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Environmental Policy Alliance

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{{#Show badges: | Front groups}}The '''Environmental Policy Alliance''' is a [[front group]] operated by the PR firm [[Berman & Co.]] The firm operates a network of dozens of front groups, attack-dog web sites, and alleged think tanks that work to counteract minimum wage campaigns, keep wages low for restaurant workers, and to block legislation on food safety, secondhand cigarette smoke, drunk driving, and more.
The '''Environmental Policy Alliance''' describes itself as "devoted to uncovering the funding and hidden agendas behind environmental activist groups and exploring the intersection between activists and government agencies." It is a project of the [[Center for Organizational Research and Education]] (CORE) and consists of several sub-front groupgroups, including [[Big Green Radicals]] operated by the PR firm , [[Berman & Co.EPA Facts]] Berman & Co. operates a network of dozens of front groups, attack-dog web sites[[Green Decoys]], and alleged think tanks that work to counteract minimum wage campaigns[[LEED Exposed]].<ref>Environmental Policy Alliance, keep wages low for restaurant workers"[http://environmentalpolicyalliance.org/ Home Page], and to block legislation on food safety" group website, secondhand cigarette smokeaccessed February 20, drunk driving, and more2014.</ref>
The According to the watchdog organization [[Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington]] (CREW), the Environmental Policy Alliance describes itself as "devoted to uncovering the funding and hidden agendas behind attacks environmental activist advocacy groups and exploring fights against environmental regulation by the intersection between activists and government agencies." It is a project of the [[Center for Organizational Research and Education]] and consists of four sub-front groups, including [[Big Green Radicals]], [[EPA Facts]], [[Green Decoys]], and [[LEED Exposed]].<ref>Environmental Policy AllianceCitizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, "[http://environmentalpolicyalliancebermanexposed.org/ Home PageBerman Exposed.org]," corporate organizational project website, accessed February 20June 12, 2014.</ref>
According to The organization shares a mailing address with notorious lobbyist and front-group operator [[Citizens for Responsibility Richard Berman]] and Ethics in Washingtonhis firm. Research analyst [[Anastasia Swearingen]], who has published materials on behalf of the Environmental Policy Alliance "attacks environmental advocacy groups and fights against environmental regulation by its projects, has previously worked for other Berman-associated organizations [[Center for Consumer Freedom]] and the government[[American Beverage Institute]] and is a Berman & Co. employee."<ref>Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in WashingtonAnastasia Swearingen, [http://bermanexposedwww.usatoday.orgcom/story/ Berman Exposedopinion/2014/03/09/environment-carbon-climate-change-pollution-column/6027923/ Mis-LEED-ing green buildings], BermanExposed.org''USA Today'', accessed June March 12, 2014.</ref>
The organization shares ==EPA Releases Video Criticizing Bill McKibben and a mailing address Global Day of Action for Climate Change== {{#ev:youtube|6A6j1r3Kbuo|300|right|Breaking Up with notorious lobbyist and front-group operator Fossil Fuels is Hard to Do|frame}}[[Richard Berman]] and his firm. Research analyst [[Anastasia Swearingenfront group]], who has published materials on behalf of the Environmental Policy Alliance and its projectsreleased a video entitled "Breaking Up With Fossil Fuels is Hard to Do" on February 10, 2015 on the website of [[Big Green Radicals]], has previously worked for other another Bermanfront group.<ref> Big Green Radicals, [https://www.biggreenradicals.com/divest-in-fossil-fuels-not-if-you-like-your-associated organizations life/ Divest From Fossil Fuels? Not if You Like Your Life], group website, February 10, 2015.</ref> The video is an attack on [[Center for Consumer FreedomBill McKibben]] and the [[American Beverage Institute350.org]] 's movement to divest from fossil fuels. The Center for Media and Democracy's ''PRWatch'' noted, "Although it is a Berman & Co. employeenot known who specifically bankrolled the video, it was being promoted online by Independent Petroleum Association of America, the Institute for Energy Research, the American Energy Alliance, and the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, ad groups and trade associations representing fossil fuel interests.<ref>Anastasia SwearingenMary Bottari, [httphttps://www.usatodayprwatch.comorg/storynews/opinion2015/201402/0312732/09/environmentrichard-berman-carbongoes-climateafter-change350org-pollutionand-column/6027923/ Misglobal-LEEDdivestment-ing green buildingsday Richard Berman Goes after Bill McKibben and Global Divestment Day], ''USA TodayPRWatch'', March February 12, 20142015.</ref>
==EPA Facts Attacks New Obama Administration Regulations==
==Big Green Radicals Attacks Colorado Anti-Fracking Groups==
