VOLUME 9 / NUMBER 3 / FALL 2006 TrustThe Pew Charitable Trusts Beyond Hawaii: A Permanent Marine Park Religion in Foreign Policy Ready for the Next Pandemic? Notes from the President That this fragile environment needed always merged the two, and Americans extraordinary conservation action must recognize that fact, particularly was not guesswork but the result of in foreign affairs and in an era of many studies in biology, oceanography, faith-based conflicts. history, cultural heritage and policy. To shed light on religion’s effect Navigation “Successful ocean stewardship,” on U.S. foreign relations, the forum, a the president said when he made his project of the Pew Research Center, is declaration, “depends on informed raising the pertinent question: What “ policy makers and an informed public.” role, if any, should religion play in nowledge may have its pur- The Trusts could not agree more, the making of U.S. foreign policy? Kposes,” wrote the poet W. H. and we are proud to support good Through convenings and publications, Auden, “but guessing is always more science as well as the wise steward- the forum offers reasoned ways to fun than knowing.” ship of this spectacular resource for reduce the guessing and provide He has a point: People with an abun- future generations. diplomats a navigational tool for their dance of knowledge are not always Hawaiians have an incisive name important negotiations. the greatest visionaries. Thomas for this territory—the Kupuna, or Edison’s contemporary Henry Morton, Ancestor, Islands, because, like wisdom- nowledge, and not guess- a distinguished physicist, chemist bearing elders, this natural marine work, is also the basis for and educator, called the inventor’s environment is a laboratory of ocean the Trusts’ initiative in claims for the incandescent lamp “a life and diversity that expands our pandemic preparedness. fraud upon the public.” (Edison’s retort: knowledge and teaches respect for KThere are fundamental unknowns He’d build a statue of Morton and marine ecosystems, which are noth- about the next public health crisis. illuminate it with light bulbs.) ing less than the foundation of our No one can predict with certainty even In an editorial in 1920, The New York planet’s life-support system. what it might be—avian flu, a toxic Times rejected the science on which spill, a bioterrorist chemical release or rocket scientist Robert Goddard based nowing also beats guessing a natural disaster like a hurricane—or his claim that travel to the moon could in understanding the role of when or where it will occur. But we all be possible, saying, “He only seems religion in American foreign know that planning trumps chaos. to lack the knowledge ladled out daily policy. Religious feeling and And it must be based on good infor- in high school.” (On July 17, 1969, as Kexpression have always strongly influ- mation, including reliable disease- Apollo 11 was in flight, the newspaper enced the nation’s political processes, tracking and early detection, effective printed a correction, noting, “The and polls by the Pew Research Center vaccines and medicines, clearly articu- Times regrets the error.”) and others show that Americans want lated duties and well-coordinated, In 1946, movie mogul Daryl F. Zanuck their elected officials to hold religious functioning communication. derided television’s potential: “People beliefs. Yet polls also show that many Trust for America’s Health is ensur- will soon get tired of staring at a ply- Americans prefer religious commit- ing that key decision-makers at the wood box every night.” And in 1977 ments to be kept personal rather than federal, state and local levels are devel- Ken Olsen, founder of the computer- overtly directed to influence policy. oping plans to manage the effects of a making Digital Equipment Company, Up to recently, that view constituted major public health crisis such as pan- said, “There is no reason anyone would a majority and reflected how the peo- demic flu. The project is also engaging in want a computer in their home.” ple’s business was conducted—includ- preparedness exercises to help partici- We definitely do not want to be so ing foreign relations. As Luis Lugo, pants navigate a very uncertain future. mired in detail, analysis or accepted the director of the Pew Forum on We must be ready to confront any thinking that we censor our imagina- Religion & Public Life, puts it, “Much potential hazard with good data that tion. But knowledge can help us doubt of the American diplomatic establish- inform smart strategy. To turn Auden’s wisely, making it easier to avoid pitfalls ment for quite some time has believed idea on