Guest Post by Thomas Fuller
After the tragic events in Maryland on Wednesday of this week, where a man took three hostages and tried to make The Discovery Channel a vehicle for publishing his manifesto, there have been accusations and counter accusations in the global warming world about taking advantage of this to advance political goals.
In particular, Joe Romm of Climate Progress harshly criticized Anthony Watts for the title of his blog post alerting readers to the situation. Personally, I think Anthony’s choice was mistaken, but not malicious–I’ve made worse editorial decisions myself.
And this may be one of them. The deluge of catastrophic predictions regarding global warming and its consequences have reached almost everyone on the planet, and perhaps unintentionally have replaced Cold War bomb scares as the primary source of doomsaying.
The messages are well-thought out and prepared by professional communicators, with disturbing and graphic images of a post-apocalyptic scenario lifted from Mad Max, and with about as much connection to reality.
In March of this year, a couple in Argentina shot their two children before committing suicide over fears of global warming. On Wednesday, in Maryland, James Lee apparently committed ‘suicide by cop’ after taking three hostages in an attempt to force the Discovery Channel to alter its programming to suit his fears over the environment.
At what point will we call to account those who have preached ‘the end of the earth as we know it’ to countless people? How many people will be driven to desperation by those who distort the science?
The IPCC’s AR4, published in 2007, painted a future with global warming as a serious, multinational problem that we should face together. You may agree or disagree with their findings–I agree with most of it, not all.
But nowhere does the work of thousands of scientists in peer-reviewed literature say that we are doomed, that civilization is at risk, that there is no future for us.
That falls to several groups of committed lobbyists, scientists, environmentalists and politicians who began saying the IPCC report was too conservative almost the day it was published. The evidence they bring forward for that claim is nowhere near as robust as the science referenced by the IPCC.
They are scaring people to death. How many more lives will be blighted or destroyed before they understand that their propaganda has real world effects?
It’s hard to work up too much sympathy for Mr. Lee–he took hostages, threatened to detonate an explosive device, and pretty much guaranteed his fate. And his worries weren’t confined to global warming. He was equally concerned with overpopulation, another scare story put out by some of the same people pumping hysteria over global warming.
At any rate, what these people are doing is despicable, if not murderous.
Sea levels are not going to rise by 20 feet. Or 10. Or five. There is not going to be a climatic tipping point that pushes our planet into a spiral of ever-increasing temperatures. Global warming is not going to cause the extinction of half the species on this planet, or even 1%.
And it is long past time that respected members of the scientific community publicly acknowledge those facts and helped bring this debate back within the realm of reality.
My father met Jim Jones briefly before he moved to Guyana with his flock, and described him as intelligent and persuasive, able to talk reasonably about a multitude of subjects. We don’t need more smooth talkers preaching the language of despair. We can now see the results. In their zeal to communicate their fears of the effects of global warming that go far beyond the predictions of mainstream science, those who Anthony called ‘warmistas’ in his blog title and who I call alarmists and sometimes hysterics have created a library of disturbing words and images that can influence the vulnerable.
Are these people responsible for the tragedies in Argentina and Maryland? No. But did they act responsibly, caveating their predictions as personal fears instead of the verdict of science. No. They were trying to scare you. They succeeded too well.
It’s time to stop the hysteria.
Thomas Fuller http://www.redbubble.com/people/hfuller
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Gnomish says:
September 2, 2010 at 11:14 am
“*yawn*
Joe Romm’s efforts to ride Anthony’s posts to fame and fortune are educational and entertaining as Max Schadenfreude.
When every second-hander climbs on for a free ride, pretending to be tour guide, not so much.”
So true, and it’s getting worse. I don’t mind commenter’s names hot-linked to their blogs, but lately a lot of posts are being used for free advertising because Anthony’s site has mega-millions of hits. Romm and his followers are some of the offenders. I’ve tried to post on Romm’s blog, but no comment of mine ever got past moderation. Romm doesn’t even like to mention this site. Where’s the quid-pro-quo?
If I may make a suggestion, I’d like to see the moderators snip some of the more self-serving advertising/links to blogs that never return the courtesy.
In February of 2008, Dr. Suzuki (a geneticist – turned green advocate) told an audience at a Montreal conference that politicians should be jailed for ignoring the science of AGW. As reported in the National Post (a Canadian national newspaper):
“Toward the end of his speech, Dr. Suzuki said that ‘we can no longer tolerate what’s going on in Ottawa and Edmonton’ and then encouraged attendees to hold politicians to a greater green standard.
‘What I would challenge you to do is to put a lot of effort into trying to see whether there’s a legal way of throwing our so-called leaders into jail because what they’re doing is a criminal act,’ said Dr. Suzuki, a former board member of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.
‘It’s an intergenerational crime in the face of all the knowledge and science from over 20 years.’
The statement elicited rounds of applause.”
When “leaders” supporting the concept of AGW support such actions, what do you think those who have any degree of mental imbalance will think when they take extreme measures? It seems to me that those who take extreme actions feel that they are fully justified by this sort of encouragement. To me, statements such as those made by Dr. Suzuki are akin to yelling “Fire” in a crowded theatre. It is completely unacceptable to any rational person.