In May 2014, Big Green Radicals launched a PR campaign against various Colorado groups seeking to block fracking in the state, calling it "ground zero" in the fracking debate. BGR sought to define the groups -- including the Colorado branches of [[Food & Water Watch]], [[Water Defense]], and [[Sierra Club]], as well as [[Americans Against Fracking]] and [[Artists Against Fracking]] -- as [[astroturf]] organizations, groups that claim to be grassroots but are really primarily created by special interests.<ref name="Colorado"/> Big Green Radicals further asserted that these "extreme groups, mostly based far from Colorado in San Francisco, New York, or Washington D.C., are spending millions and spreading their anti-science message to scare voters into approving ballot measures in November to send the oil and gas industry (and the jobs and affordable energy it provides) packing from the Centennial State."<ref name="Colorado">Environmental Policy Alliance, [http://www.biggreenradicals.com/colorado/ Big Green Radicals Colorado page], BigGreenRadicals.com, accessed June 12, 2014.</ref> In addition to its attack on these anti-fracking groups, BGR rebuked Colorado Congressman [[Jared Polis]] as the "poster boy" for the anti-fracking movement.<ref name="Colorado" /> At a June 2014 Western Energy Alliance event including representatives from [[Anadarko Petroleum]],<ref name="NYT"/> [[Halliburton Company]], [[ExxonMobil]], [[Devon Energy]], and [[Noble Energy]],<ref name="Bloomberg"/> Berman himself told the gathered fracking executives they "must be willing to exploit emotions like fear, greed and anger and turn them against the environmental groups" opposed to fracking, according to the ''New York Times'', which obtained leaked audio of the speech. "And major corporations secretly financing such a campaign should not worry about offending the general public because 'you can either win ugly or lose pretty,' he said."<ref name="NYT">Eric Lipton, [http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/31/us/politics/pr-executives-western-energy-alliance-speech-taped.html?_r=0 Hard-Nosed Advice From Veteran Lobbyist: ‘Win Ugly or Lose Pretty’], ''New York Times'', October 30, 2014.</ref>
Big Green Radicals further asserted that these "extreme groupsThink of this as an endless war, mostly based far from Colorado in San Francisco, New York, or Washington D" Berman told the group.C., are spending millions and spreading their anti-science message to scare voters into approving ballot measures in November "And you have to send the oil and gas industry (and the jobs and affordable energy budget for it provides) packing from the Centennial State."<ref name=Colorado>Environmental Policy Alliance, [http:"NYT"//www.biggreenradicals.com/colorado/ Big Green Radicals Colorado page], BigGreenRadicals.com, accessed June 12, 2014.</ref>
In addition Berman "offered companies a way to its attack on these antianonymously target their environmental foes --at a cost of as much as $3 million" just to fight Colorado's proposed fracking groupsbans according to ''Bloomberg'', which also obtained the audio. And that $2 to $3 million "would be spent in addition to the 'positive campaign' companies were running," he said.<ref name="Bloomberg">Mark Drajem, BGR rebuked Colorado Congressman [[Jared Polishttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-10-30/fracking-advocates-urged-to-win-ugly-by-discrediting-foes.html Fracking Advocates Urged to Win Ugly by Discrediting Foes]] as , ''Bloomberg'', October 30, 2014.</ref> According to ''Bloomberg'', Berman "played an advertisement that showed one activist blaming fracking for his overeating and another for the fact that his sock-puppet, Mr. Snuggles, was ignoring him. The ad was posted online and ran on television a few weeks later, according to a ''Denver Post'' article."poster boy<ref name="Bloomberg"/> "What people always want to do is they want to know who funds me so they can attack the funder," for Berman told the anti-fracking movementWestern Energy Alliance. "We run all of this stuff through nonprofit organizations that are insulated from having to disclose donors."<ref name=Colorado "Bloomberg"/>
==Attack on Food & Water Watch, Sierra Club, and NRDC==
On March 6, 2014, the Environmental Policy Alliance ran a full-page ad in the ''Wall Street Journal'' attacking [[Food & Water Watch]], the [[Sierra Club]], and the [[Natural Resources Defense Council]] (NRDC) as "big green radicals" and announced its new website, BigGreenRadicals.com<ref>Big Green Radicals, [http://www.biggreenradicals.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/WSJ_BGR_Prius_Ad_OL1.jpg Big Green Radicals ad], ''Wall Street Journal'', March 6, 2014.</ref> Food & Water Watch responded with a blog post saying:
:"He's been called an 'arch-enemy of do-gooders' by 60 Minutes. Thanks to his orchestration of massive corporate PR campaigns using 'deceptive corporate front groups' to discredit public interest efforts, he’s earned the nickname 'Dr. Evil.'
:"We're honored to be called one of the 'Big Green Radicals' by notorious corporate lobbyist Rick Berman through his apparent latest astroturf operation, the Environmental Policy Alliance, a 'project of the [[Center for Organizational Research Education]].' Ever heard of it? We hadn't either. After doing a bit of digging, we found out that the Center for Organizational Research Education was recently known as the [[Center for Consumer Freedom]] led by the head of [[Berman & Co.]] -- [[Rick Berman]]."<ref>Darcey Rakestraw, Food & Water Watch, [http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/blogs/rick-berman-strikes-again-with-environmental-policy-alliance/ Rick Berman Strikes Again With Environmental Policy Alliance], organizational blog, March 6, 2014.</ref>
 
==Contact==
The Environmental Policy Alliance<br>
1090 Vermont Ave., NW Suite 800<br>
Washington, DC 20005<br>
 
Phone: (202) 420-7875<br>
Website: http://www.BigGreenRadicals.com
==Resources and Articles==
*[[American Beverage Institute]]
*[[AnimalScam.com]]
*[[Bad Idea California]]
*[[Big Green Radicals]]
*[[Center for Consumer Freedom]]
*[[Employment Policies Institute]]
*[[Enterprise Freedom Action Committee]]
*[[Environmental Policy Alliance]]
*[[EPA Facts]]
*[[Family Coalition]]
*[[First Jobs Institute]]
*[[Green Decoys]]
*[[Hands Off My Bacon]]
*[[Humane Society for Shelter Pets]]
*[[HumaneWatch.org]]
*[[Interlock Facts]]
*[[No Drink Tax]]
*[[ObesityMyths.com]]
*[[PCRM Scam]]
*[[PETA Kills Animals]]
*[[Physician Scam]]
*[[Rotten ACORN]]
*[[SEIU Exposed]]
*[[Step Up Wyoming]]
*[[Sweet Scam]]
*[[Teachers Union Exposed]]

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