The Evilutionary Biologist: Science Debate Update

From the ScienceDebate2008 team:

In response to the broad and growing interest in Science Debate 2008, the AAAS held a candidates forum in Boston last week and we got terrific coverage, though only two campaigns sent representatives. You can read about it here, and find other news stories on our home page.

Former White House Chief of Staff John Podesta told the candidates in a video last week that they need to come to Science Debate 2008 in Philadelphia - it's important to the future of our country and to the future of the planet.

You can see John Podesta's video here, along with videos to the candidates from John Porter, Neal Lane, Rita Colwell, and other high-profile supporters. We encourage you to embed these videos in your own site and to email the links to them widely. Check back frequently as we post more.

Over 100 major universities and other leading organizations have now signed on, as have the CEOs of leading tech companies including Intel, Texas Instruments and many others, over 70 university presidents, congresspersons of both major parties, present and former presidential science advisory committee members, and over 17,000 of America's leading scientists, engineers, executives, and concerned citizens. The list is astonishing.

All told, we now represent over 125 million American voters. From the health of the economy to the health of our families to the health of the planet, Americans understand what the candidates have yet to fully grapple with: issues of science and technology are critical to our future.

Despite the importance of this discussion to all Americans, we haven't yet heard back from the campaigns.

So we need your help. This is a unique moment in American history when you can truly influence the future direction of the nation and the world by helping us elevate science and technology in our national political dialogue.

If you run an organization, we need your office to contact the campaigns, direct them to the videos and the invitation, urge them to RSVP to this debate for the sake of America and the planet, and encourage your members to action.

If you are an individual, we need you to contact the campaigns directly and urge them to accept our invitation, which they can see on our site, in case they have lost their copies. We suggest you watch the videos for ideas of what to say, or borrow from the written statements. We also encourage you to write letters to the editor of your local paper of 200 words or less, telling people about Science Debate 2008 and urging the candidates to attend for the good of America.

Please email, call, and write the campaigns here:

Email, call the Clinton campaign at (703) 469-2008 and write to Hillary Clinton for President 4420 North Fairfax Drive Arlington, VA 22203
Email, call the Huckabee campaign at (501) 324-2008 and write to Huckabee for President, Inc. P.O. Box 2008 Little Rock, Arkansas 72203
Email, call the McCain campaign at (703) 418-2008 and write to John McCain 2008 P.O. Box 16118 Arlington, VA 22215
Email, call the Obama campaign at (866) 675-2008, and write to Obama for America P.O. Box 8102 Chicago, IL 60680