy, multi-stakeholder non-profit organization based in Brussels. Its mission is to provide non-specialists with unbiased and accessible scientific information on environment and health matters."<ref> [http://about.greenfacts.org/pressroom/press-releases/2005/050330-QnA-ecosystems.doc Q&As about the GreenFacts study on Ecosystem Change], appendix to a 30 March 2005 press release</ref> Early on in its history, GreenFacts stated that one of its goals "is to ensure that science can serve as a common ground between the different actors in the debate. If stakeholders from civil society, green NGOs and industry can agree on basic scientific facts, then debates on environment and health issues can be more rational, leading to sounder policies. This requires that Green-Facts can embrace all stakeholders in its organization, without its [industry] funding being an obstacle." <ref name="2003 Annual Report"/> Diversification of its funding source, the organization later stated, was "needed to consolidate our credibility."<ref name="2005 Annual Report"/> ==Genesis== The concept of GreenFacts was developed in 2000 by [[Jacques de Selliers]] and [[Jacques de Gerlache]]. At the time de Selliers worked as a research engineer in [[Solvay]]'s plastics process division<ref>Email to Bob Burton, December 7, 2007.</ref> while de Gerlache, who had worked as a toxicologist for the company, is now responsible for its Health, Safety and Environment Corporate Communications.<ref>Solvay, [http://www.solvay.com/services/contacts/communications/0,,10687-2-0,00.htm "Communications"], accessed December 14, 2007.</ref> The pair put a proposal to the company for three year funding of the proposed foundation. "Such a commitment was necessary to ensure that Green-Facts could develop properly without any financial risks or insecurity," the group later stated.<ref name="2002 Annual Report"/> GreenFacts was officially created in December 2001.<ref name="funding figures"> [http://about.greenfacts.org/funding/figures.htm "GreenFacts' Funding Figures and History"] accessed September 2007. </ref> "SOLVAY committed to support us for three years, a period after which we would have acquired sufficient recognition to diversify our income sources", GreenFacts states on its website.<ref>[http://about.greenfacts.org/organization/genesis.htm "Genesis - How and why GreenFacts was created"], accessed October 2007.</ref> "After establishing the management board structures at the end of 2001, work began on constructing the means for communicating science to non-specialists," it stated in its 2002 Annual Report.<ref name="2002 Annual Report">[http://about.greenfacts.org/organization/reports/annual/2002-Annual-Report.pdf "GreenFacts Foundation asbl Report 2002"], 2003.</ref> Aside for establishing the organisation, the initial focus was publishing an online summary of the [[IPCC]] Third Assessment Report on [[climate change]]<ref name="TAR Digest">[http://www.greenfacts.org/studies/climate_change/index.htm "GreenFacts' summary of the IPCC Third Assessment Report"]</ref> in October 2002. It now obtains over 40% also decided that subsequent reports would be on "power lines, endocrine disruptors, forestry, lead and cadmium." It's hope was that, in conjunction with the implementation of its web communications strategy, it would by the end of 2003 "be identified as a valuable reference point for non-specialists looking for reliable information on environmental and health issues."<ref name="2002 Annual Report"/> While Solvay had provided a commitment to three-year funding, GreenFacts aimed to diversify its income funding to "protect from the risk" of "misleading allegations that our financial contributors may influence our publications or bind us to defend specific interests."<ref name="funding rules">[http://about.greenfacts.org/funding/rules.htm GreenFacts' funding rules], accessed October 2007.</ref> Its strategy was to "structure a multi-sectored range of corporate members (with a larger number paying a more modest membership fee to create financial stability and remove the impression that the organization is representative of any particular industry or company)." The group's "long-term goal", it stated in its 2002 annual report, "to have corporate membership meeting 50% of the operational costs" with the remainder from other sources.<ref name="2002 Annual Report"/> From the outset, GreenFacts determined that all partner organizations - including sponsors and NGOs - were entitled to suggest topics to be summarized by GreenFacts and allowed to be involved in the "pre-reviewing of the first draft" of a summary of a report.<ref name="benefits to partners">[http://about.greenfacts.org/partners/benefits.htm "Benefits offered to all GreenFacts' Partners"]</ref>

