From Steve McIntyre’s hometown newspaper:
Academic spats, name-calling, data-massaging and cozy peer review by friends are not exactly rare in the world of science. You’ll find them anywhere that careers, reputations and resources are on the line. The difference is we are not usually asked to wager billions on the findings. Given the stakes, it’s hard not to conclude that climate science is too important to be left to scientists.
This is the concluding paragraph is from the Toronto Globe and Mail.
Here’s the opening and the link to the story:
Steve McIntyre is a mild-mannered Toronto businessman who dabbles in statistics as a hobby. But to some climate scientists, he’s Public Enemy No.1. They mention him often in their e-mails and try to make sure his criticisms of their work aren’t published. “They’re really showing a siege mentality,” he says.
Mr. McIntyre is a bit player in a scandal that has swept the world of climate science like a mighty hurricane. It features leading scientists who, to the conspiratorially minded, seem to be colluding to manipulate data, withhold information, delete records and stifle dissent. “The worst scientific scandal of our generation,” declared one opinion writer in the Telegraph. Not quite. But the so-called “Climategate” affair – thousands of hacked e-mails made public on the eve of the Copenhagen convention – gives a pile of ammunition to those who believe global warming is a giant boondoggle.
Two coal powered trains collide…meaningful ☺
Noted above:
Ads by Google
Climate change Q+A
Quiz the climate change minister, Ed Miliband, live this Saturday.
http://www.38degrees.org.uk
Meanwhile, on twitter a few hours ago on Mumsnet:
‘Ed Miliband: ‘Climate-change denialists are totally irresponsible and I have learnt in this job that you have to take them on.”
Gad some in high office are above hyperbole.
Glad, even. Mind you, in another age the typo might still have worked.
We are seeing a Mann made crisis. They all end in train wrecks. The smoking guns gave off a lot of heat. Over cooking data is also an enthalpic reaction.
It seems not everyone “at home” is very supportive:
Not so much:
“Steve McIntyre is a mild-mannered Toronto businessman who dabbles in statistics as a hobby.
Mr. McIntyre is a bit player in a scandal that has swept the world of climate science like a mighty hurricane.”
Much:
“But to some climate scientists, he’s Public Enemy No.1. They mention him often in their e-mails and try to make sure his criticisms of their work aren’t published.”
And another effort in need of immediate action RE: NASA and CHRIS HORNER:
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Researcher: NASA hiding climate data
“The fight over global warming science is about to cross the Atlantic with a U.S. researcher poised to sue NASA, demanding release of the same kind of climate data that has landed a leading British center in hot water over charges it skewed its data.
Chris Horner, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, said NASA has refused for two years to provide information under the Freedom of Information Act that would show how the agency has shaped its climate data and would explain why the agency has repeatedly had to correct its data going as far back as the 1930s.
NASA’s GISS was forced to update its data in 2007 after questions were raised by Steve McIntyre, who runs ClimateAudit.com.
GISS had initially listed the warmest years as 1998, 1934, 2006, 1921 and 1931. After Mr. McIntyre’s questions GISS rejiggered the list and 1934 was warmest, followed by 1998, 1921, 2006 and then 1931. But since then, the list has been rewritten again so it now runs 1998, 2006, 1934, 1921, 1999. ” More…
OT but…..
“E-mails hacked from a climate research institute suggest climate change does not have a human cause, according to Saudi Arabia’s lead climate negotiator.
Mohammad Al-Sabban told BBC News that the issue will have a “huge impact” on next week’s UN climate summit, with countries unwilling to cut emissions.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/science/nature/8392611.stm
News from the BBC that someone called Sir Muir Russell is to chair the investigation into the CRU emails leak.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8393449.stm
Anyone know anything about him?
The article also quotes Mr Mohammed Al-Sabban, who is the Saudi Arabian chief climate negotiator, commenting on Climategate he said,
‘It appears form the details of the scandal that there is no relationship whatsoever between human activities and climate change.’
boondoggle, word of the week.
Don’t know whether this is elsewhere:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8393449.stm
[ snip – just posted on the main page – thanks – A]
In case anyone wants a laugh from long ago –
Here is a link to Tom Lehrer’s “Wernher von Braun”.
“Once the rockets are up, who cares where they come down
That’s not my department,” says Wernher von Braun
I have nothing against scientists – in fact, I am communicating on a system developed by scientists using electricity developed by scientists with a full stomach due to foods developed by scientists. But policy is an area best left to those persons elected to lead us – however inept they may be at times – even those who are from political parties with which we disagree.
Winston Churchill once said,
“It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government
except all the others that have been tried.”
