Haven't had a chance to comb through this yet, but thought I would post it in the meantime. I will bet anyone $5 that the word "global cooling" come up at least 5 times.
See attached.
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Rumour is that shock jock Glenn Beck will host the same old typical handful of global warming deniers on his CNN special tonight. They will no doubt spout the same old arguments like: "I remember when global cooling was all anyone would talk about."
In what is becoming a perfect echo chamber, we see the same small group of mainly industry-funded "experts," running from one ear to the next telling us that global warming is a hoax, and there is nothing to fear.
What this continuous recycling of the same 5 or 6 global warming deniers highlights more than anything is how very few there are left.
Here is the background on 3 of the known fossil fuel friendlies that will appear as "experts" on Beck's show. They are Tim Ball, Pat Michaels and CEI's Chris Horner.
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In Laurie David's great new quick read book, The Solution is you! , she pens a letter to the University of Virginia regarding Pat "the coalman" Michaels:
To: University of Virginia, Department of Environmental Sciences
Numerous media outlets reported that one of your professors, Dr. Patrick Michaels , has accepted upwards of $150,000 from coal interests and coal-burning electric utility companies for his advocacy against the overwhelming consenus on global warming.
Is this solicitation of funds from industries that pollute the atmosphere with greenhouse gases in line with the university's mission?
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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.
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