Al Gore urges scientists to speak out

[RestoreGore]

I have been waiting for Mr. Gore to say this. Scientists should be out here front and center warning people of the state of our planet. They should not feel intimidated by politicians who threaten them with pulling grant money. This crisis is too important to allow these people to intimidate them for their own political reasons. They need to be out here backing up what the science shows... that we are driving ourselves towards extinction if we do not wake up and act now.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16216337/

Al Gore urges scientists to speak out
Don’t let officials suppress ‘inconvenient truths,’ former vice president says

Without specifically naming the Bush administration, Gore lamented at a gathering of Earth and space scientists that policymakers used to take science into account in their decision-making, but not anymore."Earth science has been singled out" and ignored by government, particularly work dealing with climate change, he said during an hourlong speech at the American Geophysical Union meeting.

"There is a greater temptation to ignore inconvenient truths, to set aside knowledge that might challenge a prevailing policy," said Gore, who was greeted with a standing ovation. Gore cited a recent article by The Associated Press, which reported that new rules at the U.S. Geological Survey required the screening of scientific papers or prepared talks by agency scientists.

Earlier this year, prominent NASA climate scientist James Hansen accused the Bush administration of trying to silence him after a speech he gave on global warming. Two federal agencies last month launched an investigation into whether the administration tried to prevent government scientists from speaking freely about climate change. Some scientists and climate models are predicting that unchecked human-caused global warming over the next century is expected to raise sea levels and cause extremes in temperatures.

Gore, who stars in the global warming documentary "An Inconvenient Truth," urged scientists to educate the public about what he calls the "climate crisis" and to summon the courage to fight back when "important truths are being ignored, resisted or censored."

Gore did not take questions from scientists or reporters.

[sam sarrha]

1. that is asking a lot... they will lose their grants.. and appointments.

[RestoreGore]

2. This is bigger than grants, this is about our Democracy

This is a statement on what has happened to our Democratic process as a whole. We are then living in a Fascist state when even scientists can be intimidated into silence, especially regarding such a crucial issue that involves the very sustinence of our species and others. It is an OUTRAGE and people need to stand up against it.

[blm]

5. That may be, but it also could save their FUTURE grants while this country is on the verge

of correcting its course. I side with Gore on this completely, and I would bet that most scientists will, as well.

[RestoreGore]

3. Video Link

http://news.com.com/1606-2_3-6143929.html?part=rss&tag=2547-1_3-0-20&subj=news
Snippet of Mr. Gore's remarks.

[RestoreGore]

4. No outrage about this?

As Mr. Gore eluded to in his comments, BOTH political parties don't seem to be outraged by scientists being silenced in this country. That is very telling and frightening.

[blm]

6. I think media just doesn't share many of the actions. They will generally report

some of what Gore says on the subject, because it fits their storyline on him since Inconvenient Truth. But it's hard for other Dem lawmakers to get much notice on environmental issues.



Sen. Kerry statement in support of lawsuit on National Assessment of Climate Change Impacts

Senator Kerry issued a statement on November 14 supporting a lawsuit filed by conservation advocates—the Center for Biological Diversity, Greenpeace, and Friends of the Earth—calling for the administration to issue an overdue National Assessment on the impacts of climate change on the United States. Climate Science Watch encourages Congressional interest and oversight on this issue, to undo almost six years of allowing the administration to suppress the National Assessment process, and almost six years of allowing the first National Assessment to be slandered by the global warming denial machine without a principled defense by the leadership of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program.

Full text of the Senator’s statement:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 14, 2006

Senator Kerry Calls on Administration to Comply with U.S. Climate Change Law

Supports Lawsuit to Force Compliance with Global Climate Change Research Act

Washington, DC—Given the clear mandate from the American people to change direction, respect the law, replace secrecy with transparency, and act on pressing national concerns such as global climate change, Senator Kerry today reiterated his call for the government to comply with the Global Climate Change Research Act of 1990.