According Solvay provided the initial three-years funding for GreenFacts.<ref name="funding">[http://about.greenfacts.org/funding/index.htm "GreenFacts funding"], accessed October 2007.</ref> The organization's 2002 annual return, which covered its first year and a half of operation, indicates that it received €137,646, all from Solvay. (This is approximately $US194,279 at October 2007 exchange rates.)<ref name="2002 Annual Report"/> In 2003 Solvay poured a further €210,000 into establishing the organisation and €231,000 in 2004.<ref name="2005 Annual Report"> GreenFacts, [http://about.greenfacts.org/organization/reports/annual/2005-Annual-Report.pdf "Annual Report 2005"], page 7.</ref> It continued to fund the organisation beyond its initial three-year start-up grant too. In 2005 the company contributed €64,000 and a further €51,000 in 2006.<ref name="2006 Annual Report">GreenFacts' [http://about.greenfacts.org/organization/reports/annual/2006-Annual-Report.pdf "2006 Annual Report"],2007, page 7.</ref> In the first four years of GreenFacts existence, Solvay contributed over €693,000 (just over $US1 million, without adjusting for inflation, at November 2007 exchange rate).<ref name="2006 Annual Report"/> In 2003 GreenFactsrather optimistically suggested that it might be able to diversify its income so that eventually it all come "from outside of industry funding." <ref name="2002 Annual Report"/> The organisation felt that a heavy reliance on industry funding had the potential to cripple the organisation' website s credibility and effectiveness. This was, it wrote in October 2007its 2003 annual report, "an important problem." "It is sometimes seen that critics of scientific information on health and environment issues turn their focus on the source of the funding when other arguments fail ... GreenFacts must ensure that the industrial part of its funding does not become an obstacle to the recognition of its publications and to the development of partnerships," GreenFacts stated. <ref name="2003 Annual Report"/> Despite concern about reliance on industry funding, GreenFacts remained essentially funded by Solvay and other industrial companies until 2004, because it was "not yet eligible for most government and institutions subsidies or foundation grants, and could generally not apply for calls and tenders issued by Public Authorities".<ref name="funding figures"/> In 2005, 42it diversified its funding sources and reduced its funding from the private sector to just less than 50% of its income. In 2006, GreenFacts' income was €509,922 (approximately $US714,000 at October 2007 exchange rates). <ref name="2006 Annual Report">[http://about.greenfacts.org/organization/reports/annual/2006-Annual-Report.pdf "GreenFacts asbl Annual Report 2006 "], 2007.</ref> In 2007, GreenFacts' income was €590,591.]].<ref name="2007 Annual Report">GreenFacts' [http://about.greenfacts.org/organization/reports/annual/2007-Annual-Report.pdf 2007 Annual Report], 2008</ref>  In 2003 GreenFacts attracted additional funding came from several private companies[[Ferrari Textiles Group]], includingspecifically thanking the company's CEO [[Romain Ferrari]].<ref name="2003 Annual Report">GreenFacts' [http:*//about.greenfacts.org/organization/reports/annual/2003-Annual-Report.pdf 2003 Annual Report], page 4.</ref>(While the amount is not specifically stated in the organization's annual report, it appears that Ferrari Textiles contribution was in the order of €5,000.)<ref name="funding figure"/> By 2005 the organization had attracted additional funding from [[Carrefour*]](a supermarket group), [[CEFIC ]] (the [[European Chemical Industry Council]], "jointly with [[Euro Chlor ]] and [[PlasticsEurope]]", the [[European Crop Protection Association]], [[GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals]], [[Proctor & Gamble]], [[Raffinerie Tirlemontoise]] (a sugar company)*, [[Suez]] and [[Total Petrochemicals]]. (Solvay and Ferrari Textilescontinued to support the organization as well).<ref name="2005 Annual Report"/> The following year, further corporate sponsors provided support - [[Cumerio]], [[DSM]], [[Floridienne]] and [[Umicore]].<ref name="2006 Annual Report"/>  *Raffinerie TirlemontoiseGreenFacts' strategy of aiming to gain income from public agencies is progressively yielding results. In 2005 only approximately €28,000 came from public agencies, with the organization listing IRSIB-IWOIB, "the Scientific Research and Innovation Institute of the Brussels-Capital region" and the Swiss government's [[Agency for Development and Co-operation]] (which contributed €18,986, €27,176 and €96,187 in 2005, 2006 and 2007 respectively). In 2006, GreenFacts attracted support from several additional public agencies - BELSPO (Belgian Science Policy), CBD (the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity), the Global Mechanism of the UNCCD (UN Convention to Combat Desertification), WHO ([[World Health Organization]]), FAO (UN [[Food and Agriculture Organization]]), UNEP-WCMC (World Conservation Monitoring Centre of the [[United Nations Environment Program]]), the Environment Directorate General of the [[European Commission]], and the [[World Bank]]. Despite the new supporters, public agencies contributed just over €40,000 in 2006, which represented just 8% of the organization's budget.<ref name="2006 Annual Report"/> In 2007, 46% of GreenFacts' €591,000 income came from the public sector, including €96,000 from the [[Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation]] and nearly €164,000 from contracts for various public agencies (including the Health and Consumer Safety Directorate General of the [[European Commission]]).<ref name="2007 Annual Report"/> GreenFacts also had limited success in gaining funding from foundations, with the Swiss foundation [[Harafi]] supporting the organization in 2005, 2006 and 2007. <ref name="2005 Annual Report"/><ref name="2006 Annual Report"/><ref name="2007 Annual Report"/> *GreenFacts claims it fully complied in 2006 and 2007 with its "funding rules", which include "we limit each corporate partner's contribution to a maximum of €50,000 per year, so that it does not form a too significant fraction of our annual income".<ref name="funding rules"/> While corporate funding of GreenFacts had declined as a ''percentage'' of the organization's income (from 100% in 2002 to 42% in 2006 and 41% in 2007), the total amount of corporate funding has grown substantially: it amounted to €213,000 in 2006 and €243,000 in 2007 (well up on Solvay's opening year grant of €137,000 and slightly larger than the chemical company's second year grant of €210,000 and third year grant of €231, 000).<ref name="funding figures"/> *Suez==Activities== GreenFacts states that its mission is "to bring complex scientific consensus reports on health and the environment to the reach of non-specialists."<ref name="mission statement">[http://about.greenfacts.org/organization/mission.htm "GreenFacts' "Mission Statement"], accessed October 2007.</ref>

