Former Royal Society Spokesperson weighs in on Ofcom's global warming swindle decision [2]
A press release has been issued by the original complainants to Ofcom, the UK's communications regulatory office, over the Channel 4 documentary, "The Great Global Warming Swindle." [7]
In the release (full version attached below), Bob Ward, former spokesperson for the prestigious UK Royal Society, who submitted one of the 265 complaints received by Ofcom and who reviewed parts of the test complaint, said:
"The commissioning and broadcasting of this programme was clearly a calamitous mistake and revealed serious management failures at Channel 4. It is very disappointing that Ofcom has failed to fully uphold the public interest, and the ruling raises very serious doubts about the ability of the broadcasting regulator to recognise the harm caused by misrepresentations of the scientific evidence on climate change. Recent opinion polls show that a majority of the public mistakenly believe that many scientists disagree that greenhouse gas emissions" [my emphasis]
Ward went on to say that:
"Martin Durkin, who produced the programme for Channel 4, has so far been unapologetic about the misrepresentation of facts and the unfair treatment of scientists. He should also withdraw the DVD version from sale, because it contains many of the errors that appeared in the broadcast programme, and he should recall those copies that have already been sold. I hope that the trading standards authorities now investigate sales of the DVD."
For more on the history of the "Great Global Warming Swindle" and Channel 4 controversy check out some of DeSmog's previous entries:
A Global Warming Swindle play-by-play [8]
Aussie media lambasting Durkin's Swindle film [9]
Swindle Update: ABC is now slamming the Swindle [10]
Vancouver Sun Promotes Climate Swindle [11]
Newspaper prescribes "the Swindle" for schoolchildren [12]
"The Great Global Warming Swindle" [13]
Monbiot on the Channel 4 Swindle [14]
For a more in-depth look, check out DeSmog's comprehensive research database on the climate denial industry. [15]
| Attachment | Size |
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| swindle complaint press release july 21 - 2008.pdf [16] | 20.03 KB |
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