Censoring Science: Dr. James Hansen and the Truth of Global Warming
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The dramatic story of global warming, politics, and the scientist Al Gore calls “the most powerful and consistent voice calling for intelligent action to preserve our planet’s environment.”
Censoring Science is the gripping story of the world’s preeminent climatologist, Dr. James Hansen, the “pivotal character in the greatest and most politically charged science story of our time” (New Scientist). NASA’s leading climate expert, Dr. Hansen… More >>
Censoring Science: Dr. James Hansen and the Truth of Global Warming
Michael Crichton’s psuedo-scientific novel touted that those who were warning the world about the dangers of climate change were deliberately trying to instill fear for their own benefit. What was happening was exactly the opposite. The state of fear that was actually being created was being done so in order to censor the truth about global warming and delay any serious action on it. This delay has put more global warming in the pipe and contributed to loss of life of humans, and to actual extinctions of other species, while threatening many others.
Mark Bowen aptly tells the story of the various forms of intimidation and outright censorship and the courageous employees at NASA who “went through a human struggle to tell the truth in the face of very real dangers”. (P.309)
And then of course, was the “hero” of the book–a scientist of exceptional brilliance, integrity, decency and courage -Dr. James Hansen. His grasp of the scope of climate change, his devotion to scientific integrity, his unwillingness to respond in kind to attacks made on him, and his courage in speaking out are truly impressive. It is not easy for a scientist who would much rather be working quietly in his laboratory to speak out on public policy. But as Hansen himself wrote “Success in science depends on objective skepticism. Caution, if not reticence, has its merits. However, in a case such as ice sheet instability and sea level rise, there is a danger in excessive caution. We may rue reticence, if it serves to lock in future disasters…” (Pp287-288).
What the book reveals of James Hansen’s character and his life is very engaging. One of my favorite anecdotes was at a NASA headquarters meeting during which Dr. Hansen worked on testimony he would later give to the Senate. The NASA official conducting the meeting stated that no respectable scientist would make the statement that the present warming could be identified with the greenhouse effect. Hansen “looked up from his writing and said ‘I don’t know if he’s respectable or not, but I know someone who is just about to make that statement’”. (p.223).
This book is a statement about integrity vs opportunism in the face of the greatest looming crisis ever to face humankind and our planet.
Rating: 5 / 5