Defending Good Science

Building vaccines through Biotech...

2006-02-02T12:09:00.000-05:00

Yes, I`ve been away for a while. I know. It`s not likely to get any better anytime soon, either. I`m busy with some political stuff in Ottawa, Canada for the foreseeable future.

Anyway, I`ve said it, others have said it... the future of the new economy is in biotechnology. New advances in biotechnology will affect everything from the food we eat, the medicine we take, the cars we drive to the fuel that powers them.

And as if to provide proof: Scientists think they have discovered a vaccine to the infamous bird flu. And it`s not going to be generated in chicken eggs, but built through genetic engineering.

The benefits are multiple - quicker turnaround time, the ability to modify the vaccine further to fight new strains, and ease of scale-up.

It`s a whole new world out there, folks.

Celebrity Activists, Breasts, Chickens and Military Men...

2006-01-13T11:59:00.000-05:00

The Diva of Good Taste, Pamela Anderson, is attempting to get the legislators at Kentucky's State Capitol to remove a bust of Harlan Sanders.

The ironies here are just -ahem- finger licking good. (Note to readers - I will resist all juvenile humour attempts to draw a comparison between chickens, Pamela Anderson, statues and busts/breasts.)

We can talk about the fact that Pamela wouldn't know anything about Harlan if she sat across from him in a bus. We can talk about the fact that as a Playboy model and Baywatch actress, she's hardly qualified to discuss the role of oxygen in her life, much less animal care issues. Or perhaps we can discuss the fact that as a California resident and Canadian citizen, she's probably only been to Kentucky once in her life.

Or maybe we'll just let this one slide away and let the story stand on its own merits.

For the record, KFC spokeswoman Laurie Schalow called the move to oust the colonel "just another misguided publicity stunt by PETA in their attempt to create a vegan society."

Public Water Utility buys bottled water.

2006-01-03T08:59:00.000-05:00

Do as we Say... Not as we Do...

Just a simple case of non-verbal actions completely overriding verbal words.

The Department of Water Protection for the City of Los Angeles, which spends over $1 million per year to convince the public the tapwater is safe to drink, spent close to $90,000 on bottled water.

I've been there myself. When I was doing communications in Ontario's Ministry of the Environment, one of the initiatives we undertook was to get rid of bottled water inside our offices. And this was BEFORE the Walkerton water disaster struck (2,000 people became ill from drinking contaminated tap water.)

This really is a no-brainer, folks.

Media Bias Is Real

2005-12-18T19:48:00.000-05:00

This should shock no one - a study has revealed that American mainstream media is almost universally biased to the left.

"While the editorial page of The Wall Street Journal is conservative, the newspaper's news pages are liberal, even more liberal than The New York Times. The Drudge Report may have a right-wing reputation, but it leans left. Coverage by public television and radio is conservative compared to the rest of the mainstream media. Meanwhile, almost all major media outlets tilt to the left."

"Of the 20 major media outlets studied, 18 scored left of center, with CBS' "Evening News," The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times ranking second, third and fourth most liberal behind the news pages of The Wall Street Journal. Only Fox News' "Special Report With Brit Hume" and The Washington Times scored right of the average U.S. voter."

"The fourth most centrist outlet was "Special Report With Brit Hume" on Fox News, which often is cited by liberals as an egregious example of a right-wing outlet. While this news program proved to be right of center, the study found ABC's "World News Tonight" and NBC's "Nightly News" to be left of center. All three outlets were approximately equidistant from the center, the report found."

And for those who'd complain the study itself is biased, two points: First, the study comes to us from UCLA. While UCLA doesn't have as liberal a reputation as say, Berkeley, UCLA is hardly considered a bastion of conservative thought.

Secondly : "The researchers took numerous steps to safeguard against bias — or the appearance of same — in the work, which took close to three years to complete. They went to great lengths to ensure that as many research assistants supported Democratic candidate Al Gore in the 2000 election as supported President George Bush. They also sought no outside funding, a rarity in scholarly research."

It's a fascinating look into what the average American thinks about newsworthy topics, and what actually gets reported...

Facing Boycotts... from Stupid Folks.

2005-12-17T23:42:00.000-05:00

Note: Usually, I try to avoid religious topics, for some pretty obvious reasons. What I have to say is usually controversial enough - I don't need to recklessly throw fuel on the fire just for fun and giggles. But on this one, I couldn't resist.

