I checked first, thinking this was some April Fools joke, it appears legit. (h/t to Tom Nelson and Skiphil)
Climate Alarmist Jim Hansen leaving NASA on Wed. to devote himself to legal and political activism:
Hansen retiring from NASA to press legal and activist efforts
At the same time, retirement will allow Dr. Hansen to press his cause in court. He plans to take a more active role in lawsuits challenging the federal and state governments over their failure to limit emissions, for instance, as well as in fighting the development in Canada of a particularly dirty form of oil extracted from tar sands.
“As a government employee, you can’t testify against the government,” he said in an interview.
…
In the interview and in subsequent e-mails, Dr. Hansen made it clear that his new independence would allow him to take steps he could not have taken as a government employee. He plans to lobby European leaders — who are among the most concerned about climate change — to impose a tax on oil derived from tar sands. Its extraction results in greater greenhouse emissions than conventional oil.
…
Dr. Hansen says he senses the beginnings of a mass movement on climate change, led by young people. Once he finishes his final papers as a NASA employee, he intends to give it his full support.
“At my age,” he said, “I am not worried about having an arrest record.”
Full story at The NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/02/science/james-e-hansen-retiring-from-nasa-to-fight-global-warming.html?pagewanted=all
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At least his true colors are out in the open, and he can no longer wrap himself in the (…waning?…) “prestige” of NASA.
In Canada, even the National Post is becoming a shill to the green lobby: check this article from John Ivison
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/04/01/stephen-harper-is-the-last-remaining-barrier-to-legislation-on-carbon-emissions/
“John Ivison: It’s not necessarily because the Prime Minister is a climate change denier. His foot-dragging is likely motivated by strategic considerations ”
Denier? John Ivison better watch his mouth and if he wants to be taken seriously ever again, stop using a vocabulary that is both insulting and ignorant of science.
MichaelS says:
April 1, 2013 at 3:54 pm
“Klench Mychiques says:
April 1, 2013 at 3:41 pm
“Say what you like about him, but it’s clear he’s willing to stand up for what he believes in.”
I could list dozens of individuals throughout history who stood up for what they believed, yet destroyed the lives of many in the process.”
Yes, Hitler comes to mind. No one had more integrity than Hitler. He was always hate and death personified. Never a crack in the armor. Always the same.
What bothers me about Hansen is his joy in leading the rush of lemmings off the cliff.
I hate to take up space with another comment but I’d like to say that I think people should be rather cautious about this. I wish I had the article either directly in front of me or my memory directly in front of me because I have to rely on it. If I recall correctly I read that Obama put through a new executive order (the way he always does it when he can’t get what he wants through the people’s representatives) a couple weeks ago. In the order, I believe signed on a Friday (of course), he called on Federal agencies to consider Climate Change in their approval processes. We all know how green groups have been able to stymie numerous mining, energy, development, etc. projects by invoking the clean air, clean water, wetlands, endangered species and other acts; by tying those projects up with lawsuits in Federal courts. His new executive order now adds Climate Change to that obstacle course. As the article stated, Obama could get off the hook by approving Keystone (which, I believe, is supported by about 70% of the public) and, instead, letting his green allies kill it by tying it up in court due to his new exec. order. It’s not overstating it to say that he’s devious. Despite the hit (about 40%) that middle class net worth has taken since 2007; despite the unemployment rate, which in reality is closer to 10+%; despite the shattered pension funds; lost futures; and inflationary debt loads; Obama’s intention (largely unstated on the campaign trail) was to tackle Climate Change in his second term. Is the timing of this ‘retirement’ by Hansen purely coincidental with the timing of Obama’s new executive order? Is Hansen to lead the charge, as a private sector actor, on these potential upcoming lawsuits? Was that the purpose? I’d say its time to pull out the Saul Alinsky handbook and play the same dirty game on them. It’s time to marginalized Hansen.
BTW: Klench Mychiques; you can clench and kiss mine first, you clever devil.
Solar influence is a BIG NASA mission: astronomers, spacecraft, launches, etc. CO2 feedback modeling had become an institutional embarrassment and more importantly, a deadweight in the tightening fiscal environment.
Either he saw the writing on wall or a polite conversation was
If Hansen is so willing to stand up for himself let’s see him in a debate. He has called that “jousting with jesters.” I call it being afraid to let the world see the weaknesses of his thesis. Civil disobedience is for schlubs and the immature.
I guesstimate it is due to more income/money first and pursueing his beliefs in high public fashion second. Too bad its not about science.
I wonder if this can possibly pave the way for an examination of Hansen’s adjustments to the raw temperature data?
ps. As someone who works in oil and gas exploration I can only say this to Hansen:
Come on up here to Alberta and declare war on me. In person.
And note to Hansen on Canadian law :
Non-interference by Foreigners
Prohibition – inducements by non-residents
331. No person who does not reside in Canada shall, during an election period, in any way induce electors to vote or refrain from voting or vote or refrain from voting for a particular candidate unless the person is
(a) a Canadian citizen; or
(b) a permanent resident within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
S.C. 2001, c. 27, s. 211.
http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=loi/fel/cea&document=part16&lang=e
Well at least NASA is out from under him. Maybe now they can get back to the business of moslem outreach.
