Environmental Activists Want David Koch Off WGBH Board

David Koch

Environmental activists are planning to deliver a 70,000-signature petition and picket the trustees' meeting WEDNESDAY (10/9) at WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION noncommercial WGBH-F and PBS affiliates WGBH-TV and WGBX-TV/BOSTON calling for DAVID KOCH of the libertarian/conservative billionaire KOCH BROTHERS to be thrown off the organization's board.

The BOSTON HERALD reports that KOCH has donated $18.6 million to WGBH since 1982, $10 million of which went to produce the TV science series NOVA.  The environmental groups allege that the KOCH BROTHERS are behind "mislead(ing) the public about climate change," said FORECAST THE FACTS' EMILY SOUTHARD.  The station said that the donations do not influence programming.

“We can unequivocally state that DAVID KOCH has never interfered with or tried to influence WGBH’s programming decisions,” said KOCH COMPANIES Spokeswoman MELISSA COHLMIA. “Further, he has no intention to resign from the board of WGBH."

KOCH resigned from OBS affiliate WNET-TV/NEWARK-NEW YORK's board earlier this year.

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