Censoring Science: Inside the Political Attack on Dr. James Hansen and the Truth of Global Warming

3 posts / 0 new
Last post
reikiman
reikiman's picture
Offline
Last seen: 12 months 2 days ago
Joined: Sunday, November 19, 2006 - 17:52
Points: 8447
Censoring Science: Inside the Political Attack on Dr. James Hansen and the Truth of Global Warming

I listen to Democracy NOW every morning as the first thing I do every morning. They offer a refreshing and non-mainstream view of what's going on in the world.

This morning they had a long interview with Dr. James Hansen, a NASA scientist with a long track record of warning about climate change and global warming. He has a strong body of evidence and research in this -- but also has a strong body of evidence and questions about political interference with Science and political control over what he and other scientists are allowed to say in public.

The interview also featured Mark Bowen, author of “Censoring Science: Inside the Political Attack on Dr. James Hansen and the Truth of Global Warming.”

It's a powerful interview .. the thing I most strongly take from it is a question over the ability of the citizenry to be informed. One root of Democracy is an Informed Citizenry, yes? However if Scientists, whose role is largly to inform the citizenry, is only allowed to say things the administration says they can say, then the administration is in the role of controlling the depth to which the citizens (us) are informed.

Clearly this can be used to twist society in awful ways.

I don't know enough about Dr. Hansen to know whether this has happened for him. However they recounted a meeting by the AAAS where an adjunct meeting of government scientists was held, and dozens of government scientists told stories of political operatives interfering with their publications and public statements. And they claimed that under the current Bush Administration that the amount of interference was much greater than under previous ones.

http://media.switchpod.com/users/democracynow/ftp/dn2008-0321-1.mp3

http://media.switchpod.com/users/democracynow/ftp/dn2008-0321-1.mp3

http://media.switchpod.com/users/democracynow/ftp/dn2008-0321-1.mp3

http://media.switchpod.com/users/democracynow/ftp/dn2008-0321-1.mp3

http://media.switchpod.com/users/democracynow/ftp/dn2008-0321-1.mp3

http://media.switchpod.com/users/democracynow/ftp/dn2008-0321-1.mp3

http://media.switchpod.com/users/democracynow/ftp/dn2008-0321-1.mp3

vinnie
Offline
Last seen: 14 years 6 months ago
Joined: Friday, July 27, 2007 - 07:30
Points: 161
Re: Censoring Science: Inside the Political Attack on Dr. James

Just going off of memory, didn't the last Surgeon General resign claiming that White House was consistently ordering him to change the results (or omit some of the findings)of scientific studies and reports?

Vinnie
Broomfield, CO

jdh2550_1
jdh2550_1's picture
Offline
Last seen: 10 years 11 months ago
Joined: Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - 09:35
Points: 2335
Re: Censoring Science: Inside the Political Attack on Dr. James

I'm currently reading this book. It's interesting and important but not a very riveting read! I'm about half way through.

Vinnie - yes I recall the same thing about the Surgeon General - a year or more ago I think?

John H. Founder of Current Motor Company - opinions on this site belong to me; not to my employer
Remember: " 'lectric for local. diesel for distance" - JTH, Amp Bros || "No Gas.

Log in or register to post comments


Who's online

There are currently 0 users online.

Who's new

  • xovacharging
  • stuuno
  • marce002
  • Heiwarsot
  • headsupcorporation

Support V is for Voltage