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Anyone following this and other related 'climategate' scandals should take a look at the UK's Guardian, traditionally an environmentalist-friendly newspaper. The coverage there right now shows how far the tide is turning. This article on the behind-the-scenes behavior of the so-called climate experts is jaw-dropping: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/feb/02/hacked-climate-emails-flaws-peer-review And even George Monbiot is asking for resignations at the University of East Anglia: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/georgemonbiot/2010/feb/02/climate-change-hacked-emails#start-of-comments Read the comments that go with the articles if you have the time - and note the number of recommendations that go with each one. Shawn wrote: "To my eyes, it's not a world that the 'Global Warming issue addresses in any meaningful way". I agree with this, and I believe it's the most important point for the left to emphasize. Humanity's greatest and most urgent problems have to do with poverty, war, and political exclusion, none of which are caused by global warming. For an example of the real catastrophes already in place, look no further than Haiti. With that sense of perspective in place, the global warming debate is still of interest, because it touches on important issues, such as the conduct of science, the public's right to scrutinize and question the work of experts, etc. 'Climategate' shows how easily science can be corrupted in our society, unsurprisingly in one sense, but nevertheless something socialists should condemn. Mark wrote: "The point is evaluating what they argue. This is precisely what you don't do about the articles Darrell passed on, because, you say, they're too old to bother with..." Mark, I was being generous. I was assuming Lester Brown wrote his article (the most recent one of the three that Darrell passed on) before he heard about 'glaciergate'. Otherwise I find it difficult to believe that he would have included the following paragraph [highlighting mine]: "The glaciers in the Himalayas and on the Tibetan plateau make up the largest body of ice outside the poles and provide water to Asia's major river systems, which supply water to over 2 billion people. This water is vital for drinking and for irrigating the wheat and rice crops in China and India, the largest in the world. In recent years, Himalayan glaciers have been retreating at rates ranging from 10 to 60 meters per year. As the glaciers disappear, the dry-season flows of river systems that depend on them may decrease by up to 70 percent, making them seasonal rivers. River systems at risk include the Yangtze, Yellow, Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra." Paula ________________________________________________ Send list submissions to: [email protected] Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
