Re: [Phys-l] Censorship of science by politicians

["LaMontagne, Bob" <RLAMONT@providence.edu>]

After reading the article a second time - I still have to challenge the idea that the state was specifically targeting global warming. Looking at the remarks that were deleted (crossed out in red), the overwhelming majority were related to development in the coastal region studied - not global warming per se. Again, the authors comments about development were almost parenthetical - not coming forth directly from data but rather from inference. If a student of mine wrote a paper with so many unsupported interjections thrown in - regardless of topic - I would deal with it accordingly.

Bob at PC

> -----Original Message-----
> From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [mailto:phys-l-
> bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of John Clement
> Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2011 8:43 AM
> To: 'Forum for Physics Educators'
> Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Censorship of science by politicians
>
> The state took out factual information about sea level rise.  The
> author had
> already self censored the article.
>
> "Lester said TCEQ officials made it clear the agency is uncomfortable
> with
> any references to human-caused climate change.
>
> "We stayed away from human-induced climate change, but we felt like we
> had
> to talk about sea-level rise," he said. "After all, it's been happening
> for
> 12,000 years. We were surprised the data on sea-level rise became a
> contentious issue."
>
> TCEQ also deleted any references to human-caused change in other
> contexts,
> including a reference to human activity being responsible for wetlands
> destruction."
>
> So the political climate is not only producing censorship of facts, but
> also
> self censorhip.  For a good article on how new scientific paradigms are
> rejected and become political fodder see the latest "Physics Today".
> So
> what were the "unsupported interpretations"?????  The snippet of the
> paper
> presented did not show any.  My eternal question is "How do you know
> that?"
>
> John M. Clement
> Houston, Tx
>
> > Basically the state struck out material each time he went
> > from factual statements to unsuported interpretation.
> >
> > Bob at PC
> >
> > ________________________________________
> >
> > Go to:
> > http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Professor-says
> -state-agency-
> > censored-article-2211691.php
> >
> > The political appointees are censoring an official report to
> > conform to the
> > conservative anti-global warming position.
> >
> > John M. Clement
> > Houston, TX
> >
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