As a follow-up to the previous post, Bush Disaster Checklist - which begins with "Abu Graib" and ends with "Zero People Left on Earth" - here's the latest on the growing outrage among scientists over the unprecedented censorship of science by the theocratic Bush Administration.
From the Union of Concerned Scientists:
Preeminent Scientists Protest Bush Administration's Misuse of Science
February 18, 2004
Washington, D.C.—Today, more than 60 leading scientists—including Nobel laureates, leading medical experts, former federal agency directors and university chairs and presidents—issued a statement calling for regulatory and legislative action to restore scientific integrity to federal policymaking. According to the scientists, the Bush administration has, among other abuses, suppressed and distorted scientific analysis from federal agencies, and taken actions that have undermined the quality of scientific advisory panels.
“Across a broad range of issues, the administration has undermined the quality of the scientific advisory system and the morale of the government’s outstanding scientific personnel,” said Dr. Kurt Gottfried, emeritus professor of physics at Cornell University and Chairman of the Union of Concerned Scientists. “Whether the issue is lead paint, clean air or climate change, this behavior has serious consequences for all Americans.”
In conjunction with the statement, the Union of Concerned Scientists today released a report Scientific Integrity in Policymaking that investigates numerous allegations in the scientists’ statement involving censorship and political interference with independent scientific inquiry at the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Departments of Health and Human Services, Agriculture, Interior and Defense.
Wall Street Journal:
Three NOAA scientists, speaking in interviews, said the agency has begun keeping closer tabs on their comments to journalists. One of them also said the agency has declined to let him take part in interviews on controversial topics.
Such charges have been publicly leveled by scientists outside the agency since December. They gained force last week when James Hansen, a climate researcher at NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, again accused NOAA of censoring scientific communication. ( via Darksyde at dkos )
CNN
DOBBS: ... Dr. James Hansen is our guest here tonight. It's good to have you here. He's worked for NASA for nearly four decades.
He first warned Congress about the dangers of global warming two decades ago. He's now director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies and joins us now. It is good to talk with you. It is unfortunate that we're not talking about some of the great, great discoveries that are made. All that NASA accomplishes. . .
JAMES HANSEN, DIR. NASA'S GODDARD INST.: Yes, it's good to be here. I have to first note on the advice of counsel that I speak on the basis of my 39 years of NASA but I don't speak for the agency.
DOBBS: So stipulated and understood.
HANSEN: And I don't specify policy or criticize policy. I let the data and its policy implications speak for themselves.
DOBBS: And your conclusion is?
HANSEN: Well, the conclusion is the earth has warmed about .08 degrees Celsius, which is about one and a half degrees Fahrenheit in the last century, most of that in the last 30 years, while greenhouse gases have been increasing very rapidly and the main point that I was trying to make is that we're getting very close to a point of no return.
According to Dr. Hansen, the Bush Administration's censorship of science is even more prevalent at NOAA and EPA than it is at NASA.
In the interest of being fair and balanced, check out rightwinger Jay Ambrose's claim that it is the left that opposes science. Among the columnist's many hyperbolic accusations is the charge that the left is guilty of limiting the indoor spraying of DDT.
Sheesh, what were we thinking?
Global Warming Science Censorship Bush King George James Hansen Impeach Bush NASA EPA NOAA Climate Scientist 1984
