The great Climate Cover-Up
Sun, Oct 04 2009 at 4:31 PM EST
Read more: CLIMATE CHANGE, CLIMATE POLICY, CLIMATE TALKS, COAL, GLOBAL WARMING, OIL DEPENDENCE, POLITICS, RENEWABLE ENERGY
Image: 'Climate Cover-Up' Way back in the day when George Bush Sr. was president, no one doubted the basic science behind climate change and the overwhelming evidence that greenhouse gases could dramatically impact weather patterns, threatening the long-term security of our nation.
In fact as far back as 1998, George Bush Sr. even promised to “beat the greenhouse gas effect.”
So what happened? How is it that 20 years later, with thousands upon thousands of independent scientific studies all corroborating the same inescapable truth – that climate change is happening now and is in large measure related to our consumption of fossil fuels – there continues to be so much confusion?
Here's another question.. by what percentage did the American Petroleum Institute increase its lobbying budget after Obama took office? (If you know the answer and are the first to answer you get a prize.. see below).
According to a new book that just hit the presses called Climate Cover-Up: The Crusade to Deny Global Warming by James Hoggan and Richard Littlemore, Americans are confused for one simple reason – a well-funded, long-term public disinformation campaign.
The American public in particular seems the most skeptical even though the signs of climate change abound in North America – from melting towns in Alaska to melting snowpacks in California. A full 45 percent of the U.S. population doubts that climate change is a serious concern.
Climate Cover-Up summarizes four years of investigative journalism into the inception of the campaign, how it was funded through Washington think tanks and how it used discredited “scientists” and partisan politics to marginalize the climate change issue.
The book arrived just in time for my very long flight to Copenhagen tonight, so I look forward to learning more about this fascinating (and troubling) piece of media history en route to the city where, hopefully, the climate debate will finally be put to rest.
Here's the author being interviewed about the book:
Back to the trivia question. Whoever is the first to provide the correct answer in the comments section below wins a copy of the book.
By what percentage did the American Petroleum Institute increase its lobbying budget after Obama took office (comparing Q2 of '09 with Q2 of '08)?
a. 12%
b. 44%
c. 82%
d. no increase
Link
EMAIL
Stumble
Tweet
CLOSE
link:
link:
The opinions expressed by MNN Bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect
the opinions of MNN.com. While we have reviewed their content to make sure it complies with our Terms and Conditions,
MNN is not responsible for the accuracy of any of their information.
| « Previous A whirlWIND adventure in Denmark | Next » Bioneers to celebrate 20th anniversary |
Comments(3)
Posted By Karl - Sat, Oct 10 2009 at 6:07 AM ESTYou won!
You are correct.. Email me at greendig@gmail.com and I'll get you the book. Congrats!
Posted By Geoff Nelson - Sat, Oct 10 2009 at 5:59 AM ESTGuess
I would guess 82%, assuming they were as scared by Obama as gun enthusiasts were.
Did I win?
I sent a couple emails, did you post the correct email address?