*UPDATE/CORRECTION: This post was based on an article in the Independent, which has since been changed. This is the original headline:
It is only available on the wayback machine:
https://web.archive.org/web/20161208201537/http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change-global-warming-mass-extinctions-species-study-donald-trump-kill-himself-joke-a7464391.html
Now it reads:
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change-global-warming-mass-extinctions-species-study-donald-trump-kill-himself-joke-a7464391.html
Many other outlets, including Yahoo News picked up the story.
This has come about because the biologist in question made a joke, and the reporter used the quote verbatim. The blog “On Second Thought” delved into the details:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Wiens confirmed that he did, in fact, say Trump should kill himself, but noted the statement was made as joke:
“On Thursday, December 8, I was contacted by Ian Johnston from The Independent, ostensibly to talk about my paper on climate change and extinction that was being published in PLoS Biology (the paper actually received serious reporting by Brandie Wiekle from CBC News and others).
“Unfortunately, Mr. Johnston admitted that he had not read my paper, and apparently had little interest in talking about it. It turned out that he only wanted to talk about Donald Trump. I did not. He asked me what I would say to Donald Trump. I said that I really did not think that Donald Trump cared at all what I thought.
“Obviously, I hoped that this would be the end of the topic. He persisted. I did therefore say that Trump should “kill himself immediately” (i.e., his doing this seems about as likely as him following any recommendation from an obscure scientist like myself about stopping climate change). I then made sure that it was clear that it was a joke.”
Johnston’s original story did note it was a joke, but Wiens was nonetheless surprised it got into print:
“I also assumed, wrongly, that it (the joke) would not be reported, since the statement was meant to be ridiculous. He did NOT report my preceding statement that I did not think Trump cared what I thought. He then kept persisting with the same question about Trump.
“Next, to further indicate that I wanted to change the subject, I suggested that the UK should make its former colonies switch leaders, so that the U.S. gets Justin Trudeau and Canada gets Donald Trump (as in, to make both the U.S. and Donald Trump nicer after a few years).”
In a subsequent email, Wiens told me that he and Johnston are in disagreement over what was on or off the record.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
So for those confused by the headline, Weins did in fact say that, intended it as a joke, and thought he was in the clear. This illustrates the perils of making jokes while talking to a reporter. President Ronald Reagan learned the hard way back in the 80’s with his famous bombing quote. From the Wikipedia account:
On August 11, 1984, United StatesPresidentRonald Reagan, while running for re-election, was preparing to make his weekly Saturday radio address on National Public Radio. During a sound check before the address, Reagan made the following joke to the radio technicians: “My fellow Americans, I’m pleased to tell you today that I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.” The joke was a parody of the opening line of that day’s speech: “My fellow Americans, I’m pleased to tell you that today I signed legislation that will allow student religious groups to begin enjoying a right they’ve too long been denied — the freedom to meet in public high schools during nonschool hours, just as other student groups are allowed to do.”[1]
Contrary to popular misconception, this microphone gaffe was not broadcast over the air, but rather leaked later to the general populace.
So for all those people who got their panties in a twist over this (Brandon S. for example), that’s the clarification.
-Anthony Watts
Guest essay by Eric Worrall
Yahoo reports on another outbreak of green peace and love, this time from Arizona Professor John Wiens.
‘Kill yourself immediately’: Biologist takes aim at climate change denier Donald Trump
An evolutionary biologist who says all animal life could be wiped out in as little as 50 years has instructed Donald Trump to “kill yourself immediately”.
Professor John Wiens took aim at the controversial president elect, who refutes the existence of climate change, while describing the “global disaster” taking hold of our planet.
The Arizona University scientist found that 47 per cent of almost 1000 species had suffered local extinctions linked to climate change, according to the Independent.
…
Professor Wiens joked that if he ever got to meet Trump he would instruct him to “kill himself”, but when questioned again he gave a more serious answer.
“I guess I would tell him ‘what would you think if there was a country on the other side of the world that was releasing gas that was going to cause extinctions in our country, to hurt our crops and make people starve?’
“He would say, ‘tell me where it is and we’ll bomb them tomorrow’. Then I’d say, ‘this is what we’re doing to other countries because we are the big polluters’.”
…
You might think Professor Wiens has eaten one field trip mushroom too many, but in terms of Arizona academics he’s actually an optimist. WUWT reported in November this year that according to Arizona colleague Professor-emeritus Guy McPherson we don’t have to worry about climate change, because the 6th mass extinction will kill us all off in the next ten years, regardless of what we do.
