Death threats fail to shake climate scientists

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Death threats fail to shake climate scientists

Updated Sun Jun 5, 2011 8:38am AEST
Smoke billowing from smoke stacks

The latest response to the threats comes ahead of nationwide rallies across the country today (Library of Congress)


A climate change scientist who has been targeted by death threats says the science community must still continue to release the latest research.

A number of the country's top climate change scientists, including several at the Australian National University (ANU), have been targeted by death threats and abusive phone calls for months.

But the situation has now worsened, and ANU has moved its scientists to a more secure location and introduced other security measures.

Professor David Koroly from the University of Melbourne says he receives threats every time he is interviewed by the media.

"It is clear that there is a campaign in terms of either organised or disorganised threats to discourage scientists from presenting the best available climate science on television or radio," he said.

"It is still very important that climate scientists present the best available information to the community, to the business community and to politicians and that we seek to protect our individual safety, but that we still provide the best available climate science."

ANU vice-chancellor Professor Ian Young says scientists at the university in Canberra have received large numbers of emails, including death threats and abusive phone calls, threatening to attack the academics in the street if they continue their research.

He says it has been happening for the past six months and the situation has worsened significantly in recent weeks.

"Obviously climate research is an emotive issue at the present time," he said.

"These are issues where we should have a logical public debate and it's completely intolerable that people be subjected to this sort of abuse and to threats like this.

"I think it is totally outrageous and the vast majority of Australians would think it is totally unacceptable for anybody in society to be subjected to this sort of behaviour."

Australia's peak body for science has also condemned the campaign of death threats.

The Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies' CEO, Anna-Maria Arabia, says the extreme behaviour represents a worrying trend and political leaders must put a stop to the misinformation campaign.

"We've seen Upper House members compare scientists to Nazis, we've seen independent MPs receiving death threats when they're trying to participate in a democratic debate, we've seen bullying, we've seen very violent reactions in the United States," she said.

"This is completely unacceptable behaviour on Australian shores."

The Australian Federal Police says it is aware of the issue, but there is no investigation underway.

The death threats come as a new report on the risk of climate change to Australia's coasts predicts sea level rises could claim thousands of buildings and significant infrastructure by the end of the century.

The report commissioned by the Federal Government assesses the potential damage caused by a worst case scenario sea level rise of 1.1 metres within 90 years.

It identifies $226 billion worth of assets at risk of erosion or being wiped out.

It found up to 274,000 homes are at risk of inundation and erosion, along over 8,000 commercial buildings, and up to 35,000 kilometres of roads and rail around the country.

The report warns that any future developments in coastal areas must take account of potential sea level rises.

It also warns that climate change will increase the frequency and severity of natural disasters, which currently cost around $1 billion a year.

Nationwide rallies are planned across the country today in support of climate action and a price on pollution.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/06/05/3235810.htm

Giving how crazy climate deniers are this not suprising.

So you think threatening people with death is perfectly fine in order to further an unproven ideological dogma?!

Climate change is just another religion, where non-believers are heretics.

ABC News

CLAIMS prominent climate change scientists had recently received death threats have been revealed as an opportunistic ploy, with the Australian National University admitting that they occurred up to five years ago.

Only two of ANU's climate change scientists allegedly received death threats, the first in a letter posted in 2006-2007 and the other an offhand remark made in person 12 months ago.

Neither was officially reported to ACT Police or Australian Federal Police, despite such crimes carrying a 10-year prison sentence.

The outdated threats raised question marks over the timing of their release to the public, with claims they were aired last week to draw sympathy to scientists and their climate change cause.

Oh wow, 'Climatology Martyrdom', the Climatologists are willing to be hypothetically sacrificing their lives in order to "save the planet."

So you're defending the idiot as*holes who decide to attack and threaten the messenger because they don't like the message? Conservatives like yourself just lost even more respect. You are lower than pond scum.

No, I'm not defending anyone. However, their usage of death threats against them - and who hasn't received death threats at some time in their life? - as an appeal for sympathy conveys no bearing upon the truth or falsity of their claims.

These are scientists, not politicians, you turd. Scientists do not normally receive death threats. How about next time your life is threatened by some imbecile I berate you for "trying to appeal for sympathy"?

Would you stop the ad hominems long enough to take a breath and get some oxygen to your minuscule brain? Read Tequila's post above. The threats aren't new, but their usage of them for publicity is. Whether they are scientists or any other professional it matters not. People receive threats constantly, most of them from immature idiots who have no meaning behind their stupid words. Especially people who make themselves a public figurehead. When you broadcast your name to thousands of people there will at least be a few who are stupid enough to respond like you do.

Actually, it looks like the threats are continuing since the "climate-gate" incident in 2009. You need to BACK UP YOUR CLAIMS that the scientists themselves are using the death threats for publicity. Otherwise I will accuse YOU and your ilk of making dishonest ad-hom smears against scientists.

Climate change scientists threats reheated

June 09, 2011

CLAIMS prominent climate change scientists had recently received death threats have been revealed as an opportunistic ploy, with the Australian National University admitting that they occurred up to five years ago.

Only two of ANU's climate change scientists allegedly received death threats, the first in a letter posted in 2006-2007 and the other an offhand remark made in person 12 months ago.

Neither was officially reported to ACT Police or Australian Federal Police, despite such crimes carrying a 10-year prison sentence.

The outdated threats raised question marks over the timing of their release to the public, with claims they were aired last week to draw sympathy to scientists and their climate change cause.

The university denied it was creating a ruse, maintaining the initial report, in the Fairfax-owned Canberra Times last week, failed to indicate when the threats were made.

Reports also suggested the threats had forced the ANU to lock away its climate change scientists and policy advisers in a high-security complex. The Daily Telegraph has discovered the nine scientists and staff in question were merely given keyless swipe cards - routine security measures taken last year.

ANU climate institute director Professor Will Steffen, a key adviser to the Howard and Gillard governments, is believed to have received the threatening letter.

The other threat was made to a scientist at a university function last year by a person not known to university staff.

ANU communications director Catriona Jackson would not reveal the exact wording of the threats, but added: "Abusive emails are par for the course for most climate change scientists."

Scientist and renowned climate change sceptic Jo Nova said the revelation of the death threats was merely a welcome diversion for climate change believers.

"It's a great way to win sympathy. Not that I'm suggesting these scientists are feigning it themselves, but that there are billions of dollars on the table, not to mention a cult-like devotion to the meme," Ms Nova said.

"It's in quite a few people's interests to help those scientists win the sympathy of the crowd, and to distract the crowd with something non-scientific."

These are scientists, not politicians, you turd. Scientists do not normally recieve death threats. How about next time your life is threatened by some imbecile I berate you for "trying to appeal for sympathy"? Also, it's not like conservatives like yourself and your pal Inuyasha don't have the most delusional persecution complexes possible. People living in glass houses don't throw stones.