Muffled Warnings From The WH On Climate Breakdown

[hatrack]

EDIT

It appears we will lose more time. In his State of the Union address, Bush said, ''America is addicted to oil," but did not mention the top first step environmentalists and scientists say the United States must take to fight global warming -- higher fuel efficiency for cars. He said he wanted to support more math and science for schoolchildren and more research in the physical sciences. But if his minions ignore and stifle the best scientists we have today, there is no point.

In the early days of the Bush administration, Hansen's credentials earned him two invitations to address Vice President Dick Cheney's secretive, industry-packed energy task force. He spoke two years ago to US auto executives at ExxonMobil headquarters.

The White House went on to urge energy drilling at all costs. Auto execs rebuffed Hansen on fuel efficiency by saying they only give consumers what they want. ''After the meeting, I watched TV and saw all these ads, with cars on top of mountain peaks and fantastic vistas of the American West," Hansen said. ''It's like the cigarette ads that use sex to sell. All the average person does with an SUV is commute to work or the store. They're creating a market they claim the public is demanding."

Listening to Hansen, it was clear he will continue to speak out for science despite the special interests. He said the last time he checked, democracy only works when the public is well informed. ''For instance, they're using the economy as the reason not to consider taking action," Hansen said. ''I've been chastised for being a scientist saying we are damaging the economy in the long run. But you need to look at the broad problem. I think I'm free to do so and free to have my opinion."

EDIT

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2006/02/04/muffled_warnings_on_global_warming/?page=2

[phantom power]

1. "US auto executives ant ExxonMobil headquarters"

I try to resist gratuitous conspiracy theories about Big Oil and Big Auto. I really do. But they make my job harder all the time.