April Fools Award: Many nations have an informal holiday falling on, or about, April 1, which in some nations is called April Fools' Day. The holiday is marked by pranks and tricks played upon others. Some of these tricks may be in merriment, others may be quite serious. In recognizing that day, Science and Environmental Policy Project (SEPP) plans to give an Annual April Fools' Award to the government official or political leader, who, in the determination of a special SEPP panel is the most deserving. The criteria are as follows: The official has advanced, or proposes to advance, significant expansion of governmental power, regulation, or control over the public or significant sections of the general economy. The official does so by declaring such measures are necessary to protect public health, welfare, or the environment. The official declared that physical science supports such measures. The physical science supporting the measures is flimsy at best, and possibly non-existent. All readers of TWTW are invited to nominate a government official in their country as possible recipients of the award, provided that country is generally recognized as having a democratic system of government with protection of individual freedom of speech. Please send the nomination to Ken with a one to two sentence explanation why that official is most deserving. The winning nominee will be announced in TWTW at the end of April.

Free use is granted for non-commercial purposes of all materials on this Website. Acknowledgement would be appreciated. SEPP is funded through the generous contributions of individuals such as yourself. (c) Copyright 2010 Science and Environmental Policy Project