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Researcher: NASA hiding climate data
was found on DRUDGE
Is this THE Toronto newspaper, or ist it a small opposition sheet?
No wonder Ed Begley does not like anyone who is a trained climatologist. Way to go Steve!
And so ends the Green “Manhattan Project” – not the one to solve global warming, but the one that doled out mega-millions to find scientific evidence of mankind’s culpability for it. That was the real project.
They found the enemy, and it was them. 🙂
Train wreck indeed.
No wonder Ed Begley does not like anyone who is not a trained climatologist. Way to go Steve!
Can anyone provide context on the political orientation of the Globe and Mail? I think the most important aspect of this story is that it is not in a paper that has been critical of AGW in the past. Or has it? Anyone?
This has been up for days. Thought I posted it here at one point. O well, still just a by-line in the Canadian press. Went is not one of our top journalist even though I appreciate her efforts. But the comments are telling!
Slightly OT but on MSN this:
HAVE OUR CAKE & EAT IT TOO.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34242705/?GT1=43001/from/ET
Earth could plunge into sudden ice age
In the film “The Day After Tomorrow,” the world gets gripped in ice within just a few weeks. Now research now suggests an eerily similar event might indeed have occurred in the past.
“We could say that global warming could lead to a dramatic cooling,” Patterson told LiveScience. “This should serve as a further warning rather than a pass.”
The persistence and tenacity of individually such as Steve McIntyre and yourself Anthony, in standing up to the Global Warming bullies is appreciated.
Everyone will want this to go away, the politicians because they’ve been persuaded that global warming is man-made, which it may be but not from CO2 emissions, the climate community because they’ve hyped the AGW, the MSM because they’ve fallen right in with the global warming scare. From my readings of the emails there’s a prima facie case for investigation of the shenanigans, but there are too many vested interests and blind agreement with the global warming scare. Everyone quotes it, they’ve fed it to children in school. If it leads to greater transparency and more scientists able to speak out in dissent that will be a bonus, but don’t expect there to be a reversal of beliefs in this thing, it’s a religion.
The best part of this article are the comments, especially the last one by John Fallows:
“Referring to this as a “public relations disaster” is specious. Are you in the public relations business or the news business? Since I believe that the Globe and Mail still knows how to cover news, and employs some pretty bright people, I can only conclude that you have made a purposeful editorial decision to bias your coverage, whether consciously or not.
Check your archives. Search on “Enron” and “audiotapes”. There is fundamentally no difference between the implications of the leaked Enron audiotapes in 2004 (manipulation of markets) and the implications of Climategate (manipulation of science and political processes). And in both cases, the manipulation is blatant, damaging and incontrovertible.”
Precisely the situation in the Canadian media.
So what does the writer think is “The worst scientific scandal of our generation,”? Um, maybe banning DDT with the result of tens of millions dead who didn’t need to be, but is that ‘our’ generation?
Fixed, Bob. But thanx for the spin.
And still nothing on MSM!!! Some papers picked it up, but nothing on the TV news feeds.
And google is still screwing with climategate keywords.
Grrrr.
It is a major, national Canadian paper. Not just Toronto. And left-wing.
It has pro-AGW/Kyoto columnist who write every day. I don’t remember ever reading a skeptical article in G&M, and I read it regularly.
Ursus
Title should read “Climate Science CRIMINAL Disaster”.
Metal on honor to leaker. Criminal charges to corrupt scientist and their funding sponsors.
There has been nothing in this paper since this article, and from my research it is the only direct piece they did, and that by a blogger who is not to popular so, not worth much in my books.
The G & M is the oldest and one of the most Liberal papers in Canada and eminates from the center of the universe, er, Toronto! Liberal as in not conservative for you poor confused Aussies.
Alexej Buergin
“Is this THE Toronto newspaper, or ist it a small opposition sheet?”
No Alexej, this is bigger than THE Toronto Newspaper. It bills itself as THE National Newspaper in Canada and most Canadians do tend think of it like that. Moreover, just two weeks ago it would never have dreamed of printing anything skeptical in the topic of climate.
Junkmale
Mumsnet is really leftie Polly Toynbee types – they had a discussion about the elitest nature of coffee table books recently.
If you look at the comments before Miliband Jnr’s appearance it said things like ‘ooh he’s dreamy’. They crucified the Prime Minister when he didn’t give his choice of chocolate biscuit and the leader of the Opposition [who’s severely disabled son died earlier this year aged 6] for not knowing about the NHS free nappy limit.
