Global warming debate engineered by corporations
Justin Gero
Issue date: 8/24/07 Section: Ed-Op
Before Al Gore's Live Earth concerts, Fox News' John Gibson expressed his anger that NBC was only showing one side of a "controversial political issue." Gibson completely misses the point; Gore and other advocates for environmental policy change aren't speaking to people about the politics, this is about the science and impact it's having on our lives. When it comes to the science, there is no debate.
For global-warming deniers, science and politics are interchangeable. This isn't surprising. A close look reveals no valid scientific research supports their claims. Earlier this month Time magazine reported that ExxonMobil is paying scientists $10,000 to write articles that undercut reports that show global warming is man-made. They spent $19 million in the pursuit to keep the American public, and the American government, ignorant of the extent of the problem. The money attracted scientists willing to bend and spin the evidence for an easy 10 grand. If the science really was on their side it's doubtful they would have to spend millions to get scientists to speak up about it. Unfortunately, the tactic has been hugely successful. Polls suggest that despite tremendous awareness efforts by environmentalists like Al Gore, Americans are more ignorant about global warming than both Europeans and the Japanese, where climate experts and the public are on the same page.
America used to be the country on the cutting edge. We used to be the country that was constantly driving forward and innovating. This used to be a country that respected the knowledge and the expertise of our scientists and engineers. It was a can-do attitude that drove this country to constantly improve and change the way we use technology. Today we have been overcome by a mindset that tells us that we can't. We're told we can't trust the science, we can't innovate, we can't invest in cleaner energy policies. We're told it'll cost too much money or that American workers will lose too many jobs. We're fed unsubstantiated lies and myths about the horrors and the dangers of going green.
For global-warming deniers, science and politics are interchangeable. This isn't surprising. A close look reveals no valid scientific research supports their claims. Earlier this month Time magazine reported that ExxonMobil is paying scientists $10,000 to write articles that undercut reports that show global warming is man-made. They spent $19 million in the pursuit to keep the American public, and the American government, ignorant of the extent of the problem. The money attracted scientists willing to bend and spin the evidence for an easy 10 grand. If the science really was on their side it's doubtful they would have to spend millions to get scientists to speak up about it. Unfortunately, the tactic has been hugely successful. Polls suggest that despite tremendous awareness efforts by environmentalists like Al Gore, Americans are more ignorant about global warming than both Europeans and the Japanese, where climate experts and the public are on the same page.
America used to be the country on the cutting edge. We used to be the country that was constantly driving forward and innovating. This used to be a country that respected the knowledge and the expertise of our scientists and engineers. It was a can-do attitude that drove this country to constantly improve and change the way we use technology. Today we have been overcome by a mindset that tells us that we can't. We're told we can't trust the science, we can't innovate, we can't invest in cleaner energy policies. We're told it'll cost too much money or that American workers will lose too many jobs. We're fed unsubstantiated lies and myths about the horrors and the dangers of going green.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Dennis
posted 8/24/07 @ 11:30 AM EST
Justin,
Is this the kind of indoctrination they are teaching at Drexel? Never let the facts get in the way of global warming alarmism. Let's review some shall we? Facts:
"They spent $19 million in the pursuit to keep the American public, and the American government, ignorant of the extent of the problem. (Continued…)
Sean
posted 8/24/07 @ 12:47 PM EST
Justin
Actually, the IPCC report concluded that there is a GREATER THAN 90 percent chance that human activity is causing global warming.
Many scientists on the panel wanted to peg it as a greater than 99% chance, but of course beurocrats from places like the US and China forced them to compromise the language to make it weaker. (Continued…)
Lux Gurusamy
posted 8/24/07 @ 1:06 PM EST
encore please...
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