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This article gives the impression Trump is looking for gators and crocks in order to drain the climate change swamp. Basically, the questions look to be he’s doing his homework.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/09/us/politics/climate-change-energy-department-donald-trump-transition.html
High concept!
Trump resorts and hotels powered by nuclear energy, with pools heated by stored spent rods!
Just think of the amphibian evolution that could be fueled by all that radiation.
There is a risk of extinction and it is rising. However, not one of these species is endangered by climate change. Instead, they are endangered by the usual suspects:
1) Over hunting/over fishing (as well as over-hunting/over-fishing of a primary food source.)
2) Habitat destruction due to mostly a growth of farming and cities.
3) Toxic pollution (as apposed to carbon dioxide) which is particularly harmful to coral reefs.
4) Invasive species.
Climate change is a fear, not a real cause. Scientists fear that species will be affected by warming, but (so far) they’ve adapted to it. However, far more significant is the distraction of climate change as opposed to taking basic conservation efforts which are needed.
Climate change is a red herring on species extinction — any legitimate environmental biologist should understand this basic fact.
Climate change is not just a red herring but a source of green moolah.
Exactly. Many environmentalists exchanged creeping reality for galloping imagination.
By Wiens’ standards, the US should definitely attack China, for what it is doing to us. The US isn’t the country producing all that life-giving CO2.
Various proxies show that the temperature in previous interglacials have been as much as six degrees above what they are now. link If such temperatures could cause extinctions, it is a miracle that there is any life left on the planet.
What does the good professor think will happen when we swing into the next glaciation?
Where have all the tree ferns gone, long time pa-assing?
All I hear is screaming for research grants. Unfortunately, after you start to predict imminent mass extinction, you cannot ramp it up further. People get tired of listening to these psychotic tantrums and tune it out.
Why would an evolutionary biologist care about life being wiped out? Got here by accident , leave here on purpose. Lol.
Were he around during the Great Oxygen Catastrophe, he plead, what about all those anaerobes?
If during the Great Dying, what about all those mammal-like reptiles?
If during the K/T, what about all those poor dinosaurs?
The climate extremist kooks are so lost into circular reasoning and have sold it so well. Disabusing the kooks like this latest example from Arizona presents a real challenge.
Stupendous reverse snobbism here Eric. Masterful trolling.
May the Dunning – Kruger effect be with you.
“Masterful trolling.”
Indeed, Tony.
Well up to your usual high standard.
“The Arizona University scientist found that 47 per cent of almost 1000 species..”
Show me the bodies!!!!
Everytime I read a phrase like “disputes the existence of climate change” I realize I’m reading propaganda since of course that phrase makes less than zero sense. It’s the alarmists that are disputing climate change. Anytime a clear definition of something keeps changing as the propaganda isn’t working, that in and of itself is a clear indicator of evil intent.
I’ll be glad when the ‘swamp is drained’ of these illogical doublespeak peeps.
Exactly, if these clowns didn’t have their heads so far up their behinds while chanting their moronic monastic chants, they might possibly realize that Trump is the exact opposite of a person who denies that the climate changes.
With their heads up there, just apply a powerful vacuum cleaner to their belly buttons and… swoosh! Another local extinction!
Can you imagine if this was said about Obama! He’d lose his job and be jailed. You can say anything about a republican but you can’t say a word about a democrap
LOL _ I am thinking Wiens should have his credentials invalidated immediately. One would suggest an ‘Evolutionary Biologist’ SHOULD realise that attacking the Prime Male who is about to control pretty much everything to do with Wiens survival is distinctly NOT a valid evolutionary choice.
There should be a requirement that academics cannot become such until they have made their way in a world without windows… i.e. the Real World. From recommendations such as the guy who isn’t even the PotUS yet should kill himself to recommending paedophilia, the academic world seems hellbent on divorcing itself from the rest of Humanity.
I completely agree, Mark–Wiens’ statement wherein he infers that CO2 is “going to cause extinctions in our country, to hurt our crops and make people starve” has got to be so void of common sense (say nothing of scientific validity) that his doctorate degree should be rescinded.
Immediately.
Even NASA is saying CO2 is HELPING growth, not harming it. In fact so far that’s been the only evidence I’ve found of CO2 having an effect at all and it’s a positive one.
So you are a Holocaust den!er??? As well as a climate den!er?
‘john’ you forgot to mention the shape shifting lizards, they are at least responsible for some of all our ills.
