Dr. James Hansen arrested in coal protest at the White House, see the photo below.
From the Wonk Room » Around The World, Activists Arrested For Protesting Coal’s Destruction
More than 100 people were arrested today during Appalachia Rising, the largest national protest to end mountaintop removal (MTR) coal mining. Arrests included Appalachian residents; retired coal miners; renowned climate scientist, James Hansen; and faith leaders. After a march from Freedom Plaza and a rally at Lafayette Park, more than 100 staged a sit-in in front of the White House to demand President Obama follow his own science and end mountaintop mining.
“The science is clear, mountaintop removal destroys historic mountain ranges, poisons water supplies and pollutes the air with coal and rock dust,” said renowned climate scientist James Hansen, who was arrested in today’s protest at the White House. “Mountaintop removal, providing only a small fraction of our energy, can and should be abolished. The time for half measures and caving in to polluting industries must end.”
Here’s our buddy Jimbo, looking dapper in a fedora, tie, dockers, and cuffs:
Jimbo’s starting a rap sheet:
June 23, 2009 Dr. James Hansen of NASA GISS arrested
James Hansen and unidentified woman under arrest by WV state trooper. Photo credit: Antrim Caskey, Rainforest Action Network Field Photography
I wonder if he still thinks the west side highway will be underwater due to sea level rise in 20 years?
And as an added bonus, from the Climate is not Weather except when we say it is Department, the Wonk Room has a link to this story:
Meanwhile, Los Angeles hit an all-time record 113°…
h/t to Tom Nelson and WUWT reader Ron de Haan
D.Gould
But if that is where the data led him, then his actions are not unreasonable – indeed, they surely indicate a highly ethical individual who is trying to prevent suffering.
Yes I believe that an INTERPRETATION of data played a small part in Hansen’s decisions to act illegally .
I believe also that a much larger part in the decision is a mental disorder called Jesus syndrome .
Definition of Jesus syndrom :
The combination of complexes and dogmatic teachings that create a pathetic personality process that makes the person feel they are ‘Jesus like’ in the way the world should view them and as they view themselves.
In any case that leads Hansen to act agressively, illegally and ultimately extremely intolerantly.
What he needs after his arrest is medical help and I really can’t understand why the NASA continues to employ an obviously deranged person.
As for the matter of mining methods, T.Kennedy and Ben D. explained what it is about.
It is absolutely certain that Hansen has no technical knowledge and no experience in mining methods and therefore his opinion is irrelevant .
I notice that some people’s religion forbids making holes in the ground and transforming curved surfaces in plane surfaces .
I have nothing against such absurd beliefs but then nobody is asking you to do holes in the ground .
Most people don’t share this religion and like T.Kennedy rationally explains , making holes in the ground and transforming surfaces is one of the most value added activities that brought us from the stone age to the technological civilisation .
David Gould says:
September 29, 2010 at 2:56 am
D. Patterson,
If he honestly believes that the burning of fossil fuels is killing people and will kill more people, how is calling for the burning of fossil fuels to be made illegal unethical?
Because it would kill literally millions, cold kills quick, mainly the poor. And you do not call that unethical?
Perhaps you are in need of a practical education by having James Hansen’s same actions used against you and your own personal family, just as James Hansen used against the coal miners and others. How would you like it if someone like James Hansen came to your place of work claiming it was in violation of their moral conscience and kept you from earning your income, caused you to lose your employment, caused you to lose forfeit your personal property despite your complying with the extant laws? How would you like it if he sat on the sidewalk in front of your driveway and refused to budge, even when your son the police officer had to forcibly remove him from your driveway? How would you like it if he declared you to be a war criminal deserving of the loss of your employment, your property, and your freedom because his moral conscience demanded action against your driving a fossil fueld vehicle? Where does it stop with you?
Tom Kennedy says:
September 28, 2010 at 7:07 pm
Thank you. Would like to see some before, during and after phpotos of some of these projects if you know of them.
Thanks
>> David Gould says:
September 29, 2010 at 1:18 am
Amino Acids in Meteorites,
I understand that you do not believe in AGW. But if Dr Hansen has been convinced by the data that:
1.) AGW is happening;
2.) this is going to cause very bad things; and
3.) it can be prevented
it is surely it is reasonable for him to become an activist on this issue. <<
In your opinion would it also not be 'reasonable' to fudge the data to make it look scarier in order to provoke action to prevent the 'very bad things' from happening?
How would that be any less justified than blocking and harrassing people on their way to their jobs?
Is there a three strikes and you’re out policy over there?[nope . . it’s mulligan city]
Shrug, if we were all as unethical as J. Hansen, we would sit outside his place of work and not budge and get arrested for not letting him work, but then again, I think that assumes he does any work in the first place…This is the same man that on a work day gets himself arrested for violating the rights of others in the name of activism.
As for mountain top mining versus other methods, all mining methods change the land, that is a given..the question is the viability of other options in poor areas (such as W. Va. Which I would argue have no other choice). This is not a rich state, and having someone telling them that they can not make a living is kind of above me I guess, not that I have any horse I am rooting for in mountain top mining. It could go away or expand and I wouldn’t lose any sleep or shed tears. But in the end, by eliminating one type of mining, you open up all other types of mining to the same issue on whether it should be allowed or not…and since its not based on environmental impact, but by what people feel…I am sure if you polled everyone they would have issues with every type of mining out there….