They are a bit of a strange mob – infact – not a millions miles away from the AWG crowd who shout down those who disagree.
For most issues the Globe is left of centre, on others firmly left. The Toronto Star is left, sometimes to the extreme. The National Post is more right of centre (and usually the more balanced), the Toronto Sun is slightly more right than the Post. I don’t subscribe to any anymore.
John H
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Globe_and_Mail
The Globe and Mail
The April 23, 2008 front page of The Globe and Mail
Type Daily newspaper
Format Broadsheet
Owner CTVglobemedia
(CTVglobemedia Publishing Inc.)
Publisher Phillip Crawley
Editor John Stackhouse
Founded 1844
Political alignment Centrist/Moderately Conservative
Headquarters 444 Front Street West
Toronto, Ontario
M5V 2S9
Circulation 322,807 Daily
410,285 Saturday[1]
ISSN 0319-0714
Official website http://www.theglobeandmail.com
The Globe and Mail is a Canadian English language nationally distributed newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of 935 000,[2] it is Canada’s largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star and is widely described as Canada’s newspaper of record.[3] It is owned by CTVglobemedia.
I was thinking that too Neal – what’s a worse scientific scandal???
The Globe and Mail is a center-left (more left than center) leaning paper that is one of two national papers out of Toronto. I don’t read it, but they would be on the pro-AGW side of the ledger. The other national paper is The National Post (right leaning) started originally by Conrad Black.
dean (08:59:16) :
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34242705/?GT1=43001/from/ET
Yes, you could say that global warming —> global cooling. Most alarmists would nod their heads.
I wouldn’t put too much stock in this column by the G&M’s token conservative. This is the paper that had a complete news blackout about climategate for 2 weeks until this opinion piece was published on Dec 1st and even now there is nary a mention about it. The editors have seemingly selected this writer, Margaret Wente to draw reader fire.
There are 3 main newspapers in Toronto: the Star which is far left, the G&M which pretends to be centralist but is quite left leaning and the National Post on the right. The Post is the only paper that has covered climategate from the start whereas the Star is still suppressing the story.
Trust me it is Toronto. The editorial staff and major editors all live in and come from there! Westerners consider the National Post the national paper. Ursus maritimus thinks Canada stops at Toronto. Generally Canada East is Liberal, and west is Conservative so Ursus will naturally reverse this order. There is no truly national news paper in Canada, there are only opinion rages from the left and/or right. Ubnless you live in Quebec, which says it does not belong to Canada. So ya, dysfunctional nation!
that’s trillions not billions
“pretty soon we are talking about real money”
On the other hand, pretty warm november. Hmmmm.
I can concur with Ursus Maritimus’s assessment of the “Grope and Flail”. It is largely a Liberal Party oriented paper that is available all across Canada. The Grope generally only reflects what the Liberal Party’s views are.
The Grope and Flail’s opposite is the National Post, which, although being a superior paper, is having financial troubles. National Post has published many skeptical editorials and articles, prominent among them being Lawrence Solomon’s series “The Deniers”.
Dean, so that explains why we’re in a cooling trend now, because the ice is melting. OMG we’re doomed… again!
Correction, “Unless”
Richard (09:18:36) : Are you RichardJ? if so please post as RichardJ. If not put someother identification against your name. That handle (name) is taken. Thanks
JonesII, “coal-powered trains” with those smokestacks? The locomotives look more like wood (carbon neutral bio-fuel) burners to me.
Otherwise the web traffic of CA this “amateur dabbler in statistics” is still so enormous, you can’t get through to it!
By the way, MSM is starting to wake u there was an interview on BBC 4’s Five Live this evening. I think Nick Clark, the interviewer didn’t do too bad a job – considering…
That article is a puzzle. Is it about the ‘news’ of a PR disaster? Or is it about the ‘news’ of the proof that the period of Enlightenment is over, and we are heading for an intellectual ‘mediaeval cooling’ period?
I suppose I have answered my own question ……
Global Warming Bulldozer
http://factsnotfantasy.blogspot.com/2009/12/global-warming-bulldozer.html
.
.
Of course we know the trouble with the climate is the climatology, and the trouble with the knowledge is the science, etc…
But now we are discovering in real-time the statistics of extremes, that doubly exponential distribution demonstrating the possible bests and leasts of the human Will.
The great Climategate of 2009 brings in a new era when the MSM starts losing its credibility very quickly.
Which means…
– Bloggers will be the custodians of the real news
– private Newsers will fetch it, document it
– Journalism will be much more widespread on the Internet
– Daily papers, likely, a thing of the past
– etcetera
But, but, but. There is the chance that Google becomes Al-Jezoogle, or Al-gore-oogle. Same thing.
