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{{#Show badges:|CoalSwarm}}{{#Show badges: | ToxicSludge}}'''Environmental Defense Fund''' was recently known as 'Environmental Defense' or 'ED' before changing its name back to its original name(EDF), EDFrun by [[Fred Krupp]], when the new acronym ED became synonymous with a medical condition. It is a US-based [[Environmental organization]] and is considered a [[Big Green]] environmental group, one of the largest and most prominent in the world. It describes itself as being "dedicated to protecting the environmental rights of all people, including future generations. Among these rights are clean air and water, healthy and nourishing food, and a flourishing ecosystem. Guided by science, Environmental Defense evaluates environmental problems and works to create and advocate solutions that win lasting political, economic and social support because they are nonpartisan, cost-efficient and fair." In MarchEDF prides itself on the formal corporate partnerships it forms with companies such as [[McDonald's]], [[Walmart]], 2010 [[Kohlberg Kravis Roberts]] and most recently [[The Carlyle Group]] teamed up with , home of [[Synagro]] the Environmental Defense Fund. <ref>[http://blogs.wsj.com/privateequity/2010/03/18/carlyle-group-teams-up-with-edf/ Carlyle Group Teams Up With EDF[sewage sludge]], The Wall Street Journal, March 18, 2010giant. </ref>

[[Sharon Beder]] notes that: "The influence of neoliberal think tanks on environmental policy has been pervasive. Yet their efforts to replace legislative solutions with free market programs have been accepted largely without scrutiny of the ideological agenda behind them. Many environmentalists have been persuaded by the rhetoric of free market environmentalism. For example the US '''Environmental Defense Fund''' has been at the forefront of the push for tradeable pollution rights and the [[Natural Resources Defense Council]] has also supported them." [http://www.herinst.org/sbeder/enveconomics/thinktanks.html]

*Executive Director - [[Dan J. Dudek]]*Former Executive Director - [[David Yarnold]]  == Greenwashing Corporations and Raising Money via Partnerships == According to its own guidelines <ref>[https://www.sourcewatch.org/images/3/3b/Corporate_Guidelines.pdf EDF Corporate Funding Guidelines, 2011]</ref>, EDF does NOT accept direct funding from corporations that are engaged "in any significant activities that are in direct conflict with EDF’s environmental protection objectives or activities."  However, this is extremely misleading, since EDF does aggressively seek funding from employees, board members and investors in corporations including (and probably especially) its formal corporate partners. EDF also considers on a case by case basis whether to accept major donations from foundations set up by corporations.  Thus, corporate partnerships are extremely lucrative for EDF since it aggressively fundraises among the individuals on the Boards of Directors, in management, and who are investors in its partners. Meanwhile, the corporate partners such as [[Carlyle Group]] and [[Wal- Mart]] can [[greenwash]] themselves by pointing to a forma partnership with one of the world's most established [[Big Green]] environmental groups. == EDF Partners with [[Synagro]], The World's Leader in Dumping Sewage Sludge on Farms and Gardens ==EDF creates formal corporate partnerships between itself and major corporations, such as the [[Carlyle Group]] with which it partnered in March, 2010. <ref>[http://blogs.wsj.com/privateequity/2010/03/18/carlyle-group-teams-up-with-edf/ Carlyle Group Teams Up With EDF], The Wall Street Journal, March 18, 2010. </ref> The Carlyle Group, a private investment corporation, owns [[Synagro]], the world's largest company producing [[sewage sludge]] "compost" and "fertilizer," often called "[[biosolids]]," that is dumped on farms and gardens. It would seem that by partnering with [[Synagro]] EDF is in fact endorsing the practices of Synagro in dumping sludge on farms and gardens, and in misleading millions of people by selling its sewage sludge products as "compost" and "natural organic fertilizer." According to its own guidelines <ref>[https://www.sourcewatch.org/images/3/3b/Corporate_Guidelines.pdf EDF Corporate Funding Guidelines, 2011]</ref>, EDF does accept direct funding from corporations that are engaged "in any significant activities that are in direct conflict with EDF’s environmental protection objectives or activities." This is misleading, since EDF does aggressively seek funding from employees, board members and investors in such corporations, including its formal corporate partners such as Carlyle Group. And EDF also considers on a case by case basis donations from foundations set up by such corporations.  Such partnerships are extremely lucrative for EDF since it aggressively fundraises among the individuals on the Boards of Directors, in management, and who are investors in its partners. Meanwhile, the corporate partner such as [[Carlyle Group]] can [[greenwash]] itself by pointing to its partnership with one of the world's best funded [[Big Green]] environmental groups. In the 1970s and 1980s EDF and other major environmental groups including [[Natural Resources Defense Council]] worked closely with the sewage industry and endorsed moves by the [[Environmental Protection Agency]] to rename toxic [[sewage sludge]] as "[[biosolids]]" and dump the waste onto farmland. Until May, 2011, when EDF requested it be removed, the following quote appeared on a sludge industry website showing endorsement of this practice. :"EDF and NRDC have been steadfast proponents of reusing biosolids of appropriate quality as the best biosolids management alternative. Biosolids can be a valuable natural resource.":[[Fred Krupp|FRED KRUP]], Executive Director - [[John H. Adams|JOHN ADAMS]] Executive Director*:[[Environmental Defense Fund]] - [[Arlie SchardtNRDC|Natural Resources Defense Fund]]"<ref>[http://www.biosolidsinstitute.com/quotes/index.shtml Bio Solids - Notable Quotes], Former Executive DirectorAccessed May 6, 2011.</ref> *EDF's [[Sean Crowley]] had the quote taken down, and he points out that there is no date or citation for the quote, which likely came from a consent decree among major environmental groups and the sewage sludge industry. While it is partnered with the world's largest sewage sludge company, [[Nick NicholasSynagro]]of Carlyle Group, Chair Crowley claims that EDF has no position what so ever on the practice of board using agricultural farms and gardens as waste dumps for [[sewage sludge]]. [[NRDC]], on the other hand, became a critic of trusteessludge dumping in 2002 and 2003, based on the [[dioxin]] contaminants in sewage sludge.

