School roadshow is pro-oil propaganda

Climate Justice Taranaki (CJT) want schools to say NO to the “What Lives
Down Under?” challenge and roadshow that is to tour Taranaki towns and
schools this week. The project is run by NZ Oil and Gas, Tag Oil and Beach
Energy. “Although pitched as an educational resource about dinosaurs, the
so-called ‘true facts’ read more like pro-oil propaganda than scientific
facts,” said CJT's Catherine Cheung.

The online challenge uses the same old mantra: “Everyone uses oil and gas
every day. We can’t live in the modern world without it...” to sell what
truly is a by-gone technology and dwindling resource from the era of the
dinosaurs.

"Kids these days know that their future will be fraught with the
catastrohpic effects of climate change. The use of fossil fuels is the
number one culprit and these oil companies should be ashamed of themselves
thinking they can throw prizes to kids and tell lies about the oil
industry's involvement." said CJT's Emily Bailey.

“No word is said about the environmental damage and social injustice
caused by the fossil fuel industry in the last 200 years (a wink in
Earth’s history). Nor the inevitable climate change catastrophes of
burning even just a third of the remaining known reserve. To skip these
‘true facts’ is not only wrong but socially irresponsible when the
information is targeting school children. Being a parent, I for one,
object to having such blatant propaganda reach my child at school,”
continued Catherine Cheung.

For those schools that have agreed to participate in the road-show, CJT
urge the teachers involved to prepare themselves so they can help students
to view the resources not only with informed and critical minds, but to
come up with real 'true facts' and alternatives.

"Things are going to be very different in the future and it's our kids who
will be in charge then. We need to provide them with proven sustainable
solutions now so that they will continue to thrive on a healthy planet"
concluded Bailey. "Oil is dead."

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