Groups Say Scientists Pressured On Warming

[Judi Lynn]

Groups Say Scientists Pressured On Warming
Report: Dozens Say They Were Told To Play Down Threat
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30, 2007

(CBS/AP) Two private advocacy groups told a congressional hearing Tuesday that climate scientists at seven government agencies say they have been subjected to political pressure aimed at downplaying the threat of global warming.

The groups presented a survey that shows two in five of the 279 climate scientists who responded to a questionnaire complained that some of their scientific papers had been edited in a way that changed their meaning. Nearly half of the 279 said in response to another question that at some point they had been told to delete reference to "global warming" or "climate change" from a report.

The questionnaire was sent by the Union of Concerned Scientists, a private advocacy group. The report also was based on "firsthand experiences" described in interviews with the Government Accountability Project, which helps government whistleblowers, lawmakers were told.

The Democratic chairman of the House panel examining the government's response to climate change said Tuesday there is evidence that senior Bush administration officials sought repeatedly "to mislead the public by injecting doubt into the science of global warming."
(snip/...)

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/30/politics/main2413400.shtml?source=RSSattr=HOME_2413400

[G_j]

1. we knew this

from reading about individual cases, it is useful to see the larger picture.


disgusting

[leftchick]

2. I am a Proud member of UCS!

SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY

http://www.ucsusa.org/


Global warming facts obscured by politics
Based on a survey of hundreds of federal climate scientists, the new report Atmosphere of Pressure by UCS and the Government Accountability Project finds wide-ranging political interference in research related to global warming. The report supplements these survey results with dozens of in-depth interviews to detail how climate science is increasingly being tailored to suit political goals.

"The new evidence shows that political interference in climate science is no longer a series of isolated incidents but a system-wide epidemic," said Dr. Francesca Grifo, Director of the UCS Scientific Integrity Program. "Tailoring scientific fact for political purposes has become a problem across many federal science agencies."

UCS distributed surveys to 1,600 climate scientists, asking for information about the state of federal climate research. The scientists who responded reported experiencing at least 435 occurrences of political interference in their work over the past five years. Nearly half of all respondents (46 percent) perceived or personally experienced pressure to eliminate the words "climate change," "global warming," or other similar terms from a variety of communications. Forty-three percent of respondents reported they had perceived or personally experienced changes or edits during review of their work that changed the meaning of their scientific findings. And nearly half (46 percent) perceived or personally experienced new or unusual administrative requirements that impair climate-related work.

In contrast, scientists at the independent but federally-funded National Center for Atmospheric Research, who are not federal employees, reported far fewer instances of interference.

[depakid]

7. The periodic table of abuses is pretty clever

http://www.ucsusa.org/scientific_integrity/interference/a-to-z-guide-to-political.html

[leftchick]

8. very clever

I can not believe they do not get more notice...



From air pollution to Ground Zero, the A to Z Guide showcases dozens of examples of the misuse of science on issues like childhood lead poisoning, toxic mercury contamination, and endangered species.

View alphabetical list
View by issue area
View timeline
View by agency/department
10,000 Scientists Speak Out
As the list of examples of political interference in science has grown, so has concern from diverse groups of Americans, from ordinary citizens to members of Congress to the nation’s leading newspapers. Particular concern comes from the scientific community, as scientists know first hand that a healthy respect for independent science has been the foundation of American prosperity and contributed greatly to our quality of life.

In 2004, 62 renowned scientists and science advisors signed a scientist statement on scientific integrity, denouncing political interference in science and calling for reform. On December 9, 2006, UCS released the names of more than 10,000 scientists of all backgrounds from all 50 states—including 52 Nobel Laureates—who have since joined their colleagues on this statement.

If you are a scientist, you can add your voice to the statement right now. And all citizens can take action on a critical scientific integrity challenging us today: the EPA’s decision to hastily close its unique network of scientific libraries. Call today and tell the EPA to stop destroying documents, selling off library equipment, and limiting access to its critical scientific collection.

The United States government bears great responsibility for keeping our environment clean and Americans healthy and safe. And while science is rarely the only factor in public policy decisions, this input should be objective and impartial.

[Demeter]

3. Nevertheless, It Does Move! --Gallileo

[fed-up]

4. k/r

[MasonJar]

5. Is there any area of anything that Bush and Cheney have NOT

injected their perverted policies into in order to undermine the solid evidence of fact? W has to be either the most arrogant idiot alive or the most sociopathetic creature in existence. Cheney is obviously primarily demented and evil. What a twosome! And they were inflicted upon us twice.

[tanyev]

6. Anyone who can pervert a tragedy like 9/11 into an opportunity

to accomplish a political wish list has no qualms about perverting policy.