A group of religious protesters demonstrated outside a Wal-Mart superstore Saturday, hoping to turn away customers by calling attention to the retailer's decision to use "happy holidays" rather than "merry Christmas" in its seasonal advertising.

(OK - so some folks are upset, and a number of conservative Christian organizations are organizing petitions and boycotts... check.)

Ready for it? Here's the kicker:

"About 50 protesters took part in Saturday's demonstration, organized by religious leaders. Dick Otterstad of the Church of the Divide donned a Santa Claus costume and greeted shoppers with the message: Don't forget about the meaning of Christmas."

Wow. I'm shaking my head here. Talk about not thinking through your optics, folks.

Why are some people black, others white?

2005-12-15T23:36:00.000-05:00

Yes - it's a racial thing. :)

Forget about societal impacts, prejudices, or what we term 'racism.' The question is WHY some people are different colours.

Scientists have been asking the question as well. And it appears the lowly zebrafish may have an answer.

After all - some fish are white, some golden, some brown, yet they're all the same species. Scientists think they've isolated the gene that causes colour differences, and have tracked it back to humans as well.

I'm sure this may raise a number of future ethical quesions about race and the aforementioned societal impacts. Through genetic manipulation, will white parents be able to produce black children? Vice versa?

Personally, I default to the verse I learned in Sunday School... "Red, Yellow, Black and White... all are precious in his sight..."

The Worst Ecological Threat to Humanity? Yeah, right...

2005-12-10T21:44:00.000-05:00

The 157 signatories to the Kyoto Protocol have agreed to hold future talks on post-2012 reductions in greenhouse gases.

Some people hail it as a broad step to secure the future, others are laughing it off as yet another waste of time and effort.

All I know - the hot air generated by 157 political delegations is a more acute threat to the world's environment than the emissions they're discussing.

The rhetoric is awesome. Canada's Environment Minister, Stephane Dion, claims the agreement is momentous: "You have upheld the trust the people of the world have placed in us," he said. "Facing the worst ecological threat to humanity, you have said: the world is united and together, step by step, we will win this fight."

Excuse me - the 'worst ecological threat to humanity?' Wow. That's ballsy.

Greenhouse gas emissions are more of a threat than the bubonic plague, influenza, or the lack of clean drinking water?

If Dion is serious about change instead of just making political points, he can address what concrete steps the Canadian Government will be taking in the future.

But he won't. Because aside from a few publicly funded commercials, they've done nothing. Which is partly why emissions are 24 per cent above 1990 levels. (Kyoto calls for six per cent reductions for Canada from 1990 levels by 2012 - meaning he has to bring total emissions down 36% - over a third - in only six years.)

'Threat to humanity?' Who knows. Maybe.

'Ridiculous hypocrisy and political doublespeak?' Absolutely.

The Wheels Start Coming Off for Tamiflu

2005-12-06T11:22:00.000-05:00

For several months, we've heard story after story about flu pandemics. Governments across the globe were preparing for the onslaught of avian influenza. And the big winner in the flu craze has been Hoffman-LaRoche, makers of Tamiflu.

The UK government ordered 15 million doses of Tamiflu stockpiled, under the assumption it was the only drug capable of fighting avian flu. Hoffman-LaRoche and internet pharmacies have made millions as people fight to get their hands on the drug.

This may start to change. Proving that fear of the unknown is perhaps as dangerous as the unknown itself, medical professionals are starting to discover that Tamiflu... doesn't work.

The World Health Organization has acknowledged Tamiflu has not been "widely successful in human patients," but said it believes it would have been more effective in many Asian countries if it had been used earlier in the illness.

This story is very much developing...

No GMO Ban in Prince Edward Island.

2005-12-05T23:23:00.000-05:00

... and sanity prevails across the land. Amen.

Not to be melodramatic (well, at least OVERLY melodramatic) but Prince Edward Island has come to their senses, smartened up and will not be the first province in Canada to ban genetically modified organisms.

The fight over GMO foods is hardly over, but at least the largest potato growing region in Canada (and one of the largest in North America) won't be bathing in their own stupidity and banning a product which has, effectively, been proven safe.

Crazy Hurricanes not caused by global warming.

