Richard Littlemore | AEI Seeks Scientists for Sale: $10,000 to First Taker

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AEI Seeks Scientists for Sale: $10,000 to First Taker

Per the attached letter, the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy

Research (AEI) has been shopping for scientists who will review the coming Fourth Assessment Review (AR4) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

That's no crime, but it's a bit suspect when a right-wing think tank specifies exactly what the "scientific review" will discover before the scientists even sit down to start reading. AEI is looking for something that "thoughtfully explores the limitations of climate model outputs as they pertain to the development of climate policy." (My emphasis.)

AEI says it will pay $10,000 for 10,000 words, but clearly they're only looking for one good sentence from one accommodating academic - one line that enables them to argue that you shouldn't use the work of the best climate scientists in the world to make policy.

As I said, what AEI is doing is no crime; but it should be.

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AEI.pdf	417.35 KB

About the climate cover-up

Democracy is utterly dependent upon an electorate that is accurately informed. In promoting climate change denial (and often denying their responsibility for doing so) industry has done more than endanger the environment. It has undermined democracy.

There is a vast difference between putting forth a point of view, honestly held, and intentionally sowing the seeds of confusion. Free speech does not include the right to deceive. Deception is not a point of view. And the right to disagree does not include a right to intentionally subvert the public awareness.

Although all public relations professionals are bound by a duty to not knowingly mislead the public, some have executed comprehensive campaigns of misinformation on behalf of industry clients on issues ranging from tobacco and asbestos to seat belts.

Lately, these fringe players have turned their efforts to creating confusion about climate change. This PR campaign could not be accomplished without the compliance of media as well as the assent and participation of leaders in government and business.