The main stated activity of GreenFacts is the production publication of [http://www.greenfacts.org/en/index.htm "GreenFacts Digests"], which it describes as "clear and faithful summaries of important studiesexisting scientific reports on environmental and health topics". However<ref>GreenFacts, as outlined below[http://about.greenfacts.org/index.htm "About GreenFacts"], they accessed December 2007.</ref> Some of the leading scientific assessments summarized by GreenFacts are now also active in : * the 2001 and 2007 [[IPCC]] assessment reports on climate change<ref name="TAR Digest"/> <ref>[http://www.greenfacts.org/en/climate-change-ar4/index.htm "GreenFacts' summary of the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report"]</ref>, * the [[WHO]]-[[IPCS]] reports on endocrine disruptors<ref>[http://www.greenfacts.org/en/endocrine-disruptors/endocrine-disruptors.htm "GreenFacts' summary of the WHO-IPCS Assessment on Endocrine Disruptors"]</ref> and on dioxins<ref>[http://www.greenfacts.org/en/dioxins/index.htm "GreenFacts' summary of the WHO-IPCS Assessment on Dioxins"]</ref>, and * the [[Millennium Assessment]] synthesis reports on Ecosystems<ref>[http://www.greenfacts.org/en/ecosystems/index.htm "GreenFacts' summary of the Millennium Assessment synthesis report on Ecosystems"]</ref>, Biodiversity<ref>[http://www.greenfacts.org/en/biodiversity/index.htm "GreenFacts' summary of the Millennium Assessment synthesis report on Biodiversity"]</ref> and Desertification<ref>[http://www.greenfacts.org/en/desertification/index.htm "GreenFacts' summary of the policy debateMillennium Assessment synthesis report on Desertification"]</ref>.