2005-12-01T12:39:00.000-05:00

Well - it doesn't get much more succinct than this - NOAA, the organization responsible for tracking Atlantic Hurricanes, says the increased number of storms is NOT due to global warming.

It's rather based on something called the tropical multi-decadal signal, which "presents itself in weather events around the world, including Atlantic hurricane variability."

It doesn't get more mainstream than beer...

2005-12-01T09:54:00.000-05:00

If you haven't had a chance to check it out yet, let me encourage you to visit the "Bioproducts" section of this site.

As a HUGE believer in the potential of biotechnology, I'm kind of tickled to be working with Ontario Agri-Food Technologies at sharing a few of the neat stories that we come across. As we find a neat story about a new bioproduct or novel application, it gets added to the site. If you're interested in finding out more about that particular technology, there's a search function so you can bring up past stories.

One of the cooler stories I've come across in the past month involves the absolutely exploding demand for ethanol - a naturally derived ethyl alcohol bioproduct - driven in part by high petroleum prices.

What's the primary indication that ethanol has gone mainstream?

When Coors got into the mix.

There is a TON of money being invested into these new products and technologies. Yet, so far, no one has looked into the relative risks associated with turning agricultural producers into chemical or fuel producers.

Yet....

Alarm over dramatic weakening of Gulf Stream

2005-12-01T09:47:00.000-05:00

"The powerful ocean current that bathes Britain and northern Europe in warm waters from the tropics has weakened dramatically in recent years, a consequence of global warming that could trigger more severe winters and cooler summers across the region, scientists warn today."

If I didn't know better, I'd say someone has been watching too much of "The Day after Tomorrow," where the same scenario causes a mass ice age to hit the civilized world.

It's a scenario designed to drive panic into the hearts and minds of Britains electorate - witness, "If the current remains as weak as it is, temperatures in Britain are likely to drop by an average of 1C in the next decade, according to Harry Bryden at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton who led the study. "Models show that if it shuts down completely, 20 years later, the temperature is 4C to 6C degrees cooler over the UK and north-western Europe," Dr Bryden said."

Yet - here's the clincher, folks - selected quotes from the SAME article (emphasis mine):
---------
- Although climate records suggest that the current has ground to a halt in the distant past, the prospect of it shutting down entirely within the century are extremely low, according to climate modellers.

- According to climate modellers, the drop in temperature caused by a slowing of the Atlantic current will, in the long term, be swamped by a more general warming of the atmosphere.

- "If this was happening in the absence of generally increasing temperatures, I would be concerned," said Dr Smith
----------
You know what happens when a 4 year old starts desperately looking for the monsters in her closet? She's likely to find them.

Why Kyoto will vanish into hot air

2005-11-29T08:59:00.000-05:00

So the leaders of the world are gathering in Montreal this week to discuss Kyoto, climate change, and complain about the USA again this week.

After a while, one begins to wonder if they'll ever get tired of the incessant complaining about the US and just move on. (Disclosure - I've been saying Kyoto is as good as dead for years, now, without US, Russian and Chinese buy-in.)

The British Newspaper site "The Times Online" is now saying the same thing. They may be slightly more optimistic, but their conclusion is the same - "Kyoto has been an extraordinary piece of work. A treaty that its most important signatories have found impossible to meet, and which has changed behaviour very little, has still become a resonant global symbol."

So what will shape efforts to curb global greenhouse gas emissions after Kyoto dies? There are a number of options.

It will be fascinating to see whether the assembled plethora of European Nations and activist NGO's can develop a solution which is rationale, reasonable and market driven... or continue to beat the dead horse which is a punitive, country driven effort, like Kyoto.

Australia pioneers energy from hot rocks

2005-11-15T09:28:00.000-05:00

Fascinating story coming out of Reuters. Here at Checkmate, we're always interested to see new technology being used in commercial applications to solve everyday needs.

In Australia, a "combination of nature's bounty, government support and entrepreneurial spirit may well help Australia win the race to generate electricity for commercial purposes from rocks, which some say could produce more than the country's known oil or coal reserves."

The rocks are heated by the earths core, and insulated under several rock layers. By drilling down to the hot rocks, companies are exploring using that heat to create steam and generate electricity - by some accounts, enough electricity to power the majority of south Australia.

