Bush's Fish & Wildlife tells 200+ Scientists:Alter findings to favor Busin

[papau]

" Science manipulated to build a bogus rationale for reversal of these listing decisions"

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-scientists10feb10.story
U.S. Scientists Say They Are Told to Alter Findings
More than 200 Fish and Wildlife researchers cite cases where conclusions were reversed to weaken protections and favor business, a survey finds.
By Julie Cart
Times Staff Writer

February 10, 2005

<snip>More than 20% of survey responders reported they had been "directed to inappropriately exclude or alter technical information."

<snip>
Sally Stefferud, a biologist who retired in 2002 after 20 years with the agency, said Wednesday she was not surprised by the survey results, saying she had been ordered to change a finding on a biological opinion.

"Political pressures influence the outcome of almost all the cases," she said. "As a scientist, I would probably say you really can't trust the science coming out of the agency."

A biologist in Alaska wrote in response to the survey: "It is one thing for the department to dismiss our recommendations, it is quite another to be forced (under veiled threat of removal) to say something that is counter to our best professional judgment."

Don Lindburg, head of the office of giant panda conservation at the Zoological Society of San Diego, said it was unrealistic to expect federal scientists to be exempt from politics or pressure.

"I've not stood in the shoes of any of those scientists," he said. "But it is not difficult for me to believe that there are pressures from those who are not happy with conservation objectives, and here I am referring to development interest and others.

"But when it comes to altering data, that is a serious matter. I am really sorry to hear that scientists working for the service feel they have to do that. Changing facts to fit the politics — that is a very unhealthy thing. If I were a scientist in that position I would just refuse to do it."

The Union of Concerned Scientists and the public employee group provided copies of the survey and excerpts from essay-style responses.

One biologist based in California, who responded to the survey, said in an interview with The Times that the Fish and Wildlife Service was not interested in adding any species to the endangered species list.

"For biologists who do endangered species analysis, my experience is that the majority of them are ordered to reverse their conclusions . There are other biologists who will do it if you won't," said the biologist, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

[ucmike]

1. this admin fears science and couldn't care less about enviroment

they have a "manifest destiny" attitude. they feel that everything on earth was put here by god for the taking...and the profit.

i want to vomit when i see "Sportsmen for Bush" stickers. the truth is that bush supporting "sportsmen" are really people who want to blast away at the enviroment and the creatures in it with assault weapons.

[xchrom]

2. american business can't do the hard work

so they have go around the rules.
and steal.
this is theft -- nothing less.

[SnowGoose]

3. Kinda shines a little light on the CIA's "failures"...

When we combine this survey that shows the administration feels it knows better than the very scientists who've dedicated their lives to their scientific specialty, with today's report that the government had many warnings that combined Osama/hijacking/suicide attacks in the USA.

Maybe it isn't the experts who are so consistently wrong. Maybe it's the Bush administration.

[papau]

4. I wonder if the media will ever make the connection? :-(

I doubt it.

:-(

[Viking12]

5. Another thread on this topic....

I guess I need to learn to write better subject headers ;)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x19563