Intriguing new details on the glacier story
The Hindustan Times has picked up on the glacier story that is proving so embarrassing for Rajendra Pachauri and the IPCC. But as well as repeating the details from the New Scientist and Sunday Times stories, there are a couple of new details.
Firstly, Syed Hasnain, the scientist who made the original claims about the Himalayan glaciers disappearing by 2035, has gone to ground:
Attempts by Hindustan Times to reach Hasnain failed. His family said he was away and there was no telephone number at which he could be contacted.
I suppose it is a little embarrassing, but hiding from the press does seem like a bit of an overreaction. And surely he has a mobile phone?
The other interesting news is that the IPCC are going to make a statement on glaciers in the coming week:
Pachauri said IPCC would issue a statement on the glaciers “by the middle of this week”.
We will watch with interest.
Reader Comments (6)
I thought Pachauri had already responded to the Indian government report which disputed the claim that the Himalayan glaciers were going to disappear by 2035 and denounced it as "voodoo science"..
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/health/pachauri-calls-indian-govt-report-on-melting-himalayan-glaciers-as-voodoo-science_100301232.html
Is there a difference between Pachauri making a statement on something like this and the IPCC making the statement? Presumably, he's up to date on these things and empowered to represent the IPCC, odd if he isn't.
It is all unraveling now, isn't it? You will have to write a sequel call the Gordian Knot -- how a hacker chopped his way through it when all the King's horses and all the King's men couldn't or wouldn't
(Sorry about the mixed metaphors :) )
This is misdirection, I believe.
The Hindustan Times article refers to a New Statesman source. But we do know that that is not the only 'source' the IPCC cited.
RK Pachauri sits on the Board of Directors of the Hindustan Times.
originally posted on EuRef:
After his retirement from Jawaharlal Nehru University here ,Hasnain is now associated with TERI as a senior fellow. Pachauri is the director general of TERI. Despite repeated attempts by Deccan Herald, Hasnain could not be reached.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/47413/scandal-rocks-climate-panel-glaciers.html
Reporting from India. All major Indian media houses have picked up the glacier story. The Himalayan report was taken very seriously as it would have impacted lives of millions of Indians, News reporters had even gone on Himalayan treks to raise public awareness.
Now that they know they have been fooled, everybody is grinding their teeth to get even with Pachuri.
24/7 news channels are directly blaming Pachuri and are asking uncomfortable questions. Once they get their hands on Richard North's expose on Pachuri's financial dealings, Pachuri will be history (i.e unless Pachuri bribes India's ruling party, which can still pull some strings with the media)
As for Hussain disappearing from view, it is very embrassing for Indians to be caught on the wrong foot in public view. So disappearing when the heat turns on is expected.
>> And surely he has a mobile phone?
Pehaps he is trekking in the Himilayas and the melting glaciers washed away all the cell sites?