"Created in 1967 by a small band of lawyers seeking to ban DDT, EDF ['''Environmental Defense Fund'''] evolved into George Bush's favorite environmental group. The group is the premier advocate of market-oriented solutions to environmental problems. EDF was a cheerleader for [[NAFTA]], and gets excited about pollution credits, emissions trading systems and user fees for recreational use of public lands. It hosts the [[Barbra Streisand]] Chair of Environmental Studies, the perch of scientist [[Michael Oppenheimer]], who advocates buying up development rights in the Third World as a solution to global climate change. EDF convinced McDonalds in 1991 to reform its solid-waste disposal practices and to move from Styrofoam to paper packaging (but remained mum on quality of food, ecologically destructive ranching practices and abusive treatment of animals and workers.) In cooperation with major timber companies, the group developed a 'paper-use task force,' whose recommendations discreetly ignored sustainable alternatives to paper such as industrial hemp and kenaf. Inc. magazine praised president [[Fred Krupp]] for his ability to 'speak capitalism.' "<ref>Jeffrey St. Clair and Bernardo Issel, [http://www.lightparty.com/Economic/EnvMovement.html "A Field Guide to the Environmental Movement," ''In These Times'', Jul. 28, 1997.</ref>

== EDF President Endorses Sewage Sludge Use in Agriculture Corporate Partners==In the latter part of the 20th century, the wastewater treatment industry and the *[[U.S. EPA]] began to advocate the use of [[sewage sludge]] (renamed "[[biosolids]]") as fertilizer. EDFMcDonald's President [[Fred Krupp]] was quoted supporting this: :"EDF and NRDC have been steadfast proponents of reusing biosolids of appropriate quality as the best biosolids management alternative. Biosolids can be a valuable natural resource.":*[[Fred Krupp|FRED KRUPWalmart]], Executive Director - *[[John H. Adams|JOHN ADAMSKohlberg Kravis Roberts]] Executive Director:[*[Environmental Defense Fund]] - [[NRDC|Natural Resources Defense FundThe Carlyle Group]]"<ref>[http://www.biosolidsinstitute.com/quotes/index.shtml Bio Solids - Notable Quotes], Accessed May 6, 2011.</ref>

[[Category:Environment]][[Category: Citizen groups working on coal issues]][[Category: Sludge Proponents]][[Category: Liberal Advocacy Organizations]]