And we all live happily ever-after looking for the first appearance of the Moon in the Western sky, looking East.
Because both Evil and Goodness have a claim on this Planet. And survival isn’t pretty.
.
.
I followed a link from here to CBS,which in turn led me to an ABC(Aussie)story.It’s an interview with a Tasmanian scientist,he states
Just by way of an interesting example, Garth Paltridge, who is in Hobart here and has now retired, did a paper looking at all the weather balloon data which is available for about 50 years and couldn’t find much evidence that as the Earth had warmed slightly that vital increase in water vapour was there. He eventually had it published but when it was first submitted for publication it was rejected on the basis that the message that it would send would give too much encouragement to sceptics, which really just draws attention to the need to open up the scientific process, to deal with this kind of attempt to politicise it, to suppress views that are inconvenient, because unless we very quickly establish and re-establish some quality assurance mechanisms in the conduct of climate science then we’re heading for a potentially very costly…either way a very costly set of policy responses based on some science in which we can have much less faith now than we had in the past.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/counterpoint/stories/2009/2757619.htm
Forget John Gault, where the hell is Seth Borenstein?
Anthony or Steve Mc:
I like the Globe and Mail article — particularly
‘a pile of ammunition to those who believe global warming is a giant boondoggle.’
I happen to own the domain name HopelsssBoondoggle.com — if either of you would like to do something with it.
Kip
REPLY: Thanks, but I’m overwhelmed and so is Steve -A
Feel free to comment on events at the CBC, our state-run media outlet:
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/12/01/tech-climate-east-anglia.html#socialcomments
‘”The worst scientific scandal of our generation,” declared one opinion writer in the Telegraph. Not quite.’
What does he mean “Not quite”. Is there a bigger scientific scandal that I don’t know about? Is it some kind of common knowledge thing that I miss the boat on? Anyone?…..
From the BBC’s Newsnight [hardcore current affairs prog] from 2230 GMT BBC2.
“And Science Editor Susan Watts will revisit the Climatic Research Unit stolen e-mails row.
It was announced today that an independent review will investigate claims that the e-mails showed scientists were manipulating climate change data.
Tonight Susan will be revealing new information about what went on inside the prestigious institute.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/fromthewebteam/2009/12/thursday_3_december_2009_in_mo.html
It seems that the gates of MSM information are breaking open. This morning, Pascal Guillon of Radio-Canada CBUF-FM in Vancouver did cover the Climategate. He did it in a very journalistic point of view without giving anything to the side of those guys, anything about “out of context” or whatever. He did push a bit on the hacking part but not that much.
For his neutral point of view and of course the fact that he talked about Climategate on national radio, I apologized to have called him a gatekeeper in a previous comment… now if he could do the same with all the other hot topics he would truly gain my total respect.
This one is a hoot. In the Washington Times article about Horner and NASA GISS you get this: “Mark Hess, public affairs director for the Goddard Space Flight Center which runs the GISS laboratory… said he was unfamiliar with the British controversy and couldn’t say whether NASA was susceptible to the same challenges to its data.”
Why do I think he’s full of it when he says he’s unfamiliar with the Hadley situation?
It gets better in that article too: “We’re collecting the information and will respond with all the responsive relevant information to all of his requests,” Mr. Hess said. “It’s just a process you have to go through where you have to collect data that’s responsive.”
Because copying some files to an FTP site is such a chore. It’s much easier to comb through the ‘data’, pick and choose what you want to give out and think is ‘responsive’ to the request, and then release it…
“junkkmale (08:44:41) :
‘Ed Miliband: ‘Climate-change denialists are totally irresponsible and I have learnt in this job that you have to take them on.”
In the red corner Ed Miliband and in the blue corner Richard Lindzen. Place your bets now.
If Steve McIntyre is a “bit player,” then mainstream “journalists” covering this story are the best informed people on the planet.
Worse than clueless…
FAIR COMMENT on THE G&M:
I have to agree with what most of the commentators here have said about the political orientation of the Globe & Mail. I should qualify what I said above concerning what they would have published (or rather not have published) on the subject of AGW up to two weeks ago.
About a month ago they did publish a very abrupt, very acid and to-the-point piece by well known national commentator Rex Murphy responding to a TD-funded study by the David Suzuki Foundation and the Pembina Institute claiming that Canada could meet deep cuts in carbon emmissions quite comfortably except that Western Canada would have to accept reduced economies. In the article, Murphy expressed rather explicitly that the science was not settled and made the connection between Big Banks and Big Green.
