The climate change deniers: influence out of all proportion to science

[xchrom]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jun/04/climate-change-sceptics-influence-science



Climate change sceptics such as Lord Monckton have mounted a campaign to delay action on global warming that has been remarkable successful, given its lack of scientitfic credibility. Photograph: Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images


It's been a tough few weeks for the forces of climate change denial.

First came the giant billboard with Unabomber Ted Kacynzki's face plastered across it: "I Still Believe in Global Warming. Do You?" Sponsored by the Heartland Institute, the nerve center of climate change denial, it was supposed to draw attention to the fact that "the most prominent advocates of global warming aren't scientists. They are murderers, tyrants, and madmen." Instead, it drew attention to the fact that these guys had over-reached, and with predictable consequences.

A hard-hitting campaign from a new group called Forecast the Facts persuaded many of the corporations backing Heartland to withdraw $825,000 in funding; an entire wing of the institute, devoted to helping the insurance industry, calved off to form its own non-profit. Normally friendly politicians like Wisconsin Republican Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner announced that they would boycott the group's annual conference unless the billboard campaign was ended.

Which it was, before the billboards with Charles Manson and Osama bin Laden could be unveiled, but not before the damage was done: Sensenbrenner spoke at last month's conclave, but attendance was way down at the annual gathering, and Heartland leaders announced that there were no plans for another of the yearly fests. Heartland's head, Joe Bast, complained that his side had been subjected to the most "uncivil name-calling and disparagement you can possibly imagine from climate alarmists", which was both a little rich – after all, he was the guy with the mass-murderer billboards – but also a little pathetic. A whimper had replaced the characteristically confident snarl of the American right.

[krug paulman]

1. So let's all fly on down to Rio

where Obama will probably tweet his support of meaningful climate change action - just as effectively as he tweeted his support for the Wisconsin recall.

We're losing the debate because of the corruption of the crony capitalists in wind, solar and other alternatives and their dealings with government are so clear for all to see.

Until we can drive the carbon based energy goons out of business there will be no real progress.