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foiac.org Freedom of Information Advocacy Coalition |
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MISSION
FOIAC was incorporated in 2003 to promote the principle that a well-informed and actively engaged citizenry is a prerequisite for a healthier, safer and more resilient democratic society. The general public depends on government science in many areas that impact our safety and well-being: transportation, food, pharmaceutical, environment, national security, and many others.
Government agencies often have to contend with various private interests that can be in conflict with the public interest. In an era when many rich and powerful interests lavishly lobby for their respective agendas, FOIAC is engaging the citizenry to become better informed. FOIAC promotes familiarity with the Freedom of Information laws as essential tools for citizens and the media to hold government agencies accountable.
FOIAC also supports the urgent call by the Union of Concerned Scientists for re-establishing scientific integrity in federal agencies. Since its release in early 2004, more than 5,000 scientists, including 48 Nobel Laureates, 62 National Medal of Science recipients and 132 members of the National Academy of Science have co-signed a statement denouncing the increasing prevalence of the abuse of science by federal agencies. See: http://www.UCSUSA.org and for the UCS 2004 report Scientific Integrity in Policy Making, go to http://www.ucsusa.org/global_environment/rsi/page.cfm?pageID=1449
FOIAC promotes and provides education relating to the concepts embodied in the federal Freedom of Information Act and its important fundamental principles of transparent and open government.
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