That is just my argument, if the mining is actually hurting the ecosystem, then lets discuss that, otherwise I don’t see an alternative. For moral reasons, I guess I just don’t take a stance since I see all types of reasons that people do not want mines around them, but they sure want all the benefits it entails. This is not meant to be insulting, its meant to make people think about mines in general. I hope no one takes offense, but overall I pretty much just say what I think, and if you have read any of my other posts, you would know that yes, I do that quite a bit.
This argument kind of reminded me of the other thread on the Australians losing their farm because of “smell” complaints. Many mines are not allowed to operate in rural areas of all places because of noise/smell issues….but that just goes to show, sometimes the pendelum of right and wrong swings too far one way or the other.
what a sad, sad individual.
David Gould says:
September 28, 2010 at 11:35 pm
“Simplest explanations are usually the best. There seems to be a clear cause and effect link between seeing data that indicates that the world is warming and becoming an activist to try and prevent that.”
——————————————–
Or it could be that Hansen is just a loon. Charlie Manson, Tim McVeigh, and Ted Kaczynski all thought that their observations compelled them to their respective extreme remedies. I’m not suggesting that Hansen is a terrorist. I’m only pointing out where your rationale can lead.
As far as integrity Hansen doesn’t seems to have much as he engages in crass political tactics. When his bosses object to his engaging in political activities while exploiting his position at NASA. He accuses them of censorship.
It is an interesting time for Hansen to protest mountain top surface mining. West Virginia (the state most concerned with mountain top mining) has a tight senatorial race underway right now. The Republican candidate appears to have crept ahead of the Democrat candidate. The Democrat senatorial candidate surely hates for Hansen to raise this issue right now because mountain top surface mining has a big impact on WV jobs. If the Republicans can win this race, it makes taking control of the senate a more realistic prospect. Most likely the Republicans support mountain top mining in WV.
kuhnkat says:
September 29, 2010 at 12:54 am
“Is the lady his usual class of companions??”
I don’t think that was his companion. She was too good looking – out of his league. Hansen reminds me of Booger in the movie “Revenge of the Nerds” only not so young, classy, and handsome.
Turboblocke says:
September 28, 2010 at 11:38 am
Yeah, if there was a “Disturbing the Peace Prize”, sure.
I concur with the opinion that Mr. Hansen has no special training, or insight by education and is incompetent to discuss mining methods by his technical background. All he is qualified to do is offer his non technical opinion as do all citizens.
But he is not qualified to offer any opinions by his technical training on climate or CAGW, either. His technical credentials are as an Astronomer, not a student of atmospheric physics, a climatologist or a meteorologist. His actual duties are to direct and serve as custodian and gatherer of historical weather data. With carefully constructed data controls, that weather data might be used for a purpose for which it was not collected. That second use is possible application to climate studies. To do so requires knowledge of databases, data sets, librarian duties, and archivist activities.
He has no such training, and it is easy to see that from admitted lack of care of the data sets; and the lack of controls during unrecorded alterations to those data sets.
That is a scandal.
It is a serious scandal for destroying the integrity of data so expensively accumulated. Mr. Hansen should not only be discharged, for such breaches, and possibly pay during work absences; but possibly prosecuted for professional malfeasance in office at NASA. If a medical doctor were so lax, he would most certainly be guilty of, and convicted of, medical malpractice.
In other words, he is totally unqualified, in what he does for NASA.
D Patterson,
If my job was indeed causing suffering to others, I would like to hear about it so I could investigate to determine if it was true. And if it was true, I would close my business. If it was false, then all the guy is doing is causing inconvenience and calling me a few names. And if he honestly believes what he is saying, then he is acting ethically.
Seriously, if you believed that your local business was acting in such a way as to endanger lives, wouldn’t you try to get them to stop? If you wouldn’t, that would surely make you unethical.
Tom_R,
It the problem is as serious as he believes, there would be no need to falsify data. And if the data is not telling him that it is serious, then there is no need for him to become an activist. So, no, that is not a very convincing argument that he is falsifying data.
Justa Joe,
Sure, he could be ‘a loon’. But that does not mean that he is not acting ethically. If someone honestly believed that torturing me into converting to Christianity was the only method available to save my soul from an eternity of suffering, they would be acting unethically if they did not torture me into converting. The thing is, I am not arguing that he is *correct* or *sane* (even though I believe that he is both). I am arguing against those who are claiming that he is acting unethically.
wayne,
I think that you are confusing errors of fact with errors of ethics.
It is perfectly possible to be wrong in your beliefs but to act ethically on those beliefs.
If I see a person about to kill another person and I act to prevent that, without realising that that would-be murderer was trying to prevent a massacre, I would have acted ethically, even though my actions led to the deaths of many.
OK; Hansen has actively chosen to break the law. It may be only a misdemeanor and as such it may be overlooked in his Federal employment status. That is; he may only receive an insufficient rating on his review.
