Just before Independence Day, Penn State University issued a report completely vindicating Dr. Michael Mann, one of the world’s premier climate scientists, from the trumped-up charges of scientific misconduct dubbed “Climategate” by right-wing apologists. Time for a patriotic red, white, and blue apology, right?
Unfortunately, the global warming deniers who made the charges chose to emulate Foghorn Leghorn’s “Don’t bother me with the facts, son,” rather than manning up and apologizing.
And that reveals the real scandal – not Climategate, but Smeargate. The groups and individuals who attacked Dr. Mann and other climate scientists are not interested in the truth. They are only interested in confusing the public by smearing climate researchers and attacking legitimate science. They are not interested in contributing to the honest public discourse on climate change. And it appears that the oil, gas, and coal industries, along with some secret private donors, fund most of the individuals and organizations that smear the scientists and lie about their research.
Two recent books, “Climate Cover-Up: The Crusade to Deny Global Warming,” by James Hoggan, and “Merchants of Doubt,” by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway, detail the campaign to discredit climate science and climate scientists. Describing the public relations memos outlining strategies, words to use, and spokespeople, these books show that the campaign is clearly a coordinated strategy to deny the science and blacken the names of the scientists. These investigative books, thoroughly footnoted, reveal the funders and backgrounds of the foundations and self-appointed think tanks involved, detailing (where possible) the money trail from industry to the global warming deniers.
The books also review the credentials of the scientists the deniers uphold, with devastating results – virtually none of these “experts” have even minimal training in climate science. And there’s another pattern uncovered here. Many of the scientists used to deny climate science are the very same experts used by the tobacco industry and its supporters to deny the fatal impact of tobacco. The tactics are the same, too.
So the people that enabled the tobacco industry to operate for decades with little or no regulation, killing people who smoked and those just breathing near smokers, are the same ones leading the charge to prevent public action to stabilize the global climate.
How do they get away with it? They follow a tried and true industry playbook.
First, smear the real climate experts, and make it risky for them to speak out. Claim they are liars who are deliberately manipulating data to serve some nefarious plot. Create an atmosphere of intolerance of those who disagree and do everything possible to convince people that climate research cannot be trusted.
Next, publicly post the scientists’ emails (even stealing them if necessary) and their personal contact information. Threaten their jobs and impugn their integrity, and feed the anger of the dangerous few. Make sure the language in public is measured, but encourage extremism below the radar. And when this campaign begins to produce death threats against the scientists with emails that say things like "go gargle razor blades" or calling them "Nazi climate murderers," avoid claiming any responsibility. And make sure there are many voices all saying the same thing, creating an “echo chamber,” that makes the climate denying industry look like a movement.
Finally, create a media firestorm. Feed the need for ratings and readers by giving reporters plausible-sounding theories and claiming there is controversy among scientists about climate change. Take advantage of the changes in journalism that result in reporters being forced to be generalists, with no time or background to deconstruct your arguments. Stay on the poll-tested message points developed by industries’ pollsters. And ignore any inconvenient truth, like the fact the United Nations’ climate change report was a consensus document, and even Saudi Arabia signed off, agreeing that climate change is happening, and it’s caused by humans.
The oil-gas-coal-tobacco apologists are sticking to their game plan. It’s lie, cheat, steal, and smear anyone who produces research that threatens corporate bottom lines.
This should be unacceptable in any civilized society.
Unless we demand honest dialogue, particularly from foundations that receive public subsidy through tax exemptions; unless we challenge our elected officials to stand up to the bullies and take action to reverse climate change; unless citizens everywhere speak out now against Smeargate, we will lose this critical window of opportunity to take action to stabilize our global climate.
This is a fight we cannot afford to lose. A devastated planet would be the bitter outcome of Smeargate.
Take Action !
|