The professor is on the right track concerning extinctions. There are in fact some massive extinctions underway right now. They involve rhinos, tigers, African elephant and numerous other large land animals. And some sea creatures, too.
But these extinctions are due to overhunting by humans, habitat destruction by humans, pollution caused by humans, and other pressures caused by human action; but not the burning of fossil fuels.
Indeed, none of these real and ongoing animal extinctions are due to anthropogenic global warming. Why do the warmists ignore these facts?
Meditations on ‘SIGILLVM VNIVERSITATIS ARIZONENSIS’ (hope that lamp of knowledge is solar powered)
On the wheel and the plow
And the sun is going down
Upon the sacred cow
and perhaps
Brother don’t you worry
Don’t you worry
Don’t you worry
See what my lord has done
Brother don’t stop prayin
Sister don’t stop prayin
Sister don’t stop prayin
See what my lord has done.
Keep your lamp trimmed and burnin’
Keep your lamp trimmed and burnin’
Keep your lamp trimmed and burnin’
See what my lord has done
Keep your lamp trimmed and burnin’
Keep your lamp trimmed and burnin’
Keep your lamp trimmed and burnin’
See what my lord has done
Medic with a clue by four needed on aisle 1.
Who believes in freedom?
I believe in freedom!
No definition of freedom is complete, without the freedom to take the consequences.
It’s the ultimate freedom upon which all the others are based.
Social justice warriors, such as this environmental defective professor, are just not willing to accept the consequences of their words or actions. They are cowards.
When he was questioned, J. Weins whined he was only joking, revealing that he is not willing to stand strong on his expressed beliefs. This retraction won’t exonerate him. His card is marked. There will be secret service consequences down the road.
MODS: Attention needed to John at 9:51. Objectionable material.
Objectionable material? Or truth perhaps?
On the civet cat coffe principle I suppose, care to share that truth?
No, no. This is exactly the sort of tripe that Eric Worrall likes to wallow around in. The more post-truthiness the better. The cheap, click-bait crap he posts here inevitably brings out the best in people.
[like you, for example – Anthony]
“This is exactly the sort of tripe that Eric Worrall likes to wallow around in.”
Hehehe!
Seems Eric’s really got your number doesn’t it, Tony?
But hey, that’s all you’re capable of, messenger shooting, isn’t that right?
“Nigel S December 10, 2016 at 3:32 am”
Care to share the truth or fiction.
It’s gone thank goodness, my thanks to the mods.
One I remember was blame for concentration camps which I think is one of the many things usually blamed on us wicked Brits although Wiki has this ‘The first modern concentration camps in the United States were created in 1838’. Let’s leave it there.
Agreed, but more than just objectionable, malicious and in violation of site policy. I’ve removed it, rather than snip it, so that there’s no approved comment. Fake commenter. Also made a change to spam filter so that comments like this don’t make it into the open without being flagged.
The extraordinary thing is that there is a country which is doing exactly what the professor complains about. It is indeed on the other side of the world. It is called China.
And what do the greens say about it? Nothing. Do they want China to reduce? Not really, they are perfectly content to let it go from 10 billion tons to 15 billion or more. Because its fair. Whereas, for the US to emit 5 billion is destroying civilisation and perhaps life on earth.
Its insane.
All life on planet Earth is carbon based. Carbon dioxide is not a pollutant, it is a nutrient.
John Wiens, “grow up.”
LOL…. Did this tool of a Professor just threaten the President Elect of the United States of America?….. Because I’m pretty sure he just found himself put on the no fly list and a quite a few other lists too. The dummy.
Just another one of the “educational elite” suffering a cogdissy fit. More indication that a significant percentage of the the population currently suffers from one or more mental disorders.
Are they more clustered on the left, though?
Absolutely!
I think the disease comes first, and then causes “leftinia”, resulting in exacerbation of the malady as a result of close, continual contact with others suffering from leftinia, resulting in the extreme form, “hyperbolic leftinia”, an acute fungal infection leading to total mental paralysis.and with a side effect of Tourette syndrome when in the presence of intelligent beings.
For anyone interested in the original paper, it’s online and freely available at PLOS Biology:
http://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.2001104
Should have mentioned – the S1 Appendix linked at the bottom of the paper is an Excel file with a complete list of the species looked at, and which studies looked at which species (Wiens’ paper is apparently a meta-analysis of 27 studies which looked at variations in species population range and tied them to climate change).
Thank you for the link to the paper. All these extinctions are based on climate models. So, the predictions must be accurate! (sarc)