It is time for those who are supporting the concept of AGW to come forward with the scientific proof (not anecdotal “evidence”) supporting their claim or start becoming socially responsible and state the significant degree of uncertainty of their hypothesis.
what would he make of my headline
http://trevorsden.wordpress.com/2010/09/02/cool-down-sucker/
Tim says:
September 2, 2010 at 2:17 pm
“…How many volunteer their life in the armed services to protect their country just to be treated as disposable pawns in the never ending wars? I feel sympathy for them all. ”
=========================================================
Tim, you do a great insult to the men and woman in the service of their nation. There is no comparison of that lunatic to the guardians of your freedoms.
James Sexton
James Lee, rather than posting his rambling manifesto posthumously after his violent drama-queen suicide, would have been better advised to express his feelings by blogging.
One of the profoundly good things about Anthony Watt’s WUWT site is its tolerance. Contrary opinions, derogatory and even abusive tirades and quite extreme opposing views are admitted, only public decency excluding the most extreme comments.
So people can let off steam from rage building up inside, and communicate what would otherwise fester in darkness. WUWT and well-run blogs like it serve a role not completely unlike that of a confessional. (The echo chamber of little Emperor Rommulus falls distinctly outside this category!) Many times at the end of a bad day I have posted some idiotic nonsense, maybe later to be embarrassed by it and think better of it. But it still makes one feel more human.
Blogs like WUWT and people like AW are good for the world. Got something to say? Bring it on!
If you want to alarm uninformed folk then just go to the Warm List. http://www.numberwatch.co.uk/warmlist.htm
It was something waiting to happen and will happen again unless alarmism retreats and more level headed people regain control of ‘the agenda‘!!!!
It appears to me that AGW is on its last legs despite the Russian heatwave and the Amazon snow. :o)
The main problem at the centre of this whole thing about scares (of whatever nature) is compulsary state-run education holding conformity and gullibility above all other characteristics.
Try getting your child to ask a teacher to prove what they’re saying – there are a few outstanding teachers out there who will, but the vast majority will just slip into the “you will respect mah authoritee!” mantra. The vast majority of kids, through a gradual wearing down through their school life will indeed just do that.
It was Bismark who invented the compulsary state education system – he wanted soldiers, not individuals. Now politicians want sheep and lemmings, and the vast majority turn out exactly as ordered.
This translates into nations and nations of “useful idiots” – adults who have never grown up to be independent and whose “inner child” is exploited by politicians, salesmen and charlatans. A great motivator of this “inner child” is acceptance by their peers – so they believe what is popular, do what is popular and say what everyone else is saying.
The rather unfortunate Mr. Lee didn’t go somewhere where he’d make a difference (the Discovery Channel is not generally known as the secret headquarters of the illuminati) but somewhere where his actions would be ‘popular’. Trying to illustrate the difference between ‘popular’ and ‘notorious’ to someone’s “inner child” is a fools errand though. You don’t bring facts on their own to a fluffy “how does it make you feel?” fight.
The emotional weapon best suited to the particular battle of “Global Warming” is mockery. The “inner child” does not like to be mocked and to be made to feel as though they are out of step with their peers. Of course mockery does need to be stiffened with facts (this stops it being ignored so easily) but facts on their own are useless – you’re dealing with a child.
This mockery needs to be tailored to the people concerned, because their peers are all different. Going into an IPCC meeting and saying “Himalyas 2035” and running away laughing, will have a different effect from doing the same in a local WWF chapter meeting. Equally, running the Jon Stewart ‘Climategate’ video would have no effect in those scenarios, but would against a CAGW believing co-worker. “Jon Stewart is laughing at you…”
Personally, I think I will be running with the full CAGW mantra in public well after the planet has cooled again, and has demonstrated the CAGW to be rubbish. Having people arguing against their former position and former words may help stop them being so taken in by whatever mantra will be in vogue at the time.
And maybe, just maybe, it will prevent an incident like this, where someone blinded by their own gullibility created a tragedy.
Was that a little touch of hope in the whole mess? Possibly.
starzmom says:
September 2, 2010 at 2:08 pm
The part that bothers me the most about this is that, if you take out the violent language, what this man wrote in his manifesto is about the same as what my law school professor (an EPA attorney) has been saying for the past 2 classes. This is not the far left lunatic fringe–this is the mainstream government/school message. If she makes me mad enough, I might spout off, and I might get an F. I really can’t afford that.
You can be controlled by those that deem themselves better than you just as easily through your anger, as your acquiescence.
Play the game when it suits you. Don’t play the game when it suits you.
Dave Bob says:
September 2, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Obviously a tragedy for Mr. Lee and his family, and a terrifying experience for the hostages.
But somehow I’m thinking that the phrase “and of course the squirrels” will stick in my mind forever.
It does have that little bit of something which could allow it to become a meme. A bit like Saddam Hussein’s “Mother of all battles.”
