I'm disappointed to see that you have bought into the false dichotomy
presented by the programme. It really isn't a case of shall we tackle
climate change or should we allow economic development in the poorer
parts of the world? In fact one of the great ironies of the distorted
view presented in the programme is that it failed to mention the
evidence that poorer countries will suffer more because of climate
change unless they receive serious help from the developed world to
adapt effectively and limit the impacts. Poor countries, like rich
countries, have no option but to face up to the challenge of climate
change - if they don't bear the cost of mitigation then they will have
to bear the cost of adaptation.

Although the programme appeared to accept that climate change is
happening (although some of the subsequent comments attributed to Durkin
cast doubt even on that), it didn't consider what we should do in
response. Are there any mitigation options - presumably not if it's all
due to the Sun? How do we adapt? Maybe those important issues didn't
seem as interesting to the programme-maker as rubbishing climate
research.

And yes I agree that debate over policy options is useful and it is
important that scientists make clear the areas of uncertainty and
contention in their research. But the misrepresentations in the
programme gave a false sense of where the uncertainties in the science
are. It seems to me that the programme-maker was so busy prosecuting his
case against climate researchers (remember Channel Four has defended it
on the grounds that it was a "polemic") that he didn't have the time (or
inclination) to present the science accurately.

Bob Ward
Director, Global Science Networks
 
Risk Management Solutions Ltd
Peninsular House
30 Monument Street
London
EC3R 8NB
 
Tel. +44 (0) 20 7444 7741
Blackberry +44 (0) 7710 333687
 
www.rms.com
 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Timandra Harkness
Sent: 05 April 2007 15:37
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] FW: Complaint about 'The Great Global Warming
Swindle'

That is, of course, a response that keeps our own importance in
perspective.
However, it's worth remembering that we look to science both to assess
the problem, and to come up with a range of potential solutions. 
If a large proportion of humanity did lose faith in science, our impact
on the climate, along with other great challenges to humanity like
disease, famine, the continuing improvement of human quality of life,
and so on, would become much harder even to understand, let alone to
solve. 
If science is invoked only to push a political agenda, why should
anybody trust scientists, even where a strong consensus exists? Too many
people try to close down debate by saying "It's the science, stupid!". 
Too many people already die in floods, earthquakes, of starvation, etc.
and if our response to the prospect of global warming is to restrict the
development of poorer societies, they will continue to do so. Limiting
human activity is not a no-cost option, especially for those in the
developing world. 
That's the hard question put by the Durkin programme, and knocking down
the shonky science is not going to make it go away.

Timandra Harkness

Director
engaging cogs
engineering in the public mind

First Floor, Signet House
49 - 51 Farringdon Road
London EC1M 3JP
tel. +44 (0) 203 206 0010
mob. +44 (0) 7958 988689
[log in to unmask]
www.engagingcogs.org 

-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Sophia Collins
Sent: 05 April 2007 15:10
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] FW: Complaint about 'The Great Global Warming
Swindle'

Terribly important as the prestige of science is, I can't help feeling
that a large proportion of humanity losing faith in science is a price
I'm willing to pay if the alternative is a large proportion of humanity
dying of

starvation, in floods, us disastrously perturbing the ecosystem, etc.

Of course I can't speak for all scientists and science communicators,
but I vote we volunteer to take it on the chin. Fingers crossed the
'man-made global warming lobby' is wrong, eh?

>From: William Gibson <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: "psci-com: on public engagement with science"              
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] FW: Complaint about 'The Great Global Warming 
>Swindle'
>Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2007 14:09:54 +0100
>
> >>>I am forwarding below the cover letter for my complaint and would 
> >>>be
> >willing to supply on request to anybody on the list a copy of the 
> >accompanying document that outlines seven major misrepresentations in

> >the programme.
>
>Hi there
>
>I'd love to receive that document too, thank you. I'm certainly not 
>illiterate in science, and yet I'm finding this whole global warming 
>issue confusing. I hate to think what the man on the street is
thinking.
>
>I REALLY hope the 'man-made global warming' lobby is right.
>
>Because if it isn't, and 30 years from now the world looks back and 
>laughs at this scaremongering (much like we do at 'the ice age cometh' 
>alarm of the 70s), then we certainly won't be in a position to complain

>if a large proportion of humanity loses faith in science altogether.
>
>WG
>
>**********************************************************************
>1. To suspend yourself from the list, whilst on leave, for example, 
>send an email to [log in to unmask] with the following message:
>set psci-com nomail
>2. To resume email from the list, send the following message:
>set psci-com mail
>3. To leave psci-com, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the
>message:
>leave psci-com
>4. Further information about the psci-com discussion list, including 
>list archive, can be found at the list web site:
>http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/psci-com.html
>5. The psci-com gateway to internet resources on science communication 
>and science and society can be found at http://psci-com.ac.uk
>**********************************************************************

_________________________________________________________________
Mortgage rates near historic lows. Refinance $200,000 loan for as low as
$771/month*
https://www2.nextag.com/goto.jsp?product=100000035&url=%2fst.jsp&tm=y&se
arch
=mortgage_text_links_88_h27f8&disc=y&vers=689&s=4056&p=5117

**********************************************************************
1. To suspend yourself from the list, whilst on leave, for example, send
an email to [log in to unmask] with the following message:
set psci-com nomail
2. To resume email from the list, send the following message:
set psci-com mail
3. To leave psci-com, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the
message:
leave psci-com
4. Further information about the psci-com discussion list, including
list archive, can be found at the list web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/psci-com.html
5. The psci-com gateway to internet resources on science communication
and science and society can be found at http://psci-com.ac.uk
**********************************************************************

**********************************************************************
1. To suspend yourself from the list, whilst on leave, for example, send
an email to [log in to unmask] with the following message:
set psci-com nomail
2. To resume email from the list, send the following message:
set psci-com mail
3. To leave psci-com, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the
message:
leave psci-com
4. Further information about the psci-com discussion list, including
list archive, can be found at the list web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/psci-com.html
5. The psci-com gateway to internet resources on science communication
and science and society can be found at http://psci-com.ac.uk
**********************************************************************



This message and any attachments contain information that may be RMS Inc. 
confidential and/or privileged.  If you are not the intended recipient 
(or authorized to receive for the intended recipient), and have received 
this message in error, any use, disclosure or distribution is strictly 
prohibited.   If you have received this message in error, please notify 
the sender immediately by replying to the e-mail and permanently deleting 
the message from your computer and/or storage system.

**********************************************************************
1. To suspend yourself from the list, whilst on leave, for example,
send an email to [log in to unmask] with the following message:
set psci-com nomail
2. To resume email from the list, send the following message:
set psci-com mail
3. To leave psci-com, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the message:
leave psci-com
4. Further information about the psci-com discussion list, including list archive,
can be found at the list web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/psci-com.html
5. The psci-com gateway to internet resources on science communication and science
and society can be found at http://psci-com.ac.uk
**********************************************************************