The GWPF have found an unlikely enemy, The Times, firstly because of
Aaronovitch's undressing of the foundation for what it is,
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/david_aaronovitch/article6928868.ece,
and then because they have not printed their letters to complain about
this
http://www.thegwpf.org/news/203-the-letter-the-times-wouldnt-publish.html.
I've had many issues with The Times, but recently I have noticed a
concerted effort to put together some reasonable science reporting and
extended issues of magazines on climate change and surrounding political
and economic debates. Which is most unlike their Murdoch stablemate the
Wall Street Journal. Curious times (excuse the pun).
I was wondering whether anyone listened to Radio 4's the Moral Maze as
it took on science (and seemed to be a platform for science bashing,
climate change bashing, and elevating and politicians to being bearers
of truth)? It seemed to sum up so much of what is wrong about the
relationship between science, (which I define as process), and media and
politics which is only interested in so-called 'facts' when it suits
them. I 'hope' their display of ignorance on scientific process,
peer-review and funding was willful and only to try to make their
world-view the dominant message of the programme...or else we have
serious problems. For example they suggest that funding will only go to
teams working on and supporting zeitgeisty subjects like climate
change, thus forgoing the huge influence of corporate sponsorship in
research, as an example they say no one would get funding to work on
coal burning techniques! Evidently there is no work pertaining to the
advancement of the fossil-fuel industry being carried out then? Ahem.
They go on to suggest that scientists bring their world views into their
work, massage the results and launch them straight into the public
domain, and don't get enough scrutiny. Anyone who has suffered a 12
month wait with a journal to get a paper accepted, only to find many
peers want to take a shot at it, will wonder at such statements.
Academia is like democracy, the least worst system for describing the
world around us and advancing society. It is not a purveyor of absolute
truths, but is a dynamic entity, and provides the best answers available
at the time using a transparent process in a community of trained
professionals. If people suspect science's position is too lofty or that
scientists are being elevated too high in society, then why not look at
the simplistic scientific representation in the media which only talks
of facts, and suggests new evidence or theories shows the process is at
best unsure of the world around.
I shan't bore you with any moredetails of what the program said, but if
you get the chance to listen to it, do.
Best,
Jonathan
Alastair McIntosh wrote:
> Very interesting. I'm pretty sure it was Ian Byatt that I met at a
> recent climate change event in Glasgow. Pig ignorant and bombastic, if
> it was him, but powerful in establishment circles -
> http://www.spinprofiles.org/index.php/Ian_Byatt
>
> A.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* Discussion list for the Crisis Forum
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] *On Behalf Of *Jonathan Ward
> *Sent:* 27 November 2009 17:03
> *To:* [log in to unmask]
> *Subject:* Re: SWIFTBOATING THE CLIMATE SCIENTISTS
>
> I had a peek at Lawson's website. It is quite indicative that the
> banner of the site shows a somewhat selective, and unreferenced,
> temperature graph running from after 2000 to present day.
> Inevitably then, it does not show a soaring increase in
> temperatures, rather a fairly stable moving average in this period.
>
> Copied below is the gwpf's academic council, I'm sure you will
> also note immediately how many meteorologists/climatologists are
> on this board (1!). In their own words, this group are: "an
> all-party and non-party think tank and a registered educational
> charity
>
> Our main purpose is to bring reason, integrity and balance to a
> debate that has become seriously unbalanced, irrationally
> alarmist, and all too often depressingly intolerant.
>
> The GWPF's primary purpose is to help restore balance and trust in
> the climate debate that is frequently distorted by prejudice and
> exaggeration
>
> Our main focus is to analyse global warming policies and its
> economic and other implications. Our aim is to provide the most
> robust and reliable economic analysis and advice."
>
> This view is reflect in the academic council and board of
> trustees, i,e, lots of economists and former political servants.
