No longer content to be a scientist, and apparently now a full time protesting advocate, Dr. James Hansen of the NASA Goddard Institute of Space Studies joins forces with deep thinker Darryl Hannah.
From commondreams.org
Following this protest, on June 23rd leading climate scientist, Dr. James Hansen, actress Daryl Hannah, Michael Brune, the Executive Director of Rainforest Action Network, and former Representative Hechler will join Coal River Valley residents in a second round of protests in West Virginia.
Your tax dollars at work. I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it: FIRE THIS GUY.
Oh there will be those who say “but he’s doing it as a private citizen”.
I preemptively call BS on that.
Why? Well it’s because the U.S. Taxpayer has been an “enabler” for this. Hansen wouldn’t be there if not for the publicly funded work via NASA.
As a private citizen, his opinion is worth nearly nothing. As head of NASA GISS fancifully acting as a private citizen, his opinion and presence are worth boatloads of publicity.
You can’t separate GISS from his persona any more than you can expect Barack Obama to show up someplace “as a private citizen” and endorse something while he holds office.
The premise is absurd.
AMS, ask for the Rossby medal back too. This isn’t science, its advocacy. Gavin, take note since Gavin once labled me as an advocate over on RC, but I haven’t showed up at any protests like Jimbo has.
At least he’s not going to WV unchallenged:
From the Charleston Gazette:
Massey Energy President Don Blankenship has challenged one of the world’s top climate scientists to a debate on global warming.
Blankenship’s announcement came this afternoon, after word came out that renowned NASA scientist James Hansen would be attending an anti-mountaintop removal protest next week in Southern West Virginia.
Joel Shore (15:01:05) :
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/29/science/earth/29climate.html
Climate Expert Says NASA Tried to Silence Him
By ANDREW C. REVKIN
Published: January 29, 2006
The top climate scientist at NASA says the Bush administration has tried to stop him from speaking out since he gave a lecture last month calling for prompt reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases linked to global warming.
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Here is the money quote:
Dr. Hansen said he would ignore the restrictions. “They feel their job is to be this censor of information going out to the public,” he said.
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What a great example to his staff – “said he would *** ignore the restrictions ***”. Everyone should take a page from Jim Hansen’s book of professional ethics.
Certainly one of the most unprofessional and irresponsible NASA administrators ever! The epitome of the term loose cannon…
And his software (from GISTEMP and Model E) are horrible examples of poorly written and poorly documented junk code…
Frank K. – Considering the fact that the NASA Inspector General found that the restrictions were “inconsistent with the mandate and intent of NASA’s controlling legislation” and were the result of overzealous political appointees in the public affairs office, I don’t see what is wrong with Hansen choosing to ignore them.
I suggest that you read the Inspector General’s report.
Joel Shore (18:09:23) :
“…I don’t see what is wrong with Hansen choosing to ignore them.”
I do. The inspector general’s report was not in force during the time Hansen chose to ignore the restrictions. Apparently, Joel, you must believe that government employees can do whatever they want, and that there is not authority to which they are bound. That is a great ethics lesson for all…I wonder how things would go if the US military operated like this…
If Hansen didn’t like the restrictions he could have (1) quit his job and worked in the private sector (or for himself), or (2) filed a complaint and waited for the outcome.
Do you work Joel? If you do, do you feel you can “choose to ignore your boss”?
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it: FIRE THIS GUY.”
Meh…we’ve heard your whining. Nobody who isn’t delusional cares.
REPLY: Meh…You seemed to care enough to comment 😉 A
Quite frankly, given the increasing incidence of NASA SNAFUs, it is time to disestablish them and start over. Anyone else remember CAA becoming FAA, and NACA being transformed into NASA? Bureaucracies, like visiting relatives, have a limited useful lifetime before thay begin to stink, and need to be dispersed.
“rbateman (09:59:40) :
Catastrophic Fire & Ice isn’t the only thing Hansen et al are playing with.
They are gambling on getting thier agenda in place quick enough and entrenched enough to insulate them from the Pitchforks that will follow. It will all go bad as deep cooling sets in at the same time masses of banner wavers abandon the false cause.
That’s the point it gets ugly.
It always does.”
The problem with this is that various Govn’ts over the last few decades have passed laws which, effectively, remove any power (Pitchforks) poeple had to defend themselves from the state.
Western societies haven’t experinced real poverty, in the post industrial age, the sort of poverty you see on the streets in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) for instance. Real gut wrenching poverty. It’s on its way, slowly, but surely.
Joel Shore (15:01:05)
Thanks for the link. I’ve downloaded it and will read it when I finally get around to Censoring Science, which is also on my summer reading list. But, ahhh, Joel… the PDF is 93 pages. Couldn’t you at least link to the Cliffnotes version?
better out there then talking to congress.
Let’s hope the dawning realisation of a cooling climate will chuck the warmistas and political opportunists into the wheelie bin (trashcan) of ignominy once and for all.
Hansen looks like he’s on his way to a Secret Squirrel convention…
Let me get this straight. The protest action was against another hideous ‘mountain top removal’? Someone tell me why this could ever be a good thing?