Geothermal technology isn't new, but doing it on a large scale for commercial purposes is. Good on ya, Mates!

New Study Warns of Total Loss of Arctic Tundra - New York Times

2005-11-02T10:41:00.000-05:00

More junk science and fear mongering on the pages of the New York Times.

... a new study says "if emissions of heat-trapping gases continue to accumulate in the atmosphere at the current rate, there may be many centuries of warming and a near-total loss of Arctic tundra."

However, what the headline fails to point out, and what the story buries in paragraph EIGHT(!) is that the study's author isn't accepting the conclusions. (Par 8: The study author's "stressed that the uncertainties were high over such a time span, and said the study was intended to illustrate broad consequences rather than project specific ones.")

But, true to form, the Times uses the next six paragraphs to illustrate why the scenario could be realistic.

As a former journalist myself, one has to ask - is this journalism, or simply story-telling?

"All the News that's Fit to Print" ....and a whole lot of stuff that isn't.

Selective Logging or 'Stealth Stealing?"

2005-10-21T11:34:00.000-04:00

For years, environmental activists have decried the deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest.

For background, there are a number of ways to harvest lumber. One can go in to a patch of land, cut down everything, bring in the heavy equipment in the newly bald area, and go to town. It's more economical, but has questionable environmental consequences and leaves an ugly patch on the landscape.

The other method is called "selective logging": a lumber company takes only marketable trees, and steers the log through the bush back to the mill, around the still growing juvenile trees. It's far more environmentally friendly, leaves the forest canopy and ground intact, and is far more expensive to operate.

So selective logging is a good thing - right? Not according to this article in the UK Sunday Times.

This is biased reporting run amok, folks. With a headline of "Amazon's illegal loggers know we can't see the lost wood for trees," the reporter accuses companies of "exploiting less easily detectable logging techniques."

My personal favourite quote is "In recent years, as logging has come under greater scrutiny, some operators have taken to stealthily extracting specific types of tree one by one, with the forest canopy covering their tracks."

I'm boggled folks. I really am. It's become clear that the only logging option which some folks will find acceptable is no logging at all. But if that's the case - don't be throwing environmentally friendly harvesting practices under the bus in your quest for an unrealistic end goal.

Lesbian Turtles?

2005-10-05T11:46:00.000-04:00

More fearmongering from global warming activists today. Matt Drudge has highlighted a report that says because sea turtle gender is dictated by water temperature during the egg-development process, the world could see a population of exclusively female sea turtles.

I'd link to it, but because the reports on Drudge change so quickly, I'll cut and paste:
-----------------------------------
"Global warming could create all-female turtle populations: scientists
Wed Oct 05 2005 10:58:53 ET

Global warming could have devastating effects on migratory species, including the possible disappearance of male sea turtles, a study will warn on Thursday.

A research team led by the British Trust for Ornithology said climate change could disrupt migration and breeding for many animals, with dire consequences for vulnerable species like the marine turtle.

Warmer climates could result in exclusively female turtle populations because the gender of hatchlings is affected by water temperature, the study said.

In addition, a third of turtle nesting sites in the Caribbean could be destroyed by rising seas, it warned.

Whales and polar bears, as well as birds that migrate across the expanding Sahara desert, are among the other species most potentially affected.

"The report is sobering," said British biodiversity minister Jim Knight, attending a European Union nature summit in Aviemore, Scotland.

"Because they rely on such separated and often diverse habitats, migratory birds and animals seem to be especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

"They are among the first creatures to show us the effects of climate change on wildlife. Some of the problems they are experiencing now are problems we can expect to see in other animals in the decades ahead," he said.

While warmer temperature could benefit some species, it may force others to extinction, the report warned.

-----------------------------------

I think it's relevant to point out the use of the words "could." As in - "We're not entirely sure but this COULD happen." I think it's also cute that the same study also openly admits that warmer temperatures COULD benefit some species.

On a side note, I've been asked several times why Checkmate Public Affairs 'denies' global warming. We don't deny the realities of climate change - whatever those realities may be. What we are opposed to is junk science, fearmongering and innuendo in order to drive home a point, rather than relying on actual data and reasoned debate.

The Hijacking of Science.