its head: Guessing may be and expand the possibilities. that religion is best left to the private fun, but we are more likely to address realm and should not intrude on the difficult problems effectively when we elying on a solid base of practice of statecraft.” bring the power of knowledge to bear facts, President George W. The Pew Research Center has for the public good. Bush in June established documented Americans’ increasing the Northwestern Hawaiian acceptance of religion in politics. But Rebecca W. Rimel RIslands National Marine Monument. the politics of many other nations have President and CEO Trust / Fall 2006 1 Trust The Pew Charitable Trusts VOLUME 9 NUMBER 3 FALL 2006 Trust Policy Faraway, Natural and Beautiful— Published three times a year by And It’ll Stay That Way 2 The Pew Charitable Trusts © 2006 The Pew Charitable Trusts A marine sanctuary in Hawaii became a national monument in June, saving this ISSN: 1540-4587 environmental treasure permanently. The Board of Information The Pew Charitable Trusts Robert H. Campbell Eyes Wide Shut Susan W. Catherwood 12 Religion has a vital role in foreign policy. Gloria Twine Chisum Many people try to ignore it, but, like the Alan J. Davis proverbial elephant in the room, it’s J. Howard Pew II there, regardless. J.N. Pew IV, M.D. Mary Catharine Pew, M.D. R. Anderson Pew Policy Sandy Ford Pew If and When the Time Comes Rebecca W. Rimel 19 Robert G. Williams Is the U.S. ready to confront a flu Ethel Benson Wister pandemic successfully? Trust for America’s Health is working on pan- demic preparedness. President and CEO Rebecca W. Rimel Managing Director of Public Affairs Deborah L. Hayes Departments The Pew Charitable Trusts serves the public Editor interest by providing information, advanc- Marshall A. Ledger NOTES FROM THE PRESIDENT Inside ing policy solutions and supporting civic front life. Based in Philadelphia, with an office Knowledge helps us steer. cover in Washington, D.C., the Trusts will invest Editorial Assistants $248 million in fiscal year 2007 to provide Colleen A. Miller organizations and citizens with fact-based Renee S. Wagoner research and practical solutions for chal- LESSONS LEARNED lenging issues. One Commerce Square Report cards. 26 The Trusts, an independent nonprofit, is 2005 Market Street, Ste. 1700 the sole beneficiary of seven individual charitable funds established between 1948 Philadelphia, PA 19103-7077 and 1979 by two sons and two daughters of Phone 215.575.9050 RECENT GRANTS AND Sun Oil Company founder Joseph N. Pew ALLOCATIONS and his wife, Mary Anderson Pew. On the Internet: 29 The official registration and financial www.pewtrusts.org information of The Pew Charitable Trusts may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, Design/Art Direction BRIEFINGS within Pennsylvania, 1.800.732.0999. Lewis & Nobel Design Gen Next and Judy Woodruff, PEJ, Registration does not imply endorsement. SoundAboutPhilly, Creative Philanthropy33 (the book), Pew Internet Project exam- ines blogs, Pew Biomedical Scholars win prizes. Kimberlee Acquaro’s Rwanda, Portfolio’s data on the local arts scene. Cover art: Northwest of Hawaii, La Pérouse LETTERS Pinnacle at French Frigate Shoals. See credits on pages 2-11. 34 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2 Policy FARAWAY, F O R M O R Trust E T H / Fall2006 A N A T H NATURAL O U S A N D M I L E S N O R T AND H W E S T O B F H A W EAUT IFUL A I A I, L L Y O U C A N D O I S L O O – K AND . A N D T H IT’LL E R E ’ S M O STAY R E T H A N E N THAT O U G H TO F ILL TH E EYE. WAY Trust / Fall 2006 3 AND – IT’LL THAT T IFUL STAY WAY By Colin Woodard Athousand miles northwest of the freeways and high-rises of Honolulu, there is another Hawaii, a sprawling chain of uninhabited islands, atolls and submerged reefs sheltering one of the most spectacular marine ecosystems in the world. Now, in a move sup- ported by the Trusts, it has be- come the world’s largest marine . protected area. E Y E The Northwestern Hawaiian E H Islands, which stretch for 1,200 T L miles across the north-central IL F , II O Pacific, are literally in the A T F H O AW A G middle of nowhere, so R H L U M F L O O O Y N R T OU E E T ES C AN HAN HW AN TH A T ORT D RE HOUSA ILES N O IS MO ND M LOOK. ERE’S AND TH La Pérouse Pinnacle at French Frigate Shoals. 4 “This federalactioncomplementsourAd- “This doingjusticetotheocean.” “We’re youadditallup,it’saworld-class “When National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as anaturalandculturallegacy the 1,200-milechainofatollsandreefs tive Hawaiianorganizations willpreserve environmental conservationists andNa- between stateandfederalgover rine refuge.