Bob, I did read the letter, and regard it as not only a pointless  
exercise, but potentially damaging to the science case for  
anthropogenic global warming.

Channel 4 is a commercial entity that makes money for its  
shareholders. The TV channel may be bound by a code of conduct when  
it comes to what it can broadcast, but Wag TV is free to distribute  
the DVD, and I'm not sure how it could be otherwise. While it doesn't  
give me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside, neither am I particularly  
troubled by it.

We are surrounded by wild claims, ideological nonsense,  
misrepresentations and even outright lies. But it is not for the  
state through its regulatory bodies, or assemblies of the great and  
good, to pronounce on what information may or may not be published.  
So challenge Durkin, show him to be the dissembler he undoubtedly is.  
But win the battle by force of argument. The data are on your side,  
and do not require backing up with bullying tactics.

I will not withdraw my statement about the SMC being associated with  
the RCP cult. Sophia Collins helpfully provides a link to the  
Sourcewatch page on the SMC, but there are many, many other public  
sources of information on this and associated organisations.

Fiona Fox was a prolific contributor to the RCP's Living Marxism  
magazine and monthly review journal. In December 1995 Fox had  
published in LM (under the pseudonym Fiona Foster) an article  
entitled "Massacring the truth in Rwanda", which led to outrage in  
Africa and the west. Even the Nazi-hunting Wiesenthal Centre entered  
the fray to denounce Fox.

As for Lloyd Anderson's question about a potential mix-up between  
Claire and Fiona Fox, I should point out that the women in question  
are sisters, and both used the alias "Foster" when working for the RCP.

In her LM writings, Fiona Fox focused largely on Ireland, and was for  
a time head of the Irish Freedom Movement, a front for the RCP that  
was vocal in its support for the "armed struggle". The RCP opposed  
the peace process from start.

The transformation of Fox into a science pundit is fascinating,  
especially given that she has no scientific qualifications. Fox is a  
journalism graduate, and her professional background, like that off  
many RCP associates, is in political spinning and PR.

If the SMC is more 'moderate' than its sister organisations, that is  
down to its association with the Royal Institution, Greenfield,  
Taverne et al. Elspeth Bartlet refers to the SMC and GM. Almost all  
the GM stories that come out of the SMC are strongly pro-GM. Now I'm  
critically pro-GM, but I have to say that much of the pro-GM  
propaganda published by certain science and industry lobby groups  
leaves me cold. George Monbiot, with whom I seldom agree, was quite  
right to highlight the SMC's vicious attacks on GM critics. Politics  
dressed up with a little science is a dangerous thing, and is  
inimical to critical thinking.

The Science Media Centre, Sense about Science and myriad other  
associated organisations are political lobby groups, not credible  
science outreach initiatives.

Francis


On 25 Apr 07, at 10:37, Bob Ward wrote:

> I don't think it is unreasonable for scientists to object to the
> distribution of inaccurate information.  Given that Wag TV are able to
> exploit a loophole in regulations, an appeal to them to act in the
> public interest seems to be the only option open. At the very least,
> hopefully the letter will at least raise awareness of the major
> misrepresentations in the programme.


--
Dr Francis Sedgemore
Freelance journalist and science writer
tlf: +44.7840191336; web: http://skysong.eu

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