Diggin’ a hole, diggin’ a hole.
Diggin’ a hole, diggin’ a hole.
Nice work Steve..as always.
Posted this as on OT elsewhere and the elves removed it..or not. ☺
For the Canadians…you probably saw this…Peter Mansbridge had a feature on this on last night’s CBC news!!
Even though the item did some spinning to gloss climategate over (they highlighted the “hacking crime”) they did do a “not bad” job in the report. Amazing.
Took CBC a mere two weeks for CBC to get hold of this.
Actually Margaret Wente wrote a very good extended article on AGW a year or two ago in the Globe and Mail with the headline A Questionable Truth. She interviewed eight leading climate scientists including Roger Pielke Sr. She noted that ” For the record, all these experts are highly critical of An Inconvenient Truth and the scary headlines that regularly sweep the media”. She concluded that ” As for Al Gore, here’s one prediction you can bank on: Even though much of what he says is dubious or just plain wrong, he’s going to win that Oscar anyway.”
On another note, characterizing the Globe and Mail as a left wing newspaper depends on your politics. I consider it right leaning and it has only a couple of left leaning columnists.
In Norwich – home of the UEA – there are 2 newspapers, both produced from the same offices under the “Archant” umbrella. The “Eastern Evening News” is aimed at the city and immediate area, and the “Eastern Daily Press” covering the more rural parts. The EEN has barely mentioned this event, other than to quote from the UEA’s press releases. The EDP on the other hand has published several stories, including one today which was very balanced (so much so that I spoke to the writer concerned by phone, and congratulated him).
The city is traditionally Labour voting, and the county Tory. So, thanks to the city paper, and the hopeless BBC, roughly 200,000 people have been kept in the dark unless they use other forms of media.
I’ve read somewhere months ago that news stories from the bloggist sphere takes about 10 days to filter up to the T.V. news media and about 14 days to hit the front pages of leading news papers. So far I believe after watching Climate Gate unfold they we’re not too far off in their prognosis.
Typo – This is the concluding paragraph is from …
I read on a blog somewhere that, following the ClimateGate revelations, AGW can be summed up as being driven by alchemists who have discovered how to transmute hot air into gold.
One of the best quotes on the subject I’ve seen. 😀
The extent of the PR disaster can be summed up by three little words — “hide the decline.”
While those three words from one email, relating to how to reconcile proxy data with instrument data, may have originally had a narrow focus, they have now expanded to encompass the whole field of study.
For the next several months, analysts and scientists may pore over the trove of information now known as Climategate. They may even find fault with the way in which the science was conducted. But nothing they say will ever come close to summing up the situation as those three little words — “hide the decline.”
And that is the real PR disaster that CRU has to face.
Unfortunately for professional star actors, on occasion a “bit actor” will “steal the show”.
Smokey (09:08:11) : Bob Ward… welcomed the appointment. But he said: …“The big question is whether so-called ’sceptics’ will complain because the investigation will not be headed by include one of their own…
That flashes a rather red light. Meet Bob Ward
It’s ‘so prestigious’ that they have to photograph it from an ant’s perspective.It’s two storeys of computers and very naughty boys!
Gary (10:42:48) :
If Steve McIntyre is a “bit player,” then mainstream “journalists” covering this story are the best informed people on the planet.
Should read “He who’s name we mustn’t mention is a bit player.”
The newspaper is the Globe and Mail, and the author is Margaret Wente. In sum, she was very supportive of McIntyre, and questioned scientific orthodoxy. The newspaper has tried to bury the story, she wrote the first column I have seen in recent days on the topic if CRU and possible misconduct.
From Excite! News the Thursday afternoon:
http://apnews.excite.com/article/20091203/D9CC0CT01.html
America begins to wake up.
Steve McIntyre for President!
Mark (12:40:22) : Steve McIntyre for President!
Not so fast Mark! ☺ First, he has to become Prime Minister here in Canada. ☺
Then we will allow you to have our “Steve treasure” for future considerations and two first-round draft picks. ☺
We are ALL most pleased with Sir Steve.
Best
Clive
I am frankly surprised WUWT would quote Miss Wente’s opinion piece published in The Globe and Mail without offering the following perspective:
1) The Globe only briefly mentionned climategate in its paper edition
2) the week-end climategate broke, the Globe website published at least 6 stories all related directly or indirectly with environment themes, from a former Liberal’s wife, to the Hoggan commissioned poll, to hundred of new species etc… yet never mentionned climategate
3) to this day no details, no contradictory debate has been offered to the readership.
