TalkClimateChange

We have all heard the stories, how “Big Oil” and “Big Coal” have organized an unscrupulous posse of scientists for hire to sow the seeds of doubt across the media and the population in general. These evil corporations went so far as to place a $10,000 US bounty on any research papers discrediting the IPCC findings and dissenting from the thousands of consensus scientists. So is this a vast conspiracy to protect the profits of these industries, or is it the left wing environmentalists that actually have a Denial Machine?

The Conspiracy Theory

So, as the story goes, this mercenary band of science for hire desperados rode forth and flooded the media and the information channels with deliberate misinformation to advance the nefarious plans of their fossil fuel masters. This is the common rendition of the conspiracy theory, one that has become part of the mythology of the Global Warming issue. To what goal does this heavily funded and highly organized plot seek to perpetrate such a heinous hoax on the unsuspecting public? To keep countries addicted to oil and coal thereby insuring their perpetual domination of the energy market of course, at least until it all runs out.

Let’s look at the obvious first, $10,000 US to basically hang your rear end out over the side of the wagon and end your professional career as a scientist? Not even realistically close to enough money, this would not even motivate a homeless person to submit to the gauntlet of environmental snipers looking to pick you off. Considering the money in play it would be insulting to even offer it as any kind of incentive to anyone to expose themselves to the fray. Now I am a financial wizard and if this theory is true, then “Big oil and Coal” got themselves one heck of a good deal.

What it takes to be a “Shill”

Next let’s consider the conspiracy itself and the requirements that a researcher or scientist has to meet to be discredited under the watchful eye of the various environmental watchdogs. Under this scrutiny you are a “shill” if you have; ever done any research for a “big oil/coal” company, or have ever worked for one, or ever given a presentation to one, or worked for a company that has done any of the previous, gone to an industry conference, given a lecture sponsored by one, met anyone on the board of directors, mentioned any company in any presentation ( good or bad ), have any family ( yes even in-laws ) who works for one, know anyone who has met the previous criteria, have a gas credit card, bought any gas or visited a gas station or coal power plant. Oh, and of course you have to have pointed out a flaw in the AGW theory or any part of it, suggested a climate model is wrong, disputed the empirical data, or have ever, ever, been wrong about anything in the past on any subject.

The Plot Twist

So now I ask you, where is all the money that is destroying the reputations of the consensus scientists and researchers, since the evil mega-corporations have such a concerted and organized resistance why are they not resorting to their bag of dirty tricks, if you can addict a society to oil surely you can discredit some scientists?

Wait a second that is what the AGW movement side does! They have an organized and very capable attack machine discrediting anyone with a contrary opinion or thought, by using the criteria above to marginalize legitimate researchers and scientists and feed the myth. This is the real Denial Machine, the denial of any dissent or I would even argue, free speech, regarding AGW. They also engage in the literal assassination of careers and ending of funding for these renegade outlaws of true science. This camp has a banner flying high above their fort that reads “Scientia Ilicet - The Science is done”.

I submit this for consideration; Is it not just as plausible that the real Denial Machine is on the AGW side and the environmental thought police are the ones with the nefarious motivations, such as protecting the huge increase in donations to environmental groups or the funding for research that is flowing like the glacial melt waters off the frozen back of Greenland, or even perhaps advancing the cause of a “green” mega-corporation?

Just for something to think about. General Electric, who sells wind and solar products and stands to make a king’s ransom from sales arising from new energy polices, used it wholly owned subsidiaries to televise “Green Week” programming to promote Global Warming “awareness”. Had an oil company ran a week long self promotion campaign highlighting the joys of increased consumption of fossil fuels we would still be hearing about it, and what was said about “Green Week”? Answer: Great thing, Wonderful, Good Idea.

Finally the much debated Newsweek cover story and story about the story, this is a “you have to read it yourself to believe it” link: Newsweek vs Newsweek (Will point you in the right direction)

Further Reading

Green Week: http://www.greenisuniversal.com/
Desmog Blog : http://www.desmogblog.com/