Here we see Spc. Jose Ortiz-Fernandez proudly receive the Global Warming Denier medal.
Posted on 06/29/2011 9:11:22 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Threats could have chilling effect on climate research, science group says By Andrew Restuccia - 06/29/11 10:39 AM ET
Personal attacks — including legal challenges and even death threats — on climate scientists have created a “hostile environment” that could result in a “chilling effect” on much-needed research, one of the country’s leading scientific organizations said this week.
The board of directors of the American Association for the Advancement of Science issued a rare statement Tuesday underscoring that it “vigorously opposes” personal attacks on climate scientists. It's the organization's strongest rebuke of efforts by conservative groups to criticize climate scientists.
“Reports of harassment, death threats, and legal challenges have created a hostile environment that inhibits the free exchange of scientific findings and ideas and makes it difficult for factual information and scientific analyses to reach policymakers and the public,” the statement says. “This both impedes the progress of science and interferes with the application of science to the solution of global problems.”
The statement comes a week after a conservative group sued NASA for records related to the outside advocacy and compensation of Dr. James Hansen, a prominent advocate for reducing the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. The same group, the American Tradition Institute, has also sought documents from the University of Virginia related to Michael Mann, another prominent climate scientist.
“The sharing of research data is vastly different from unreasonable, excessive Freedom of Information Act requests for personal information and voluminous data that are then used to harass and intimidate scientists,” AAAS, which bills itself as the world's largest scientific society, says. “The latter serve only as a distraction and make no constructive contribution to the public discourse.”
More broadly, the AAAS statement comes at a time when Republicans and some Democrats in Congress are working to block Environmental Protection Agency climate regulations, with some lawmakers raising questions about validity of climate science.
AAAS, which publishes the journal “Science,” warns that personal attacks on climate scientists could have a “chilling effect” on scientific research.
“[W]e are concerned that establishing a practice of aggressive inquiry into the professional histories of scientists whose findings may bear on policy in ways that some find unpalatable could well have a chilling effect on the willingness of scientists to conduct research that intersects with policy-relevant scientific questions,” the statement says.
It’s the second time the AAAS board has weighed in on personal attacks on climate scientists, according to the organization’s spokesman. The board issued a statement in May 2010 criticizing Virginia Attorney General Kenneth Cuccinelli’s investigation into Mann’s climate research. But Tuesday’s statement was written in much stronger language.
"...including legal challenges..." Sounds like one to me.
Are these reports of death threats verified by anyone? As for harassment, it seems as though ANY challenge to their AGW dogma is seen as such by the adherents to the faith. I haven't heard of any lawsuits, except by people wishing to rein in the overwielding hand of government in their lives that is working on the flawed notion of 'saving the planet'.
The AGW folks see 'climate skeptics' being successful in raising doubts, and they can't have this because it could possibly cut off their funding, on which they depend to survive.
Presumably climate data is NOT SECRET STUFF.
______________________________________________________
The reality is that you and I paid for the research. I’d like to see the results and how they came to them. Why not put ALL publicly financed research on the web? It would be very cheap and then there would be no need for FOIA requests.
I am so sick of these leftist trying to get into my pocket and control everything I do that I am truly getting VERY angry about all this stuff.
LET”S SEE THE DATA!
I was a member many years ago and read their publication "Science" magazine cover to cover. Somewhere back in the 80's, obvious bias started to creep in and by the early 90's I dropped my membership. Truly a shame.
Will Michael Mann release his studies at UVA and Penn State?
“Personal attacks — including legal challenges and even death threats — on climate scientists have created a “hostile environment” that could result in a “chilling effect” on much-needed research, one of the country’s leading scientific organizations said this week.”
Right—BS! Just like those “evil” tea party people “attacking and accosting” Nancy Pewloski and her ilk—when no one could even provide any evidence thereof. Just spew it out and hope someone believes it.
Sounds like a threat to me.
absolutely correct!!!
...and, they ignore all the high-profile people who actually called for “deniers” to be put in prison !
this is a multi-billion dollar scam, and it is rapidly falling apart.
(even the US government admits it is getting colder now, not hotter:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2740366/posts
If these so called “climate scientists” weren’t a bunch of lying liberal scumbags intent on seizing control of our economies, lifestyles and property they wouldn’t have a problem.
Tough titty said the kitty when the milk ran dry.
There are years of continuous climate scientists threats to the population of the world that we will DIE, if we don't do this or that... Sounds like death threats to me in the Billions!
ping
I like your thoughts and suggestions there. Right on! It is rather frustrating though, not getting to disagree and all. ;^)
When you’re caught lying, thieving, and cheating, claim death threats.
The boy who cried “Wolf!” got eaten by one. Spit happens, especially to criminals.
I call knee-deep straw man bullshit !
Voluminous data = all the data instead of cherry picked data.
How can they be harassed by their own e-mails unless those e-mails show a concerted pattern of deceit and attempts to shut opposing views down? IOWs their own communications revealed an anti-science practice going on behind the scenes and exposing it is called "harassment."
Oooooooo - legal challenges!
Who would ever stoop so low as use that tactic?
looks like they are aiming for total legal immunity and Secret Service protection?
Yes, I use to subscribe to Scientific American,that is before they started promoting AGW. I threw the rest away and won’t ever subscribe to it again. Damn Shame!
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