==Who For each scientific assessment it summarizes, GreenFacts actually prepares two summaries, a long one and a short one, which are published together with the source report on the [http://www.greenfacts.org/en/index.htm "Digests" section of its website] under GreenFacts' copyrighted Three-Level Structure of increasing detail<ref>[http://about.greenfacts.org/publications/features.htm "GreenFacts Digests unique Features"]</ref>; this original web structure allows readers to easily navigate back and forth between the summaries and the source report. The Digest are originally published in English, most are translated into French and Spanish, and a growing number in German and/or Dutch. In 2006, GreenFacts?=also started publishing and widely distributing paper versions of some of its shorter summaries in several languages <ref name="print publications">[http://www.greenfacts.org/en/digests/leaflets/index.htm GreenFacts' Paper Summaries]</ref>. Some of these paper summaries were also translated into Chinese, Russian or Arabic.

In 2006, GreenFacts claims to bestarted producing, for the [[European Commission]], summaries of scientific reports of the Scientific Committees of the [http:"a multi//ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/index_en.htm European Commission's Directorate-stakeholderGeneral for Health and Consumer Protection], non-profit organizationwhich are published on the European Commission's website <ref> [http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/popularizing/popularizing_results_en.htm "Bringing the results of the Scientific Committees closer to the public"], based in Brussels, dedicated to providing non[[European Commission]]'s Website</ref> using GreenFacts' Three-specialists with unbiased scientific information Level Structure as well as on environment and health mattersthe [http://copublications.greenfacts.org/en/index.htm "Co-Publications"section of GreenFacts website].

It also claims In 2008, GreenFacts was contracted by [[Com+ alliance]]<ref>[http://www.complusalliance.org/ Com+ alliance website]</ref> to be a "nonprofit, non-advocacy organization based in Brussels, Belgium, composed produce the official summary of stakeholders in the environment [[United Nations]]' [[International Assessment of Agricultural Science and health debates Technology for Development]] (scientific institutions, NGOs and industrial groupsIAASTD).<ref name="Com+">[http://www.agassessment.org/ IAASTD website]</ref>

The use Once the topic for a Digest has been agreed on, a source report is selected by the GreenFacts Scientific Board amongst the recent available assessment reports.<ref>GreenFacts, [http://about.greenfacts.org/publications/digests.htm "GreenFacts Digests"], accessed December 2007.</ref> For each Digest, the President of the phrase 'stakeholders in [http://about.greenfacts.org/whos-who/scientific-board.NGOs' manages to imply htm Scientific Board] appoints a "Review Coordinator" from amongst the engagement Scientific Board members, in charge of NGOssupervising the "peer-review" process for this Digest. The Review Coordinator first selects at least three peer-reviewers, whilst described as "among the impartial scientific experts in fact it the field". Each "peer-reviewer" is only asked to evaluate the summaries and propose corrections on a peer-review form. <ref>[http://about.greenfacts.org/news/r-sb/sb-docs/peer_review_form.doc "GreenFacts Digest Peer Review Form"].</ref> The GreenFacts editorial staff incorporates the peer-reviewers' corrections in a couple of individuals from NGOs"final draft", which is submitted to the Review Coordinator for comments. A similar phraseology When the Review Coordinator is also used on press releases and other materialssatisfied with the final draft, he then submits it to imply (incorrectly) that environmental NGOs were involved in setting up GreenFacts, the President of the Scientific Board for example:final approval prior to publication.