4) Miss Wente reference to the Hockey Stick goes to… Wikipedia whose editor (Connelley) has been implicated in crugate emails.
5) the Globe has attempted to suppress comments as per the email I received and posted here few days ago on another thread.
6) the Globe just reprinted a AP article about the investigation of CRU and still has yet to offer any facts regarding the email and document contents in its science section… yet every details about Tiger Woods underpants were faithfully reported by the same national newspaper.
Miss Wente’s column choice to break this story cannot be innocent from editors who have suppressed the story for so long. Readers beware!
Clive (13:04:05)
“We are ALL most pleased with Sir Steve.”
Or perhaps Lord McIntyre of Glenoe
A British voter writes: If I wasn’t already a sceptic, the fact that the likes of Miliband are so gung-ho for AGW would probably have converted me into one (at least it would have got me asking questions). These are the people who took us into Iraq based on a “dodgy dossier” (that they knew was dodgy).
If not King (it’s good to be King), an Order of Canada is more appropriate for Steve.
Following Michael’s invitation I read with interest three pages of
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/12/01/tech-climate-east-anglia.html#socialcomments
I am pleased to know that there are many other Canadians who are as sceptical as I of El Gordo and all the AGW-ness that has been dumped onto us for so long. (And thanks to American and other non-Canadian readers for their patience while we take over WUWT! Isn’t this a great international forum!!!)
The MSM here, including CBC radio, remain in denial mode. An occasional item is forced upon them. CBC radio carried good coverage on newscasts during the wee-smalls of this morning, but nothing during the day. And that was overcome by a couple of promos for Saturday’s Quirks and Quarks (science show) that will feature rising sea levels, melting icecaps, and flooded islands. Nothing much is changing in the CBC fixation.
The G&M, a.k.a. the Mop and Pail, is mostly left-leaning. I subscribe to it in New Brunswick to add coverage to the local newspaper, which has to devote several pages to Hollywood doings and astrology to sell enough papers to stay in business. Although it has good general news coverage, I have been most disappointed by the G&M head-in-the sand attitude toward AGM. The National Post (a.k.a. National Pest) tends to be too right-leaning in its general coverage, but the Financial Post section has had a number of items giving realistic info about global climate. (Often when the main section of the paper was printing yet another AGW scare story.) And it was an FP item back in the 90s that alerted me to the fact that CO2 was not a major player in determining climate. An early heads-up.
Our local paper has had zilch about the CRU scandal, but I had a phone chat with the editorial pages editor Tuesday and he told me that their wire services had not sent anything on the subject. He confessed that he had been too busy recently to do much reading on climate on his own- our provincial government plans to sell our electric utility to Hydro Quebec. We live in interesting times!
Anyway, I had called the editor to ask if he would consider an op-ed article on CRU and climate. I had expected a lot of foot-dragging and a final no (earlier articles had been blocked), so you can imagine my flabbergastation when he enthusiastically gave me the go-ahead and 750 words. Although that is quite a few, I had to cut and rearrange a lot, but I finally got it down to the limit. It is too long to post here (unless A wants it as an item), but anyone interested in reading it can contact me at imcqueen@nbnet.nb.ca
IanM
From the post:
“Academic spats, name-calling, data-massaging and cozy peer review by friends are not exactly rare in the world of science. You’ll find them anywhere that careers, reputations and resources are on the line. The difference is we are not usually asked to wager billions on the findings. Given the stakes, it’s hard not to conclude that climate science is too important to be left to scientists.”
That is the key passage:
The difference is that because of the high stakes involved this has been made public.
But in private, my bet is that many scientists from different disciplines would acknowledge this kind of stuff goes on all the time.
So much so, that many scientists quite possibly are having a hard time appreciating why it’s such a big deal.
Particularly, those on the “conscensus” side of the argument.
The Milibands are perhaps the most evil persons in the UK today, Broon not excepted.
CTV has broken the ice:
“Climate chief: nations must ignore ‘climate saboteurs'” (Thursday Dec. 3, 2009)
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091203/climate_gate_091203/20091203?hub=TopStoriesV2
Note the imperative tone.
Highlights:
1) “[…] those challenging the mainstream scientific view on climate change are irresponsible and dangerous.”
There’s some backward logic.
2) “[…] the science is clear and settled.”
Deception or ignorance?
3) “There are people who […] say this proves climate change isn’t happening”
RIDICULOUS. Of course climate change is happening. I’ve noticed that UK alarmists in particular often make this futile attempt at obfuscation of nonalarmist commentary.
Who is this clown?
Any UK readers who can comment as to whether he ever shoots straight?