2005-09-28T09:12:00.000-04:00

Great article on the Canada Free Press website about the misinformation that's swirling around in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

"With Hurricane Katrina still swirling in our memories, some are seizing every opportunity to associate this tragic event with their political ambitions, that being the global warming argument. While there is nothing worse than opportunistic ambulance chasing, we should at least look at the possibility of the link, as this is the rational avenue to take. We must, however, hear all of the voices, and not just the one's spouting doom and gloom, but also the calm voices that say this is just a variation in our planets normal cycle. That is true journalism, and it also gives science its due respect. Science is a great thing, but it is so often misused."

“The Downfall of American Agriculture”

2005-09-14T17:16:00.000-04:00

Are we truly witnessing the beginning of the end of North American agriculture?

I'm not sure it's the "end." A new direction, certainly. Whether or not it's the 'end' will depend upon whether or not people are willing to assume a leadership position and create positive change.

Increasing global economies and competitiveness will shake up the way we conduct business in the agricultural sector - in ways that many long-time agricultural practicioners have never dreamed possible.

While the U.S. still leads this global “farms race,” other nations are on its heels, poised, ready to snatch the pole position. Wine from Chile, tomatoes from Mexico, soybeans from Brazil, flowers from Europe, apples from China. These are just a few sectors where U.S. farmers are being threatened. In some cases, free-trade markets are making it cheaper for American food chains to import some fruits and vegetables from Latin America as opposed to buying the same produce from American farmers.

The end? Maybe not. Different - most certainly.

Hurricanes and other Hot Wind...

2005-08-31T13:20:00.000-04:00

I might just be sick. Sometimes you read things and you wonder whether they're satirical... and are saddened, no - shocked - to discover they are not.

As I write this, there are bodies literally floating through the streets of New Orleans. The assembled resources of the nation are rushing to help the Louisiana/Mississipi area in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Many are calling it the greatest urban natural disaster in US history.

So what does Robert Kennedy Junior, the head of the activist group Waterkeeper Alliance do to chip in?

Kennedy says the hurricane is deserved because of US policies on global warming.

Unbelievable, but true. In a blog entry titled “For They That Sow the Wind Shall Reap the Whirlwind” he blames former Mississipi Governor Haley Barbour and his reluctance to embrace Kyoto whilst Barbour was chair of the Republican National Committee.

Apparently, I'm not the only one who finds this reprehensible - if not absolutely assinine. Especially when it comes to timing.

Some of the comments posted below the blog entry should be taken to heart, Robert:
------------------------
I can't believe it but I think you are being entirely serious. You really seem to believe that Gov. Barbour's rejection of Kyoto is responsible for this hurricane.

I declare this to be an instant HuffPo classic. Satire is - once again - made redundant.
------------------------
Please tell me you just didn't find a way to politicize a natural disaster. Sigh...
-----------------------
So republicans are now responsible for the hurricanes? I think there's a reason we can't win elections....
-----------------------

The Science of Addictions - Real or Imagined?

2005-08-28T23:09:00.000-04:00

I don't doubt for a second, and would never dispute, the sad realities of addictions, especially to a drug or other chemical substance.

One can argue the brain will release chemicals under mental stimulation, which act in a similar manner. I'm not going to claim to be an expert on the subject, but one would assume this is the argument that goes into claiming gambling can be an addiction.

But even so - where does one draw the line between claiming a gambling addiction as a disease versus the complete lack of personal responsibility?

Take the case of Paul Burrell. The Nova Scotia native gambled away a $200,000 worker's compensation settlement, family savings of $80,000 and roughly $200,000 from his remortgaged house and personal loans.

His response? He lodged a complaint with the Nova Scotia Alcohol and Gaming Authority, the agency that enforces the casino regulations.

Burrell has also threatened to the sue the provincial government.

So is Burrell suffering a legitimate disease? Or is he just an irresponsible fool?

Common Sense? Fat Chance...

2005-08-25T17:00:00.000-04:00

Everyone, say it with me now... "personal responsibility." Sound it out if you have to. It's not hard... just accept it.

Only in the land where fast food restaurants are sued for 'making people fat' would a doctor be sued for telling a patient she needed to lose weight.

How does someone even come up with a witty comment on this?

If anything, it just proves that often times, facts, data and actual science are irrelevant. Absolutely useless. What is essential is understanding how to deliver a message which may often create an emotional backlash.