The "GreenFacts was formed peer-reviewers" are usually listed in December 2001 by stakeholders from the academe, industrial groups and environmental NGOs concerned about the difficulties organization's "panel of communicating scientific information on environment and health issues.experts" in ,<ref>[http://wwwabout.greenfactsfoundationgreenfacts.org/news/presswhos-releaseswho/191209panel-pr-scaleof-enexperts.htm this press release"GreenFacts' Panel of Experts"].</ref> which also includes experts from both industry and non-government organizations that are sometimes consulted in a "pre-review" process. Since 2005, the "peer-reviewers" are usually also listed in the "About" section of the corresponding Digest.

In To boost the same sectionnumber of visitors on its website, Greenfacts redirects readers to climate-sceptic front groups such as the [[European Science GreenFacts has been actively calling and Environment Forum]] emailing many organizations and studies produced by Dr. [[Fred Singer]]individuals, including environmental groups, [[Richard S. Lindzen]]universities, Dr [[Sallie L. Baliunas]] governments and [[Willie SoonUnited Nations]]agencies around the world, in addition order to four other climateestablish website link exchanges. GreenFacts publishes a list of [http://www.greenfacts.org/links/links-sceptics websites and exchanges.htm some of the [[Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine]sites linking to its website]with the disclaimer that "these web sites are NOT necessarily endorsed by the GreenFacts Scientific Board".

==Summarising documentsCriticism==

The main activity ===Handling conflicts of GreenFacts appears - at first sight - to be the publication of 'Green Facts', in the form of summaries of important reports such as the IPCC report on climate change, and the IPCS report on endocrine disrupters. These summaries are then published on the [http://www.greenfacts.org GreenFacts website].interest===

As part of On its website GreenFacts states that "the summarising process, GreenFacts approaches experts scientists involved in the field to drafting or the review of the Digests must inform the summaries they are producing. Many experts have accepted these invitations, as this seems to be an entirely reasonable request. The names Board of these experts are then listed on Directors and the SB [Scientific Board] of possible conflicts of interests." <ref>GreenFacts Foundation[http://wwwabout.greenfactsfoundationgreenfacts.org/main/whoswhopublications/panelpeer-of-expertsreview.htm GreenFacts website"The Digests' Peer-review process"], adding credibility to the organisationaccessed December 2007.</ref>

As another move However, there is limited disclosure of information to the public which would enable those outside the organization to give itself credibility as an objective and balanced organisationdetermine whether actual or potential conflicts of interests exist. The authors of digests are disclosed in the "About" section of each Digest, Greenfacts has been actively calling and emailing many organisations and individuals, including environmental groups, universities and governments around but the "peer-reviewers" are only disclosed for Digests published since 2005. The biographical details posted on the world, during 2004 in order to establish organization's website link exchanges. Greenfacts boasts a list on members of the organisations that have agreed to this Scientific Board - who select the source documents - are cursory and do not provide any details of current or past consultancy affiliations. <ref>[http://wwwabout.greenfacts.org/linkswhos-who/links_exchangesscientific-board.htm on its site"GreenFacts' Scientific Board"] with , accessed December 2007. </ref> The individual digests list who was involved in the preparation of the disclaimer that report and its "these web sites peer review". However, it is unclear what disclosure standards are NOT necessarily endorsed by the Greenfacts Scientific Board"required of reviewers.

==Policy engagement=Exaggerating origins===

However, Green Facts Another criticism of GreenFacts has been that it has moved beyond summarising documentsexaggerating the driving force behind the groups establishment. In one media release, and is now actively engaging GreenFacts stated that it "was formed in December 2001 by stakeholders from the policy debate. Its main target has been academe, industrial groups and environmental NGOs concerned about the European Union's [http://europa.eu.int/comm/difficulties of communicating scientific information on environment/and healthissues."<ref name="SCALE PR"/index_en>.htm Environment This description appeared in GreenFacts' communications up until 2004 and Health process]implied the engagement of NGOs in the creation of the organisation, whilst in fact it was only a couple of individuals from NGOs. The chemical industry in Europe is It also heavily engaged understated the initial role of Solvay staff and funding in lobbying around this processgetting the group established.

