Basics and batik of climate change

international | environment | other press

Tuesday August 09, 2011 22:35

by Catherine Brahic,

This is an article about a new book on climate change. Written by Orrin Pilkey and illustrated by Mary Fraser.

"IT TURNS out that there is a hoax involved in climate change. Only the hoax is being perpetrated by public relations efforts by the fossil fuels industry." Thus begins the most memorable chapter of Global Climate Change.

Better known for his exposés on the flaws of coastal engineering, geologist Orrin Pilkey has turned his attention to this century's hot environmental topic: climate change. There are no surprises for those familiar with the subject, but the book does a good job of explaining the foundations of climate science to an interested novice.

The chapter on climate change sceptics stands out for its passionate description of how industrial groups spread doubt among the public. Energy empires were systematic in their approach: identifying vulnerable audiences ("older, less educated males" and "younger, lower-income women"), and the sources they trusted ("technical sources"), before releasing targeted documents arguing, for instance, that climate change would be a boon for plant growth. As the authors point out, that is only a half-truth.

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Comments (4 of 4)

chill R E..

by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party

Thu Aug 11, 2011 15:33

no panic. They've found water on Mars, we'll be grand once they go home.

George Dubya is alive and well.

by Rational Ecologist.

Thu Aug 11, 2011 09:35

The UN sponsored IPCC reports on Climate Change are a watered-down, consensus-driven, politically-motivated analysis of the current planetary situation. They are far from the truth and are in fact considered by many to be too conservative. So rather than driving the "rubbish" of human accelerated climate change, in fact the UN is actually downplaying the seriousness of the situation.

Do we have to wait for 100% certainty before we act? There is no such thing as 100% certainty. Climate Change is one issue of many, including increased extinction of species, drought, famine and so on.

The question has to be:can we go on living as we are?

Climate Lunatics

by Correctstory

Thu Aug 11, 2011 06:57

The Climate Research Unit (CRU) in the UK was set up in 1971 with funding from Shell and BP as is described in the book: “The history of the University of East Anglia, Norwich; Page 285)” By Michael Sanderson. The CRU was still being funded in 2008 by Shell, BP, the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and UK Nirex LTD

Last time I checked Shell and BP were big fossil fuel companies. Nirex is of course a nuclear company.

Coca-Cola funds the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) as does HSBC Bank. In fact the entire enviromental movement is funded to the tune of billions every year by big business.

http://www.sweetliberty.org/issues/un/environment.htm

http://www.adamsmith.org/blog/environment/propaganda-by...oups/

Not to forget the biggest group driving this manmade global warming rubbish, the United Nations. The gang behind such great productions as the sanctions on Iraq that killed over 750,000 people, the invasion of Afghanistan and permission to bomb and kill thousands in Libya, for starters.

Your link is the wrong one

by correctlink

Wed Aug 10, 2011 02:56

That link is from a New Scientist article from 1996. The correct link for the review of the new book is below.
Note- to read either of them you would have to take out a subscription to New Scientist.

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Basics and batik of climate change

Comments (4 of 4)