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Public Relations Firm Shapes Opinion with Fake Science
Ironsides submitted this BBC link about a conference on climate change and global warming. When you read it, you'll note that there's a real conference with real scientists being held a few days later. So what is this, if it's not the real conference? This is a fake, public relations "conference", organized by a corporate lobbying group, specifically to create doubt about an issue of considerable public importance. So the real scientists doing real work meet on Feb 1-3, the fake ones being paid for their opinions schedule a press opportunity for Jan 27, and the press covers them as if both their opinions should be given equal weight. Jon Stewart's media criticism applies: You're hurting [the world].
There's no actual consensus on 'global warming' is in fact happening, and if it is, whether or not human activity has anything to do with it. Remember, 25 years ago these same folks were howling about 'global cooling', that should tell you something.
Insteead, there seems to be largely a grab for grant money and political power, as opposed to real science - this article for an example of the phenomenon.
We just don't know, and instead of concentrating on actual science, political agendas and feeding at the public trough have become the priorities. This is far too important an issue to rush to judgment on, IMHO.
A "scientist" shilling for a corporate client without first shedding the mantle of science is not only of great public interest (so we can be certain whose claims to disregard as corrupt), but attracts the justified anger and ire of real scientists for dirtying the public view of science.
How about a "scientist" shilling for the environmental movement? Any difference there?
"Eve of Destruction", it's not just for old hippies anymore...
the scientific opinion of an editor who posts urban legends as legitimate science news?