Perhaps this Doctor was too blunt, or not sympathetic enough, but does anyone disagree that obesity is a serious health issue? Of course not. So in effect, this doctor faces disciplinary action for not knowing how to deliver a message.

Something to think about.

Kentucky Fried Activists...

2005-08-09T17:08:00.000-04:00

It's the story of one plucky group of activists, dedicated to save a group of chickens from a painful plucking. And a giant multi-national corporation responding with "Pluck You."

(Sorry - I can't help myself sometimes.)

PETA - the notorious animal rights group - and KFC, the chicken fast food retailer are going toe-to-toe in a fight over animal welfare practices.

But this time, unlike those that have gone before them, such as Wendy's, Burger King or McDonalds, KFC isn't backing down.

PETA grew accustomed to scaring large, sensitive corporations with their bullying tactics and wild media campaigns. After taking on the big granddaddy of fastfood, McDonalds, they expected other corporations to follow suit. Specifically, they wanted KFC to change the way they slaughtered their chickens.

KFC disagreed. And PETA isn't taking the lack of cooperation from KFC in stride. In fact, they've stepped up their rhetoric and now seem hell bent on scaring the crap out of hapless consumers.

"In Ft. Wayne, Ind., for example, a PETA intern dressed in a chicken suit spent an hour-long protest in a wheelchair, going back and forth through a busy intersection. The "stunt boy" from local radio station "Wild 96.3" trailed the intern, holding out a bucket of chicken and asking, "Is this your brother or your aunt?"

Will the 'Kentucky Fried Cruelty' campaign have any effect? Not to some consumers - "KFC customer Tiffany Mueller looked on, gnawing on a piece of chicken.

"It all tastes the same to me," Mueller said.

Arctic Pollution Linked to Bird Droppings

2005-07-15T15:38:00.000-04:00

The sky is falling, the ice is melting, the arctic is slipping away.

The world's media have been inundated with disaster stories about the state of arctic environment for the last several years. Greenpeace tried to claim that global warming would melt the arctic and flood out Manhattan island, while numerous activist groups have attempted to portray the arctic as nothing more than a toxic hazardous waste dump.

It turns out the biggest polluter of the arctic environment may be...

... wait for it now...

birds.

Specifically, bird poo.

"Wind currents and human activities long have been blamed for fouling the pristine Arctic. But a study by a group of Canadian researchers found that the chemical pollution in areas frequented by seabirds can be many times higher than in nearby regions."

Interestingly enough, birds are also being blamed elsewhere across the globe for holding up development of clean, renewable windpower.

I think we've discovered the true environmental villain here. Maybe Greenpeace can take advantage and change their slogan to "Save the Whales... and Kill Some Birds While You're at it!"

Farm Aid goes Hollywood

2005-07-12T11:12:00.000-04:00

It was twenty years ago - a benefit concert to help cash-strapped farmers called "Farm-Aid" featuring some of the biggest music stars around.

The assembled star-power of the music industry today is gathering to do the same... but while it's often said, "The more things change, the more they stay the same," I'm not sure that can be said this time.

The same stars - John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Willy Nelson - are gathering September 18 in Illinois for another benefit "Farm-Aid" concert. But will this "Farm-Aid" benefit average farmers?

Not even a little bit.

"A growing demand for organic products is giving a boost to their efforts to raise millions of dollars to help the people who work the land. "A lot more people are interested in finding out where their food comes from now than they were 20 years ago. And as they find out more and more about it, they agree with us that it is important to keep the family farmer on the land growing organic food," said Nelson."

"Growing organic food." Hmmm.... I had no idea that the average family farmer was growing organic. In fact, they're not. The organic industry rakes in far less than 5% of the average crop growth each year.

But don't let Nelson be your guide - John Mellencamp said Farm Aid helps "level the playing field for small farmers who are waging a battle against corporate interests.

"Farm Aid has always been about a dream of equality for the little guy," Mellencamp said.

Wow... not only had I no idea that John Mellencam was an expert in corporate governance for family farms, I also had no idea that agriculture was being dominated by corporate interests.

These guys are afraid of reality. Unfortunately, when they spend their collective time and effort to promote a stereotype that doesn't exist, they ultimately do a disservice to the cause they represent.