As I understand it though especially when there are multiple willful misconducts of record, Hansen’s Federal security clearance should be immediately revoked. Someone actively and in full knowledge breaking the law can not be considered fully trustworthy. Since his position as a senior manager requires security clearance that also means that he would be reassigned to a lesser position that does not require clearance or placed on leave.
What I wonder, is after Hansen loses his security clearance, will he still get access to all of the raw code and data?
TedK,
Does his position as senior manager require a security clearance? I know plenty of senior managers in government service in Australia who have no security clearance. I looked on the NASA website, but have been unable to find any general employment conditions.
David Gould says:
“…I am not arguing that he is *correct* or *sane* (even though I believe that he is both). I am arguing against those who are claiming that he is acting unethically.”
—————————————-
In America we call what you’re doing, “trying to be cute.”
Hansen has made his ‘observations’ (check). His ‘observations’ have lead him to activism (check). The problem is his activism is in direct conflict of interest to his position at NASA. The fact that he exploits his govt position to further his activism along with numerous other questionable activities have caused people to consider him unethical (or a loon).
As a warmist one would think that you would want Hansen to leave NASA so that their is no appearance of impropriety with the NASA/GISS data. … Caesar’s wife must be above reproach
Justa Joe,
In my opinion, his activisim is not in direct conflict of interest to his position at NASA. Can you lay out how his activism is in direct conflict of interest? I have not been able to find his specific job description at NASA.
If I could be convinced that the reason people doubted the GISS data was because Hansen is an activist, then perhaps I could be convinced that he should leave.
As to being ‘cute’, if people made accusations that Hansen was acting unethically. I believe that I have demonstrated that those accusations are false.
David Gould says:
“Why is a public servant protesting or participating in any political activity an issue?”
David Gould — the same guy who argues that murdering people who don’t toe the green “carbon” agenda is funny — cries crocodile tears over the despicable James Hansen by deliberately misrepresenting what Hansen is doing: breaking the laws that the rest of us must follow, or else.
I can assure the clueless Mr Gould that if James Hansen knew for a fact that he would be promptly fired for his lawbreaking, we would not hear a peep out of him; not a murmur of protest. He is the same devious individual who “adjusts” the temperature record in order to show that the Earth’s completely normal climate is in the throes of runaway global warming.
Acting ethically often has personally unpleasant consequences. But James Hansen knows from experience, and no doubt from a wink and a nod from the current Administration, that he has nothing to fear from his lawbreaking.
Ethical behavior has nothing to do with Mr Hansen, and vice-versa. Risking losing something by standing up for one’s beliefs brings admiration. But Hansen risks absolutely nothing — rather, he becomes a hero to the descendants of the unwashed hippies of the 1960’s, while never having to worry about his next taxpayer-funded paycheck. He is not ethical, he is a tax-sucking government leech who thumbs his nose at society’s rules. He’s special, see?
Some folks certainly pick odious heroes.
Smokey,
I do not argue that murdering people is funny. You see, there is a very clear distinction between *actually murdering people* and *fiction*. Perhaps it is a distinction that you are not aware of – if that is the case, I take this opportunity to alert you to it. 🙂
Does anyone reading Gould’s illogical statement above think that he would be against “hate speech”?
No, of course not. It is obvious that Gould approves of hate speech — so long as it involves promoting the murder of those he disagrees with.
Smokey,
Can you point out the logical flaw for me so that I can correct my thinking?
This video *does not promote the murder of climate sceptics*. It is *satire*.
I thought ‘science’ required a cool dispassionate approach.
David Gould says:
September 30, 2010 at 4:30 pm
“In my opinion, his activisim is not in direct conflict of interest to his position at NASA. Can you lay out how his activism is in direct conflict of interest? I have not been able to find his specific job description at NASA.”
———————-
Fortunately your opinion(s) don’t carry much weight. In the corporate world you’re advised to not even permit the appearance of conflict of interest. You’re advised to remove yourself from those situations even if there is no actual intent to do anything untoward. A person would have to be quite obtuse not to see an appearance or potential real conflict of interest In a man who presides over evaluation and disemination of the nation’s climate data having a vested partisan interest in presenting the data in a manner favorable to his activist cause. This may come as a big surprise to you , but it is very unusual in the USA for a highly placed govt. official to put the weight and reputuation of his department behind a partisan political cause. That type of activity is until now frowned upon.
“As to being ‘cute’, if people made accusations that Hansen was acting unethically. I believe that I have demonstrated that those accusations are false.”
———————–
The only thing that you’ve demonstrated is your intent to dissemble… unsuccessfully.
Sadly. I have to agree with the doctor – removing mountain tops will impact badly on the ecology and should be stopped. As for coal fired power stations, wind doesn’t cut it, sunshine is not productive enough for most of the developed world (yet) and so we face a choice – cut back consumption or increase output.
Personally I think the answer lies in mixing both. More efficient use with more efficient appliances and intelligent consumption coupled with more efficient power generation and distribution. One should slow down growth in demand, the other reduce the need to rip out mountains…