Don’t forget, Warmists, who are part of the Progressive movement, as self-professed as the Most Tolerant People On The Planet. No dissent is allowed
(Cato) An interesting juxtaposition of items appeared in our Inbox today.
First was an announcement that Dr. Lennart Bengtsson, former director of the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, had resigned from the Academic Advisory Council of the U.K.’s Global Warming Policy Foundation. What was surprising about this announcement was that it was just announced a week or so ago that Dr. Bengtsson—a prominent and leading climate modeler and research scientist—was joining the GWPF Council. At that time, there was some wondering aloud as to why Dr. Bengtsson would join an organization that was somewhat “skeptical†when it comes to the projections and impacts of climate change and the effectiveness and direction of climate change policy.
During one recent interview Dr. Bengtsson explained:
I think the climate community shall be more critical and spend more time to understand what they are doing instead of presenting endless and often superficial results and to do this with a critical mind. I do not believe that the IPCC machinery is what is best for science in the long term. We are still in a situation where our knowledge is insufficient and climate models are not good enough. What we need is more basic research freely organized and driven by leading scientists without time pressure to deliver and only deliver when they believe the result is good and solid enough. It is not for scientists to determine what society should do. In order for society to make sensible decisions in complex issues it is essential to have input from different areas and from different individuals. The whole concept behind IPCC is basically wrong.
A good summary of the buzz that surrounded Dr. Bengtsson and his association with GWPF is contained over at Judith Curry’s website, Climate Etc.
Dr. Bengtsson was forced to resign, due to the constant threats and nasty treatment. Here’s his resignation letter
Dear Professor Henderson,
I have been put under such an enormous group pressure in recent days from all over the world that has become virtually unbearable to me. If this is going to continue I will be unable to conduct my normal work and will even start to worry about my health and safety. I see therefore no other way out therefore than resigning from GWPF. I had not expect[ed] such an enormous world-wide pressure put at me from a community that I have been close to all my active life. Colleagues are withdrawing their support, other colleagues are withdrawing from joint authorship etc.
I see no limit and end to what will happen. It is a situation that reminds me about the time of McCarthy. I would never have expect[ed] anything similar in such an original peaceful community as meteorology. Apparently it has been transformed in recent years.
[glad you noticed!—eds]
Under these [sic] situation I will be unable to contribute positively to the work of GWPF and consequently therefore I believe it is the best for me to reverse my decision to join its Board at the earliest possible time.
With my best regards
Lennart Bengtsson
The Global Warming Policy Foundation notes
He said the pressure had mainly come from climate scientists in the US, including one employed by the US government who threatened to withdraw as co-author of a forthcoming paper because of his link with the foundation.
Professor Henderson replies
Your resignation is not only a sad event for us in the Foundation:Â it is also a matter of profound and much wider concern. The reactions that you speak of, and which have forced you to reconsider the decision to join us, reveal a degree of intolerance, and a rejection of the principle of open scientific inquiry, which are truly shocking. They are evidence of a situation which the Global Warming Policy Foundation was created to remedy.
In your recent published interview with Marcel Crok, you said that ‘if I cannot stand my own opinions, life will become completely unbearable’. All of us on the Council will feel deep sympathy with you in an ordeal which you should never have had to endure.
The entire reply is available at Tucano’s Perch.
Australian Climate Madness writes about the climate jihadists striking again. Roger Pielke, Jr., notes the climate McCarthyism. Dr. Judith Curry says this has the potential to do more damage than Climategate. Many others have chimed in, as well. Of course, no Warmists are saying “hey, um, this isn’t the way science works. It should be open and free”.
On not sure if McCarthyism is correct, because McCarthy was actually right about communists infiltrating the government. This is more akin to the way scientists like Galileo and Copernicus were persecuted by the 16th and 17th century church in a religious world. Because the climate change movement certainly acts more like a repressive religion, the way the Catholic church was during a time.
Professor Bentgsson was not forced to do anything. He was roundly criticized for joining the Global Warming Policy Foundation, a “soft denier” political advocacy organization, and quit.
