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Michael Crichton: "Aliens Cause Global Warming"
In a lecture at CalTech, Crichton notes how the global warming publicity tsunami repeats other junk science agitprop: global overpopulation, the "green revolution," Nuclear Winter, "secondhand smoke causes cancer". Crichton analyzes the depressingly familiar phenomenon of junk science allied with advocacy groups, an incompetent and reckless MSM, and equally incompetent public officials, to advance "good" public policy causes....[Carl Sagan's 1980's-era] "Nuclear Winter" was a meaningless formula, tricked out with bad science, for policy ends. It was political from the beginning, promoted in a well-orchestrated media campaign that had to be planned weeks or months in advance. Further evidence of the political nature of the whole project can be found in the response to criticism. Although Richard Feynman was characteristically blunt, saying, "I really don't think these guys know what they're talking about," other prominent scientists were noticeably reticent. Freeman Dyson was quoted as saying "It's an absolutely atrocious piece of science butâŠwho wants to be accused of being in favor of nuclear war?" And Victor Weisskopf said, "The science is terrible but---perhaps the psychology is good."... ...for most people, the fact that nuclear winter was a scenario riddled with uncertainties did not seem to be relevant. I say it is hugely relevant. Once you abandon strict adherence to what science tells us, once you start arranging the truth in a press conference, then anything is possible. In one context, maybe you will get some mobilization against nuclear war. But in another context, you get Lysenkoism. In another, you get Nazi euthanasia. The danger is always there, if you subvert science to political ends. That is why it is so important for the future of science that the line between what science can say with certainty, and what it cannot, be drawn clearly-- and defended. Posted by: lex 2004-12-21 |
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