Senator Kerry supports a lawsuit filed today by conservation advocates—the Center for Biological Diversity, Greenpeace, and Friends of the Earth—calling for the administration to comply with the Act and issue an overdue National Assessment on the impacts of climate change on the United States.

Recognizing that accurate information is vital to the formulation of climate change policy, the 1990 Global Change Research Act required the Climate Change Science Program to prepare a National Assessment of the impacts of climate change on the U.S. every four years. The Assessment is a synthesis of the most up-to-date scientific data on climate change impacts on the U.S. and contains projections for the future. Although an Assessment was due in 2004, the Science Program failed to meet that deadline, with no report being produced since 2000.

Concerned about global warming and the Administration’s failure to comply with the Global Change Research Act, Senator Kerry, in conjunction with Senator McCain, requested the United States Government Accounting Office (GAO) to evaluate the Program’s compliance with the requirements of the Act. In April 2005, the GAO issued a report concluding that the Program had not met the requirements of the GCRA and was not on track to do so. On August 16, 2006, Senator Kerry submitted a formal request to the Science Program to issue the overdue National Assessment, but was met with silence.

“For too many years, action on global climate change has been stopped dead in its tracks by government foot-dragging, hiding information, and smothering science. Americans are way ahead of where this city has been on taking climate change seriously. In the old Congress they even trotted out the author of Jurassic Park as an expert witness to argue that climate change is fiction. This is Stone Age science,” said Senator John Kerry. “It’s the right time to push Washington to grapple with this issue. We can’t respond to climate change if we can’t make the government comply with the laws already on the books. This lawsuit sends an important message not just to follow the Global Change Research Act, but also to pass legislation imposing mandatory and substantial cuts in our greenhouse gas emissions. Let’s get serious.”

###

[RestoreGore]

7. I'll Believe It When I See The Legislation Pass n/t

[blm]

8. The legislation discussed here was passed in 1990 and BushInc isn't honoring it.

That's the reason for the lawsuit as Kerry's statement makes clear.

Sure more legislation will need passing, and now with a Dem congress it is more likely to happen.

[RestoreGore]

9. Bush isn't honoring a lot of things, but chiding alone isn't going to solve it

Again, when I see legislation now addressing taking aggressive action on the climate crisis now that passes Bush's veto which I am sure will come to pass should it be tried, then I'll believe this isn't only talk.

[blm]

10. That's why Kerry sided with the LAWSUIT AGAINST Bush. Chiding alone doesn't work.

It's quite clear in the posted letter above that the action was concerning a LAWSUIT to force BushInc to comply with the law.

It seemed pretty clear to me. What part isn't clear to you? Maybe I can help.

[RestoreGore]

11. No thanks, I don't need any help. Again, ACTIONS that see REAL RESULTS is what I'm talking about

Force how? Threaten to take his crayons away? Better yet, Kerry should call for Bush's impeachment if he is really that outraged about his lack of complying, but I know he won't. It's just all talk from Congress as a whole regardless of Party. I'm talking about real action and not just calling for compliance to a law they already know the bastard won't comply with.

[blm]

12. So, now siding with a LAWSUIT is not an action? Since when? And how many DCers

are speaking out for those SUING BushInc? I could have sworn that SUING the WH is a serious ACTION.

[RestoreGore]

13. NOT AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME IT ISN'T

So are you done badgering me now?

[blm]

15. Not badgering you at all. I'm just a true believer in ACCURACY, not revisionism.

Especially when it is directed against one of the best Dem lawmakers in modern history. I always thought it telling when the RW attacked both Gore and Kerry with lies, because they had no really negative charges to attack them with, and I am also mindful when the same tactic is used againt Dems even from our own side.

[RestoreGore]

14. Scientists Reject Political Interference

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6178213.stm

And this needs to become louder on the part of scientists for the issue's sake with OUR voices backing them up. I'm tired of EVERYTHING posted here being used as a political campaign issue, but I'm sure the political bickering about who is doing more would continue even as half of Greenland falls into the damned ocean.