So the buffoon Hansen is retiring. Good.
And he is planning to go to the courts to prosecute his opponents? Even better.
This will be a prime opportunity to put one of the leading global warming fraudsters onto the witness stand and subject him to a thorough cross examination.
It will be do the world a whole lot of good to see him and his idiocy shredded in a courtroom.
Bring it on!!!!!!!
At least the taxpayer will no longer be paying him for the advocacy he calls science. I’m all for stopping wasteful spending. Good riddance.
Lew et al 2013 appears, FOIA reappears, then Lew et al 2012 gets published, Lew et al 2013 disappears, then Marcott FAQ, then Pielke v. Schmidt, then McIntyre v. Tamino and now Hansen?! #sensoroverload
Modern day Don Quixote?
Like all people as a retiree he has three window before his name has no value, except as a target.
Canadian oil is all over a town 100 miles from my home. They’re having a hard time with it. Will he be protesting there? ‘ell, I might join him!
Clean up begins for Exxon oil spill in Mayflower | todaysthv.com
http://www.thv11.com/news/article/257413/2/Clean-up-begins-for-Mayflower-Oil-Spill
Two ducks dead, others covered in oil after Exxon’s oil spill in Mayflower | todaysthv.com
http://www.thv11.com/news/article/257800/2/Animals-being-treated-after-Exxons-Mayflower-oil-spill
http://www.reuters.com/search?blob=oil%20spill%20in%20mayflower%20arkansas
* U.S. environmental agency categorizes pipe rupture as “major spill”
* Exxon shuts Pegasus pipeline after thousands of barrels spilled
* Twenty-two homes evacuated
* Second spill in the United States involving crude from Canada this week
Typo “three year window”
Bad Andrew says:
April 1, 2013 at 5:47 pm
So, Steven Mosher’s hero is clearly more activist than scientist. Who knew?
Andrew
===========
Knowing the minds of neither, we expound ?
@ur momisugly A.D. Everard says: April 1, 2013 at 4:29 pm
@ur momisugly Dennis Gaskill says: April 1, 2013 at 5:02 pm
Exactly. He has been given the shove.
If he wanted to launch into full-time “activism” (would this constitute a change?) he would be far more effective being not just at NASA but the official Guardian of The Record of Climate Change.
If he got publicly sacked for this all the better: The Prophet As Martyr.
He is going to work out of his barn. Might be open to offers from a Uni. Might set up an Institute. Nothing set up. Future in-determinant.
It is impossible to gauge the level of delusion he has. But sensing an incipient eruption of Climate Change protest? Amongst the young? Desperate fantasy.
This grotesque article – “laboring in obscurity for a decade”; “called to the Congress” Jesus? – highlights just what perversions this manipulative hustling maniac and those who have backed this have wrought. Hansen “called it” in 1988 and people took notice. After 10 whole years of it getting warmer which followed 30 odd of cooling. Sickening.
Does this mean that the basis for his “insights” into how to alter perception of reality will be fully examined and laid bare? Will an acolyte – such as Schmidt as someone mentioned – be given responsibility for the Special Keys to the Secret Code – and end up in the hot seat when the knock on the door finally comes, or will someone who might be trustworthy be appointed?
He’s been given the boot. It would be nice to think this is because standards are somehow now able to be applied, but just as realistically – more – it is because someone in NASA has realized that their neck is exposed too.
Over a hundred pipeline leaks a year around the globe. Vast majority are reported by locals and not by the companies…
Peak oil is done! Lets all get down and dirty…yippee!!!
Look at the bright side there is plenty of oil to go around…especially on your front lawn!
ChootemLiz says:
April 1, 2013 at 4:47 pm
“That is one quick exit.
Let’s all chip in and buy him an adjustable thermometer.”
He has enough of those. Just wave him “bye, bye.”
I certainly hope he tries his shenanigans in a court of law. He will get his ass torn apart. Discovery will be very interesting.
I doubt there’ll be much of a change in the volume of Hansen’s day-to-day hysterics. I’ll bet, though, he’ll earn a pile of money as a well-heeled spokesman spreading his end-of-times lunacy on behalf of some major eco-loon organizations.
Perhaps NASA’s sequester related actions stated in a 22 March memo to employees was the nudge? (Ref: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2013/03/26/sequester-hits-nasas-outreach-and-educational-programs/)
If he can’t “…reach out to external and internal stakeholders and the public concerning NASA, its programs, and activities….” and if he can’t do “…permanent and traveling exhibits, workshops and many speeches and appearances…” through 30 Sep 2013 does that mean he would get stifled and he couldn’t stand 6 months of that?
Klench Mychiques says: April 1, 2013 at 3:41 pm
—————————
and Hansen … both “chiques” of the same ‘awhole’ ?