So if climategate is NOT ” “The worst scientific scandal of our generation,” then do tell us what is or was; we’d all like to know that.
And no fair; Piltdown man was not of our generation.
RE: radun (13:33:03) :
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/UKgovernment/Honoursawardsandmedals/DG_067917
gives a nomination form for honours and a list of questions that one should ask:
Before you make your nomination, ask yourself the following questions. Has your nominee:
1) made a difference to their community or field of work?
2) brought distinction to British life and enhanced its reputation?
3) exemplified the best sustained and selfless voluntary service?
4) demonstrated innovation and entrepreneurship?
5) carried the respect of their peers?
6) changed things, with an emphasis on achievement?
7) improved the lot of those less able to help themselves?
8) displayed moral courage and vision in making and delivering tough choices?
must admit that number 2 may be a sticky point and well depends on which peers number 5 refers to…;)
But I believe he deserves it – well done steve
Lucy Skywalker (11:37:20) : Smokey (09:08:11) : Bob Ward… welcomed the appointment. But he said: …“The big question is whether so-called ’sceptics’ will complain because the investigation will not be headed by include one of their own…
That flashes a rather red light. Meet Bob Ward
Yes a bit alarming. Bob Ward seems to imply that the investigation will go his way and Sir Muir Russell maybe one of their own.
But this may not necessarilly be so. Sir Muir Russell appears to be a tough guy. Can you dig up something about his past? Anything connected with AGW?
From the article:
“Mr. McIntyre is a bit player in a scandal that has swept the world of climate science like a mighty hurricane.”
Seems to have almost completely missed Australia and New Zealand. We still get Tiger Woods as headline news in our MSM.
From a Canadian media perspective, the two big hold-outs from Climate-Gate coverage perspective have been the Globe and Mail and the CBC (who cares about the Toronto Star who would give Pravda of old a run for its money. This changed last night when the nightly National news on CBC had a fairly in-depth and suprisingly balanced coverage of the the matter albeir a week and half late! The Globe and Mail is hopelessly ensconced in the Alarmist camp often printing several “the-earth-is-doomed” articles a day. Wente’s opinion column was the exception but she tends to run against the general grain of the paper. Rex Murphy who does work for both the G&M and the CBC is one of the few mainstream Canadian journalists who has the integrity and professionalism to tell it like it is on the Global Warming farce. I’m waiting in anticipation for something out of him on this issue via a written piece in the Globe and Mail or his weekly opinion piece on the CBC National (or both!).
‘“The worst scientific scandal of our generation,” declared one opinion writer in the Telegraph. Not quite.’
Not quite? What IS the worst scientific scandal of our generation, then?
Just watched a CTV feature news item on climategate and it was somewhat well balanced. The most encouraging thing was that they said it was expected to be on the Copenhagen agenda. But at the Denmark clave the the foxes are looking after the hen house … and no good can come of discussing climategate with Pachauri as the head fox.
That this is finally in the media here in the cold colony (Canada ☺) is encouraging. (Minus 22°C here last night..I sure hope this GW thing takes hold soon. ☺)
Another case of Globe and Mail stories about climate change, this time an article about birds in England:
“British bird’s rapid evolution signals human impact Warming of British Isles, along with feeding of the blackcap, has led to changes in the warbler’s beak size and wing shape in just a few decades
From Friday’s Globe and Mail Published on Thursday, Dec. 03, 2009 5:59PM EST Last updated on Thursday, Dec. 03, 2009 7:40PM EST”
YET
Activist/reporter Martin Mittelsteadt is caught in disinformation once again:
“Robins: With global warming, robins, the harbinger of spring for many Canadians, have been spotted for the first time in Arctic areas, where the Inuit had no name for the birds.”
Thanks to Dr. Pat Michaels, From World Climate Report:
“The article that caught our eye was titled “The Naming of Birds by Nunamiut Eskimo” by Laurence Irving of the Arctic Health Research Center of the U.S. Public Health Service in Anchorage, Alaska. It appeared in the March 1953 (Vol. 6, pp. 35-43) issue of the aptly-named journal Arctic (…) Irving’s list is the Nunamiut Eskimo word for ‘robin.’ For those interested it is “Koyapigaktoruk”—apparently a derivative of the sound of the robin’s song. Irving designates the robin’s status in the region as “NM” for “nesting” and “migrant.”
