Guest essay by Eric Worrall
The New York Times is calling censorship, that EPA management has cancelled a trip by three staff scientists to speak at a climate conference. My question – why does the NYT think EPA staff scientists have the right to dictate how they spend their work hours?
E.P.A. Cancels Talk on Climate Change by Agency Scientists
By LISA FRIEDMANOCT. 22, 2017
WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency has canceled the speaking appearance of three agency scientists who were scheduled to discuss climate change at a conference on Monday in Rhode Island, according to the agency and several people involved.
John Konkus, an E.P.A. spokesman and a former Trump campaign operative in Florida, confirmed that agency scientists would not speak at the State of the Narragansett Bay and Watershed program in Providence. He provided no further explanation.
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The move highlights widespread concern that the E.P.A. will silence government scientists from speaking publicly or conducting work on climate change. Scott Pruitt, the agency administrator, has said that he does not believe human-caused greenhouse gas emissions are primarily responsible for the warming of the planet.
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Mr. Munns confirmed that E.P.A. officials would not be participating in the meeting but did not explain why. Mr. Konkus, the agency spokesman, did not respond to questions about whether the conference’s focus on climate change was a factor in canceling the appearances.
He said in an email that E.P.A. scientists may attend the program, but not the morning news conference. He later clarified saying, “E.P.A. staff will not be formally presenting at either.”
Since August, all E.P.A. grant solicitations have gone through Mr. Konkus’s office for review, according to a directive first obtained by E & E News. Mr. Konkus served on President Trump’s campaign before he was appointed deputy associate administrator in E.P.A.’s Office of Public Affairs. At the time, agency officials said they were ensuring agency funding is in line with Mr. Pruitt’s priorities.
The Narragansett Bay Estuary Program is funded through the E.P.A.’s approximately $26 million National Estuary Program. It funds 28 state-based estuary programs and delivers about $600,000 annually to the Narragansett Bay program. Mr. Pruitt’s proposed budget for 2018 would eliminate the national program.
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Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/22/climate/epa-scientists.html
No doubt the three scientists affected by this decision will immediately resign their well paid government jobs in protest and speak at the conference as private citizens.
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After reading through all the comments so far, the discussion seems to be on the “scientist” not attending the conference. What about the really great news in the next to last paragraph?
“Since August, all E.P.A. grant solicitations have gone through Mr. Konkus’s office for review, according to a directive first obtained by E & E News. … At the time, agency officials said they were ensuring agency funding is in line with Mr. Pruitt’s priorities.”
At last! Since they won’t get their grants renewed using their work under the Obama administration, all those rent-seekers in academia will be falling all over themselves to get grants to show that CO2 does not cause global warming.
Aye – It’s a fine thing, isn’t it now?!!
Simon, I’m afraid you don’t get it, and you probably never will. Censorship is the stifling of words and, most importantly, ideas. There are many scientists…bona fide scientists…who have and do disagree with what you term “current thinking.” If there are valid reasons to disagree, and there most certainly are whether you want to admit it or not, then they should be aired, heard, and attempted to be understood, instead of being cast aside, ignored, and even worse, retaliated against. Alarmists do not want debate…and that is to your everlasting shame.
4caster
“There are many scientists…bona fide scientists…who have and do disagree with what you term “current thinking.”
Really? Name one scientist working in the field who does not think increased man made CO2 is warming the planet?Just one? Until you do, then that little story you told is just plain nonsense. If you really were being paid by NOAA, then then they have every right to insist you should teach what their researched and considered thinking is, otherwise you are just delivering your opinion, and as a taxpayer I am opposed to such nonsense. That’s not censorship, that is doing your job.
4caster
Just one will do….
EPA is still engaged in efforts to combat climate change – for example, running the “Energy Star” program – and designating today as “Energy Star” day, It’s not at all clear that exhorting us to save energy should be part of their mandate – aren’t there enough other nannycrats doing that already? Here’s a paste of yesterday’s e-mail:
“Tomorrow is ENERGY STAR® Day!
Join EPA in celebrating ENERGY STAR Day on Tuesday, October 24. This is the perfect opportunity to join thousands of organizations across the country in recognizing our collective energy efficiency accomplishments, so get ready to celebrate!
How to join the fun:
Take advantage of this special day by having your organization share the new ENERGY STAR Light the Moment video on social media or other channels to show how ENERGY STAR connects with people’s lives and makes them better. The more partners that share, the more we will amplify the ENERGY STAR message over the social media noise. Consider it a social media takeover, flash mob-style!
On Tuesday, October 24, 2017 at 12:00 PM ET:
· Share the Light the Moment video by uploading this mp4 to Facebook. (Please also post on Twitter and Instagram if you use those platforms.)
· Title: Light the Moment with ENERGY STAR
· Tag “with” @ENERGYSTAR
· Include hashtag #LightTheMoment and this optional text:
Save energy and protect the planet, for a lifetime of precious moments. Make @ENERGY STAR part of your life on ENERGY STAR Day and every day. #LightTheMoment”
Enjoy the fun….
The EPA is finally returning to conventional management practices after decades of chaos. The inmates don’t run the prison, the students don’t run the school and workers don’t make management decisions. When an organization pays the salaries of the employees, management has the obligation to approve presentations of studies carried out on their dime. If employees cannot abide by management decisions, they should quit the organization. Two groups that sometimes do not understand the relationship between bosses and subordinates are NFL players and small children. A whole lot of people need to grow up.
One should not call EPA staff scientists “scientists” as they are pseudoscientists.
Most EPA scientists couldnt hold a real job in industry.