Soft deniers maintain that they accept the reality of AGW (as any real scientist does) but argue that the fiscal and societal costs of mitigation are too great. The result, though, is the same as with science deniers – inaction on global warming.
When the Professor made the decision to join a political advocacy organization did he assume he would be immunized from criticism? Did he assume he could maintain his professional credibility?
Here’s the difference between what Galileo suffered and what Professor Bentgsson was “forced” to do:
“Galileo was found “vehemently suspect of heresy”, namely of having held the opinions that the Sun lies motionless at the center of the universe, that the Earth is not at its center and moves, and that one may hold and defend an opinion as probable after it has been declared contrary to Holy Scripture. He was required to “abjure, curse and detest” those opinions.
On the following day he was placed under house arrest, which he remained under for the rest of his life.
… publication of any of his works was forbidden, including any he might write in the future.”
No state body took an interest in Professor Bentgsson. He can live wherever he wants and publish whatever he wishes. Galileo risked his life – Bentgsson’s actions were criticized by his peers and he quit. He probably realized the industry money from the GWPF wasn’t worth the loss of prestige of being a respected scientist.
Hardly a profile in courage.
“hey, um, this isn’t the way science works. It should be open and freeâ€.
Climate scientists, Drs. Michael Mann and James Hansen, have received withering criticism (and been sued and investigated) by the right-wing noise machine AND their STATE minions over the years but are still active and fighting back.
No, this is just another example of whiny, right-wing political exploitation. You have a new martyr – a new victim. Play it up boys, play it up.
OMG !!! One of the “threats” came from an American scientist who “threatened to withdraw as co-author of a paper” ??????? Are you f*cking serious???? That was the THREAT that sent Bengtsoon running for his life ???
Less than 1% of the funding from GWPF comes from individuals, 99% comes from corporate sources.
A quick check of wiki would have shown what this “foundation” is: nothing but a front and shill for corporate carbon polluters.
Climate McCarthyism on full scale display. J, your analogy isn’t quite correct. Mann “fights back”, as you say, by hiding his data and suing people. The person who is suing him is only doing it so he releases his data and because Mann sued him first. Hansen is criticized because over the years he has changed his “theories” several times to fit data that isn’t there, showing he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
The reaction of Jeff and John is enough to show the stupidity of this religion of climate.
david,
Nothing to discuss? To what in my comments do you object? Please be specific, thanks.
j,
The researcher who early on showed that the Earth was warming rapidly was investigated and harassed by the State of Virginia until the courts put a stop to it. Why do regressive deniers want the powers of the State to stop scientific research? Do you agree that State powers should be used this way?
Professor Bentgsson must have pretty weak convictions if a disapproving email or two (so he ‘claims’) sent him running. Dr. Mann faced fines and jail time.
This prof is a real loser if he thinks resigning from GWPF will return him to good graces. He’s been outed. He’s lost his gravy train. People now have a scapegoat with which to vent their anger.
He would have done better to surround himself with true scientists at GWPF than those who hate science and dissent at the university level.
Here’s a non-right-wing take on the issue…
http://blog.hotwhopper.com/2014/05/mccarthyism-my-foot-stoat-has-story.html
Have the Warmists played the “racism card” yet? Once they bring that into the mix, their “It-sure-is-getting-hot-around-here” arguments will be virtually unassailable.
What percentage of the funding for research and advocacy groups that affirm global warming comes from individuals versus corporations and government? Like, in the US, NASA, the EPA, and the UN are among the big groups talking about global warming. I don’t think any of them receive a lot of money from contributions from individuals. They’re all tax funded.
I believe his point is that he is being shunned by former friends and associates because he disagrees with them, and that therefore his professional and personal lives are being undermined. No, that is not the same as being tortured and killed. But, what, your point is that it’s okay to persecute people with unpopular beliefs as long as the persecution is mild?
Jeff,
Why should I bother to educate you when you are beyond help? You have convinced yourself of the nobility of your cause and can not see the massive amount of information that opposes your assertions. You do not understand the corruption of the peer review process and can not see that you are being shamefully manipulated.