AND
“Further, in his article Irving refers to an earlier compilation of Eskimo names for birds, “The most complete list of Eskimo bird names for this part of Alaska so far published” that can be found in the book My Life with the Eskimo by V. Stefansson published in 1913. As it so happens, the contents of this book are accessible through Amazon.com. If you visit the link http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1417923954# , and enter the search term “robin” and read the contents of page 493, you will see a description of where robins have been sighted in the Canadian Arctic prior (obviously) to 1913, including along the far northern coast. Accompanying these location descriptions are the word for ‘robin’ in several other Eskimo tongues, including (phonetically) “Kre-ku-ak’tu-yok” (Mackenzie Eskimo) and “Shab’wak” (Alaskan Eskimo).
So, as it turns out, there are plenty of Eskimo words for robin that have existed for a long time and in languages that are spread among bands of Inuit all across the North American Arctic—and it is all plain to see with only a few clicks of the mouse along the information superhighway of the internet.”
BEWARE “Bruder” Martin Mittelstaedt DISINFORMS. EOM
Here is explained why they hide data: McIntyre and McKitrick “data terrorists”.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20427363.200-researchers-must-stay-on-the-moral-high-ground.html
Well I wasn’t disappointed. Rex Murphy did his thing on Climate-Gate on CBC’s The National newscast and it was a blockbuster. No punches pulled whatsoever! Most importantly his piece will likely be seen by millions of mainstream Canadians and to paraphrase a great Who song “They Won’t Be Fooled Again”! Laughably the Liberals here were just starting down the path of using Climate Change is there “big stick” to go after the ruling Conservatives. Great timing there!
Once I find a link to the video either directly from CBC or from a posting on YouTube I will post here! Anthony, I’d make it a front and centre highlight on your site!
Sorry, “is there” is supposed to be “as their”. I always hit the submit button way too fast!
Here’s the link!
http://www.cbc.ca/thenational/indepthanalysis/rexmurphy/story/2009/12/03/thenational-rexmurphy-091203.html
Sorry, just saw a note that the video won’t be available online until tomorrow morning. For you Canadians you can still see it in the last 15 minutes of tonight’s National newscast.
ed_finnerty (09:18:58) :
that’s trillions not billions
“pretty soon we are talking about real money”
On the other hand, pretty warm november. Hmmmm.
Reply
Maybe, but it will be snowing in Sanford, North Carolina and San Antonio, Texas by this weekend. A twice a decade event.
California’s senator Boxer opines on the issue. But the comments following the article tell the real story: click
I’m in shock having just watched Rex Murphy on CBC explain clearly, intelligently and with his usual passion, his take on the issue of global warming He lays it all out, including an overview of what the released e-mails are all about. He holds back no punches when it comes to the likes of Gore et al.
Rex has a very large following on the CBC and at times, seems to me, to be working in the wrong place, immersed as he is in an atmosphere of left leaning
ideology.
This short rant from him will open many eyes for the first time.
If it wasn’t for a few individuals like Rex and Andrew coin I wouldn’t bother with the C.B.C.
Richard A. (10:17:22) :
This one is a hoot. In the Washington Times article about Horner and NASA GISS you get this: “Mark Hess, public affairs director for the Goddard Space Flight Center which runs the GISS laboratory… said he was unfamiliar with the British controversy and couldn’t say whether NASA was susceptible to the same challenges to its data.”
Why do I think he’s full of it when he says he’s unfamiliar with the Hadley situation?
Because such a ridiculous attempt at ‘see no evil, hear no evil, therefore there can be no evil anywhere near me’ is par for the course our highly paid (by…us?), ‘professional’ establishment classes.
In the real world, with actual journalists qualified to the task and with a commitment to the the truth and not pushing agendas, the reporter’s laughter would be picked up at a seismographic station in Omsk. Still.
If i was directing how my organisation’s affairs were being perceived by the public, it might help a smidge to turn the dial from broadcast only every so often.
As a daily reader of all 3 major Toronto newspapers I believe I have a decent take on their political bias. Up until today, Sat. Dec 5, the Globe has been a strong supporter of the “concensus” take on man caused global warming. The two opinion writers, Margaret Wente and (once weekly) Rex Murphy have been the only writers that would buck the trend. Even today, the main editorial was very supportive of the upcoming procedings in Denmark. However today a writer I have always respected, Doug Saunders, authored a balanced “full size” piece that started on page 1, on the “Climategate” scandal. As I read it, I said ti my wife, finally – the Globe has acknowledged that there may be something to this climategate issue.
The National Post, to give them their due, have published many articles talking about the weaknesses of the “man made warming” issue. The Toronto Star, bless their lefty hearts, have still not seen the light and they likely never will. They are firmly in the “we must comply” camp with as much emotion as possible.