The Havre de Grace Green Team's FREE environmental documentary series returns to the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum with Merchants of Doubt - a fascinating documentary about the distracting public relations tactics originally developed by the tobacco industry.

Based on the book by Naomi Oreskes and Eric Conway, this film traces the use of public relations tactics that were originally developed by the tobacco industry to protect their business from research revealing health risks from smoking. The most prominent of these tactics is the cultivation of scientists and others who successfully cast doubt on scientific results.

The film contains performances by a magician, supporting the analogy between the techniques of professional magicians and those of public relations organizations: magicians distract their audiences from observing how illusions are performed; public relations firms distract the public from the risks associated with products.

A discussion will follow.

BELOW: Watch the official trailer for Merchants of Doubt.

Length: 96 minutes

Year: 2014