>
> The director is Dr Benny Peiser, who I had not previously come
> across, founder and editor of CCNet, which it proclaims is the "he
> world's leading climate policy network". I don't know anything
> about CCNet so perhaps someone else can advise me on this?
>
> I had a look at the registration of the domain name, and Lawson
> has registered in his name, addressed to the house of lords!
>
> Anyway, I'd be interested to know the views of others on this
> 'think-tank'.
>
>
> Best wishes,
>
>
> Jonathan
>
> Academic Advisory Council
>
>
> Sir Samuel Brittan
> Samuel Brittan is one of Britain's most eminent economic authors
> and journalists. Since 1966 he has been an economic commentator
> for the Financial Times where he also served as Assistant Editor.
>
> Sir Ian Byatt
> Ian Byatt is a former Director General of the Office of Water
> Services for England and Wales, before which he was Deputy Chief
> Economic Adviser in HM Treasury. He is currently Chairman of the
> Water Industry Commission for Scotland.
>
> Professor Freeman Dyson
> Freeman Dyson FRS, a world-renowned theoretical physicist, is
> Professor Emeritus at the Institute of Advanced Study in Princeton
> where he held a chair for many years. He is the author of numerous
> widely read science books.
>
> Christian Gerondeau
> Christian Gerondeau is a leading transport policy expert and the
> author of the Paris Area Railway Master Plan. He later became
> President of the French Federation of Motor Clubs and the French
> Institute for Public Policy and is currently President of Mobility
> and the Environment.
>
> Professor David Henderson
> David Henderson was formerly Head of the Economics and Statistics
> Department of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and
> Development (OECD) in Paris. He is currently a Fellow of the
> Institute of Economic Affairs in London.
>
> Dr Terence Kealey
> Terence Kealey, a medical biochemist, is Vice-Chancellor of the
> University of Buckingham. His latest book is entitled Sex, Science
> and Profits.
>
> Professor Anthony Kelly
> Anthony Kelly FRS, a metallurgical scientist, was formerly
> Vice-Chancellor of the University of Surrey. He is a former
> Founding Fellow, and currently a Life Fellow, of Churchill
> College, Cambridge.
>
> Professor Richard Lindzen
> Richard Lindzen is the Alfred P. Sloan Professor of Meteorology at
> the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is known for his
> work on the dynamics of the middle atmosphere, atmospheric tides
> and ozone photochemistry, and has published more than 200 books
> and scientific papers.
>
> Professor Sir Alan Peacock
> Alan Peacock was Professor of Economics at Edinburgh, York and
> Buckingham University where he became its first Vice Chancellor.
> He served at one stage as Chief Economic Adviser of the UK
> Department of Trade and Industry.
>
> Professor Ian Plimer
> Ian Plimer is Professor of Mining Geology at the University of
> Adelaide. He has published 60 academic papers and six books. His
> latest book, recently published, is entitled Heaven and Earth -
> Global Warming: The Missing Science.
>
> Professor Gwyn Prins
> Gwyn Prins is Professor of at the London School of Economics and
> the director of the LSE Mackinder Programme for the Study of Long
> Wave Events. He has published extensively on climate change issues.
>
> Professor Paul Reiter
> Paul Reiter is Professor of Medical Entomology at the Pasteur
> Institute in Paris, France, and widely respected specialist in the
> epidemiology and control of mosquito-borne diseases.
>
> Professor Philip Stott
> Philip Stott is Professor Emeritus of Biogeography at the School
> of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and a
> former editor of the Journal of Biogeography.
>
> Professor Richard Tol
> Richard Tol is a Research Professor at the Economic and Social
> Research Institute, Dublin, Ireland, where he is responsible for
> the research areas energy and environment. He is an editor of the
> journal Energy Economics.
>
> Dr David Whitehouse
> David Whitehouse, who has a doctorate in astrophysics, was
> successively BBC Science Correspondent and Science Editor BBC News
> Online. He is the author of a number of books on solar system
> astronomy and the history of astronomy.
>
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