The greenpeace ad is pretty funny, really.
People are always trying to lay on the generational guilt with”What kind of world are we leaving to our kids?” when the real question is “What kind of kids are we leaving this world to?”
author unknown to me.
Everyday folk echo the media. Here in Central Florida, everyone complains about the heat. Yet our temperatures have been a little on the low side this summer. July can be expected to run 95-100 and it has run 90-95. The media gets echoed and that echo is a nuisance.
Al Gore and the IPCC were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
– semi-ironic.
But why would this individual choose the Discovery Channel. It is not like they are not fully on board with the Ecological Evangelical Movement.
Oliver Ramsay says:
September 2, 2010 at 4:22 pm
The Greenpeace ad is pretty funny, really.
Well, perhaps some don’t take Greenpeace seriously, How about the prestigious 122 year old National Geographic, this is the sixth in a series:
Thank you Mr. Fuller, I can add little more to what you just said.
Bruckner8 says: (September 2, 2010 at 9:19 am) There will always be hucksters, power-players and plenty of meek to go along with them. […]
Funny thing, freedom. Freedom has forced us to mainstream everyone. Freedom forces us to give every last chance; not allowing us to predict the future.
The free and sane have every right to choose their environment and science (ie, buyer beware). The free and sane have deemed it necessary to incorporate the insane into society; to leave them be; to not judge them beyond their “quirks.”
This is one of the prices of freedom. Bad science is a price of freedom. Bad government is a price of freedom, until it takes freedoms away (oh, wait…)
Thank you, Bruckner8. Your comment encapsulates many truths and is well worth re-reading in full and thinking on. It impresses me greatly. Too many of us trained to see “meek” as a virtue — “strong” as a flaw. Too many of us trained to mistake “weakness” for “compassion”.
ExpVid,
Didn’t you read the article title?? Stop the hysteria!
But thanx for showing that there’s little difference between Greenpeas and Nat’l Geo.
“Well, perhaps some don’t take Greenpeace seriously, How about the prestigious 122 year old National Geographic, this is the sixth in a series:”
Ummmmmm…. NO NO a thousand times NO.
The last 6 minutes of every show on these channels is always this “Stuff”.
I feel shame that NG and Scientific American and all these other formerly respectable institutions have chosen to be the whores of Babylon for our new global
climate change masters, but it is they who will reap the whirlwind of
public indignation when their complicity in this propaganda crime against humanity becomes clear.
Too strong ?
Dennis Wingo says:
September 2, 2010 at 10:12 am
People are forgetting the kid in Australia a couple of years ago who committed suicide because of his fears about global warming.
There are also the many children that can’t sleep good anymore after seeing Al Gore’s movie. Some of the children saw the movie in Home Ec class. The hysteria reached into classes that were not science related.
“I was an Eco-Terrorist …
But then the scene got too legit.
The revolution was a lie.”
Unlike Anarchy which ends after a few G7 meetings, Nobel Cause Corruption continues into adulthood beyond the TeenAge years it seems.
Smokey,
Didn’t you click on ExpVid’s name?
I did ‘cos I couldn’t believe the Nat. G post was in earnest.
Insane people do insane things. These thing include elements from the real world, whether from religion, family, politics, or plot elements from fictional works.
The fact that a *particular* real world element is included signifies *nothing* about that real world element.
Now, if other members or leaders of that “*particular* real world element” endorse the actions of the insane, it does say does say something about those members or leaders.
The Jim Jones analogy is flawed as no ordinary speaker has the power of a cult to isolate, sleep deprive, and otherwise condition a follower.
10 Yrs ago an American friend of mine committed suicide over his despair at the supposed ongoing destruction of the natural world by humans.
He was an artist who made beautiful sculptures with bits and pieces he found at the water’s edge – sculptures I found exceptionally satisfying to look at. A huge talent, a real artist.
He had no way of assessing the truth of scientific claims. He believed what the environmentalists said.
He was prone to depression and sadness, he was very vulnerable. But he was also a gentle man with a great love of nature, and he is dead.
When environmentalists exaggerate in order to create fear, in order to exert political influence, a result is the death of some vulnerable, gentle souls. It is important that the environmentalists are confronted with that, and that the public is told that story.
Oliver Ramsay,
Yes, I clicked on ExpVid’s name. My post was an attempt at sarcasm. I can see it didn’t work. ☹
#
#
starzmom says:
September 2, 2010 at 2:08 pm
The part that bothers me the most about this is that, if you take out the violent language, what this man wrote in his manifesto is about the same as what my law school professor (an EPA attorney) has been saying for the past 2 classes. This is not the far left lunatic fringe–this is the mainstream government/school message. If she makes me mad enough, I might spout off, and I might get an F. I really can’t afford that.
______________________________________________________
Just write down what you want to say to her and later, when it will no longer come back to bite you, let her have it with both barrels. It will do her good.
J’accuse Al Gore, Jim Hansen, David Suzuki, Greenpeace and the WWF for creating this monster with their self-serving hysterical propaganda.