In the "With an issue as sensitive as children’s healthOther Views" section of its 2002 climate change Digest, it must be ensured previously stated that political pressures do not override scientific information and the need for sound methodologywebsites of a few specific NGOs "tend to minimise some uncertainties or overstate the human influence on climate change or the likelihood of some adverse consequences"<ref>[http://www.greenfacts.org/studies/climate_change/level_1.htm#90 "Scientific Facts on Climate Change" - "Other views"]</ref>. This sentence was removed in 2005.

It is unclear how policy statements such as this can be reconciled In the same section, the Digest states that "however, some people and organizations disagree with the claimed aim of GreenFacts certain IPCC conclusions - click here for some links". The link opens a page containing links to be a 'non advocacy organisation'number of websites, including those of to climate-sceptic front groups such as the [[European Science and indeed the comments in this press release are echoed Environment Forum]] and publications by a Dr. [[http://wwwFred Singer]], Prof.cefic[[Richard S.be/Files/NewsReleases/Cefic_Press_Release_SCALELindzen]], Dr [[Sallie L.pdf press releaseBaliunas]] and [[Willie Soon]], in addition to four other climate-sceptics websites and the [[Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine]] issued at , the same time by CEFIC[[George C. Marshall Institute]], a global warming werbsite of the [[Competitive Enterprise Institute]] and the [[Center for the European Chemical Industry CouncilStudy of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change]].

In additionThe Digest includes as a preamble that "although most scientists agree with the IPCC report, some organisations express skepticism towards certain conclusions regarding uncertainties, human influence, adverse consequences or actions needed", and the disclaimer "GreenFacts is engaging in takes no position concerning the debate over risk communication, for example views expressed in a workshop on 2nd December 2004 at a European Commission meeting on the Environment and Health strategylinked documents."<ref>[http://www.greenfacts.org/studies/climate_change/links/question_11.htm Other views on Climate Change], accessed November 2007</ref>

===GreenFacts has many characteristics of an industry-funded [[front group]] defining itself as an NGO, and claiming to have been formed by a wide range of stakeholders. It has established a level of credibility through its production of summary documents, and it now appears to be using this activity as a way of more deeply engaging in the policy debate."sound science"===

The two key areas of In 2004 GreenFacts engagement as an website referred to the need for "[[sound science]]" before taking remedial action or adopting the [[precautionary principle]]. In response to this SourceWatch article, Greenfacts wrote that "we had sometimes used the word 'sound science' in our earlier communication, but have long banned it from our vocabulary after realizing that it is often used by some self-proclaimed "science advocacy organisation are currentlygroups" that actually use '[[junk science]]' to negate or minimize environmental or health problems." <ref>GreenFacts Foundation, [http://about.greenfacts.org/pressroom/press-book/sourcewatch.htm "Response to an article about GreenFacts on SourceWatch.org"], October 29, 2007.</ref>

Both these issues are closely linked Following a meeting on the European Union's Environment and Health process<ref>[http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/health/index_en.htm "European Environment and Health Homepage"], ''Europa'', last updated February 22, 2007.</ref> in December 2003, GreenFacts put out a press release entitled "GreenFacts reactions to the debate on first EU SCALE consultative forum: GreenFacts welcomes the initiative and stresses the need for sound scientific approach". The release, which was drafted by GreenFacts Operations manager [[precautionary principleDavid Zaruk]]. They are also well known priorities for chemical industry lobbying, which would provide a rationale quoted the GreenFacts general manager Jacques de Selliers: "With an issue as sensitive as children’s health, it must be ensured that political pressures do not override scientific information and the need for sound methodology"."<ref>[http://about.greenfacts.org/pressroom/press-releases/2003/031219-pr-scale-en-draft.doc "GreenFacts Reactions to the Solvay and CEFIC funding of first EU SCALE Consultative Forum"] GreenFacts' first press release, December 19, 2003.</ref>