Not long ago, I worshipped at his church and thought he was Holy, but have been reading this site, and Anthony and the others have me wondering now about the whole warming thing.
But mountain top removal? Come on, guys, even a clock is right twice a day.
Surface mining of coal is safer than underground mining. Mountain top removalis strange. Kansas has no mountain tops and it does well without mountain tops. Feeds the planet with wheat. Some pagan spiritualists need their “groves” on mountain tops. Sure they will howl.
Frank K. says:
But, what the inspector general’s report said that the restrictions imposed were due to a few rogue political appointees and went against NASA policies. Hansen presumably knew this, which is why he chose to ignore them.
rephelan says:
Well, I don’t think you have to read the whole thing word-for-word. (I have to admit that I haven’t.) There’s an executive summary and then, if you want more details on certain aspects, you can then read the appropriate section in the full report.
So, what do these people think are going to happen when they shut all the coal fired power plants down?
Pofarmer (07:37:58) :
So, what do these people think are going to happen when they shut all the coal fired power plants down?
see the thread here: http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/06/20/historic-parallels-in-our-time-the-killing-of-of-cattle-vs-carbon/
The big Sun/Wind God will come and give plenty of energy to all his children and we shall live happily ever after.
NASA is now a disgrace by letting this man act in this manner. Sorry, but that’s how I feel about it.
” Showing up at power plant protests, defending criminals doing vandalism at trial, and endorsing civil disobedience are entirely something else, and Hansen has done all of those things. That is where he crosses the line”
According to the British press Hansen gave expert testimony on the impact of climate change. He made no statement whatsoever at the trial as to how the case should be judged, nor any comment whatsoever on the actions of the Kingsnorth Six. Also, there was no law breaking as the defendants were found not guilty of any crime.
REPLY: “Not guilty of any crime” also applied to O.J. Simpson. If Hansen had not been elevated to status by the funding supplied by the American taxpayer, he would not have been invited. – Anthony
It really gets my goat that Hansen draws a salary on the taxpayer’s dime. We deserve better, much better.
Ron de Haan you’ve been inspiring me to do…
“No tax on CO2 – the GAS OF LIFE”
…BUMPER STICKERS for everyone… with these words and with many many more… education and advocacy in unusual ways in unusual times…
Just click on my bumper sticker designs page and upload the designs of your choice to Zazzle (from ICECAP) and pronto! your sticker’s on its way to you. Or email me and I’ll design the ones you want.
Frank K. (18:35:28) :
Do you work Joel? If you do, do you feel you can “choose to ignore your boss”?
Simply, Yes. When your boss asks you to contradict your legal mandate or ethical practice. Recall Nixon demanding that Elliot Richardson fire Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox? Richardson refused. Granted Richardson resigned because his boss demanded he contravene the law. Ignoring unethical or unlawful direction from a boss is in fact protected by an entire body of law. In the United States that body of law is enforced by the Office of Special Council. They have broad ranging powers. You might be interested to check them out:
http://www.osc.gov/intro.htm
This does not mean that Hansen’s message is correct. Only his right to voice it.
Don’t you people get it? The seas are going to boil!!!!!!!!!
The only hope for Life Itself is if James and Darryl can commit acts of civil disobedience and get paid to do it. That and ice cubes. If everybody threw a tray of ice cubes into the ocean everyday, then maybe the seas wouldn’t boil away into Outer Space leaving this planet a seared and lifeless rock, as is indicated without a doubt by Jim’s models when they blow up.
Science, people!!! Get with Science!!! Otherwise there will be nothing to water your lawns with.
Richard1 (11:02:35) :
Frank K. (18:35:28) :
Do you work Joel? If you do, do you feel you can “choose to ignore your boss”?
Simply, Yes. When your boss asks you to contradict your legal mandate or ethical practice.
Richard1 – there was NOTHING unethical that the government asked Hansen to do. Can you show me in the report were Hansen was asked to “contradict his legal mandate”? Again, Richardl, you must think you can do whatever you feel you want to do, and justify it any way you please…which ia apprently what passes for “ethics” in our modern society.
Probably someone will slam me for taking Richard Hoagland seriously… but Hoagland is not the only one with doubts, and there are no doubt others who would agree with me… Hoagland has strong evidence-backed words about the whole setup of NASA and it makes me wonder what (if anything) lies behind the head of NASA’s important Goddard institute keeping on with his insane behaviour and getting away with his insane projections. Is Hansen being “allowed” to do his act by someone further in the shadows? Just saying “follow the money” and “taxation” doesn’t satisfy me, though sure it’s a big part of it.
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it: FIRE THIS GUY”
I’m astonished that such words, from someone of your great power and influence, have so far been ignored by the powers-that-be.
I have had published several letters to the editor in our local rag, asking the global warming alarmists to answer about a half-dozen perfectly logical questions in order to justify their position. Every question has been ignored. Keep in mind that I live in a town with an established University, the professors of which are all global warming alarmists.
When a bunch of supposedly intelligent and knowledgable global warming alarmists are unable to answer some perfectly reasonable questions, it makes me wonder if they are really as intelligent and knowledgable as they would like to believe.