[thenightwriterblog] The Night Writer: Another reason to shiver

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Posted by The Night Writer:
Another reason to shiver
http://thenightwriterblog.powerblogs.com/posts/1170974965.shtml


   There's an interesting article this week entitled [1]Global Warming:
   The Cold, Hard Facts? in the Canada Free Press by Dr. Timothy Bell,
   one of the first Canadians with a Ph.D. in Climatology (University of
   London), a former climatology professor at the Univesity of Winnipeg,
   and someone who claims an extensive background in reconstruction of
   past climates and the impact of climate change on human history and
   the human condition. Dr. Bell provides an illuminating
   "behind-the-scenes" look at the methods (sadly, not the Scientific
   one) being used to promote global warming pronouncements and suppress
   dissent. An excerpt (emphasis mine):

     Since I obtained my doctorate in climatology from the University of
     London, Queen Mary College, England my career has spanned two
     climate cycles. Temperatures declined from 1940 to 1980 and in the
     early 1970's global cooling became the consensus. This proves that
     consensus is not a scientific fact. By the 1990's temperatures
     appeared to have reversed and Global Warming became the consensus.
     It appears I'll witness another cycle before retiring, as the major
     mechanisms and the global temperature trends now indicate a
     cooling.
     No doubt passive acceptance yields less stress, fewer personal
     attacks and makes career progress easier. What I have experienced
     in my personal life during the last years makes me understand why
     most people choose not to speak out; job security and fear of
     reprisals. Even in University, where free speech and challenge to
     prevailing wisdoms are supposedly encouraged, academics remain
     silent.
     I once received a three page letter that my lawyer defined as
     libellous, from an academic colleague, saying I had no right to say
     what I was saying, especially in public lectures. Sadly, my
     experience is that universities are the most dogmatic and
     oppressive places in our society. This becomes progressively worse
     as they receive more and more funding from governments that demand
     a particular viewpoint.
     ...(snip)...
     Another cry in the wildenerness is Richard Lindzen's. He is an
     atmospheric physicist and a professor of meteorology at MIT,
     renowned for his research in dynamic meteorology - especially
     atmospheric waves. He is also a member of the National Academy of
     Sciences and has held positions at the University of Chicago,
     Harvard University and MIT. Linzen frequently speaks out against
     the notion that significant Global Warming is caused by humans. Yet
     nobody seems to listen.
     I think it may be because most people don't understand the
     scientific method which Thomas Kuhn so skilfully and briefly set
     out in his book "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions." A
     scientist makes certain assumptions and then produces a theory
     which is only as valid as the assumptions. The theory of Global
     Warming assumes that CO2 is an atmospheric greenhouse gas and as it
     increases temperatures rise. It was then theorized that since
     humans were producing more CO2 than before, the temperature would
     inevitably rise. The theory was accepted before testing had
     started, and effectively became a law.
     As Lindzen said many years ago: "the consensus was reached before
     the research had even begun." Now, any scientist who dares to
     question the prevailing wisdom is marginalized and called a
     sceptic, when in fact they are simply being good scientists. This
     has reached frightening levels with these scientists now being
     called climate change denier with all the holocaust connotations of
     that word. The normal scientific method is effectively being
     thwarted.

   Read the whole thing. (HT: [2]Dodgeblogium and [3]Watcher of Weasels).

References

   1. http://www.canadafreepress.com/2007/global-warming020507.htm
   2. http://andrewiandodge.com/index.php/archives/2007/02/02/5784/
   3. http://www.watcherofweasels.com/archives/002090.html