The recent addition of two companies in GreenFacts claims that this press release was a draft sent accidentally, and issued shortly after a modified press release where the food sector title was changed to "GreenFacts welcomes the list initiative of GreenFacts funders the EU to bring together well- known experts from a wide variety of stakeholders to consider the supermarket group Carrefour and the sugar company environmental impacts on children’s health on firm scientific basis". Jacques de Selliers' quote was changed to read "with an issue as sensitive as children’s health, reliable scientific information is essential".<ref name="SCALE PR">[http://wwwabout.tiensegroupgreenfacts.comorg/pressroom/tiensepress-releases/Corporate.nsf2003/home?openform&lang=031219-pr-scale-en&maincat=home Raffinerie Tirlemontoise.htm "GreenFacts Reactions to the first EU SCALE Consultative Forum"] - suggests that GreenFacts may start working on ' second press release, December 19, 2003.</ref> It is unclear how policy statements such as this can be reconciled with the food sectorclaimed aim of GreenFacts to be a 'non advocacy organisation'.

Jacques de SelliersIn addition, [[David Zaruk]], GreenFacts Operations Manager was the General Manager of Green Factsmoderator in a few debates over risk communication. One was a December 2, has 2004 workshop at a European Commission meeting on the Environment and Health strategy where he was both the rapporteur and lead presenter.<ref>[http://about.greenfacts.org/news/newsletters/2004/041125.htm GreenFacts and the EU Environment-Health Action Plan conference"], ''GreenFacts Newsletter'', November 2004.</ref> (Zaruk resigned at the end of December 2004 after three years working for GreenFacts<ref>[http://wwwabout.deselliersgreenfacts.infoorg/news/ web siteinternal-news/2004.htm 2004 Internal News"] that links to , ''GreenFacts'', and also last updated October 22, 2007.</ref> to become a number Director of other websitesthe PR firm [[Burson Marstellar]]<ref>[http://users.skynet.be/fb623723/David/cv/PA.htm "David Zaruk's CV-portfolio: Public Affairs and Public Speaking"], accessed December 2007.</ref> and, including:in 2006, established his own PR consultancy company, [[Risk Perception Management]].

==Personnel=====Staff===* [http://www.greenbalance.org/ Green Balance[Jacques Wirtgen]], a site that claims to offer "balanced views on green issues". This site is apparently "published by two moderate individuals from both sides". For exampleGeneral Manager*[[Martine de Norman]], the section on climate change (which uses Green Facts summary information) concludes that neither energy efficiency nor renewables will solve the problemAdministration Manager*[[Stephanie Mantell]], but the answer is:Publication Manager* "developing nuclear energy[[Eléonore de Bellefroid]], which so far isPartnership Manager*[[Denis Richir]], by many aspectsEditor & Translation Manager*[[Patrick Van Hove]], probably the safestScience Editor*[[Cedric Stevins]], cleanest and most sustainable energy sourceIT Manager*[[Daniel Moital Carriço]], with a lot of potential for development."IT Analyst Programmer

===Former personnel===* A [http://www.toxfacts.org/ link[Jacques de Selliers]] , Co- that currently does not work - to "ToxFacts.orgFounder & Vice Chairman*[[Patrick Poty]], General Manager & CEO*[[David Zaruk]], a website under construction which will soon publish the ATSDR studies."Operations Manager

==Affiliations==* Member of the [[World Conservation Union]] ([[IUCN]])* Associate partner of [http://www[Com+ alliance]].sickoflawsuits.org<ref name="Com+"/ www.sickoflawsuits.org], which claims to be >* Partnership agreements with a grassroots campaign against lawsuit abuse in the US. The US NGO Public Citizen has few environmental or health NGOs <ref name="partners">[http://wwwabout.citizengreenfacts.org/congresspartners/civjus/tort/articlesindex.cfm?ID=800 gathered informationhtm "GreenFacts' Partners"] showing the role of the tobacco industry in supporting this organisation, accessed Nov.2007</ref>

==Contact Detailsdetails==

Website: http://aboutwww.greenfacts.org/organization/index.htm

=== Other external External links ===

[[Category:Europe]][[Category:Environment]][[category:Science]][[Category:Industry-funded organizations]]