Bishop Hill De Freitas profile
Jul 16, 2011 Climate: Sceptics The New Zealand Herald has a profile of Chris DeFreitas, which seems to be an extended riff on the idea that De Freitas maybe shouldn't be allowed to teach the things he does.
Kiwi climatologist Martin Manning is probably best known for his role in running the IPCC's Technical Services Unit for AR4, where he oversaw all the strangeness over the Wahl and Ammann paper and the non-inclusion of the Wegman and NAS reports. The article quotes Manning's thoughts on De Freitas's academic freedom as follows:
Victoria University's Manning disagrees: "I think Auckland University does have a bit of a problem with a course looking like it is taking one side of the story and a minority view of that." Yes, he believes in freedom expression and that it should be deeply ingrained in the structure of the university. "The right to have individual views is something that's preserved because it is important - but there does become a point when you have to ask should you be teaching that?"
I'm reminded of Brian Cox and his "Orwellian solution" to the question of allowing airtime to dissenting views. Manning knows he wants to propose something totalitarian, but knows he will be hammered for doing so. So he teeters on the brink, hoping that someone will take the hint.
Reader Comments (18)
These guys shouldn't teeter on the brink though should they? They should understand the moral and political tenor of their own emissions.
What is it with climate science, of all things, that makes reasonable people who would in other circumstances run a mile from even a hint of totalitarianism or "Orwellian solutions" align themselves with such things? I'm sure Martin Manning is a really nice fellow and great company over a pint and in any other context would be only too happy to allow everyone the same academic freedom that he enjoys.
There have been paradigms and memes a-plenty over the centuries but, as far as I can tell, never anything of quite such intensity. It's puzzling and really quite alarming.
mmmmmm
"The "hockey stick" refers to a graph documenting the 1000-year temperature record that rises steeply from the end of the 19th century after a centuries-long gradual decline. The image has been the public face of climate science during the past decade and has been widely debated. "
I guess that's one way of putting it! Shown to be total bollocks would be another. The author of the piece seems to be a true believer.
Dunno bout you guys but surely the greater issue here is with students who lack the critical ability to think for themselves (with reference to the quotes of students who thought the science was settled).
Mailman
@mike jackson
'What is it with climate science, of all things, that makes reasonable people who would in other circumstances run a mile from even a hint of totalitarianism or "Orwellian solutions" align themselves with such things?'
It;s the same with cults all through history. And if they get a lot of followers they become called a religion. Seems to me that the first purpose of any religion is to bolster it's own belief system. Then to find non-believers and suppress/kill them. Each cult has it's High Priests who pour out the One True Message to the Faithful who mindlessly absorb and regurgitate it.
In the case of climate it is the Climatologists who appoint themselves as High Priests and the credulous greenies who follow their words with missionary and militant zeal.
No Pressure.
I presume Martin Manning will be chairing the House Un-climate Activities Committee.
Strange someone called Martin chaired a similar committee some 70 odd years ago.
For those not familiar with the NZ Herald, most Kiwis regard it as a lightweight 'rag' which features journalism of the ambulance-chasing, bad taste variety. Like most of the MSM, most Kiwi newspapers hew firmly to the warmist party line. Kevin Trenberth is, sadly, a Kiwi who enjoys some prestige among the local warmista and is currently in NZ preaching his ridiculous 'It's all getting much worse because of CO2 ' doom-laden climate message.
For a country that claims Rutherford and various other heroic figures in science, the military, ground-breaking inventions, etc, Trenberth and his ilk are an embarrassment.
"The last section was most alarming because I left thinking maybe the science isn't settled."
Good grief! Does this mean there's a risk that students might leave DeFreitas' class with an open mind??!!
"Manning knows he wants to propose something totalitarian, but knows he will be hammered for doing so. So he teeters on the brink, hoping that someone will take the hint."
Shades of Henry II and Thomas Beckett ...
You can just feel the frustration of Martin Manning when he thinks about who are not being taught what to think.Chris DeFreitas is certainly guilty of not indoctrinating his students.
Shame on him/Sarc
Should read those students who are not being taught etc
sorry
Lord Monckton is rumoured to be arriving in NZ for a speaking tour early August and is looking for a prominent member of the climate establishment to debate.
Maybe Prof Manning would oblige?
Mike Jackson writes:
'What is it with climate science, of all things, that makes reasonable people who would in other circumstances run a mile from even a hint of totalitarianism or "Orwellian solutions" align themselves with such things?'
Climate science realized early on that their main supporters are the the Marxist Left. So they wholly embraced all the religious garb of Marxism.
It is really great to read about a teaching scientist with the integrity of De Freitas. The pressures he faces are the same faced by any professor who chooses not to promote IPCC propaganda.
Chris de Freitas wrote an article himself for the NZ Herald back in January
Emotion clouding underlying science of global warming
link
I thought it was a fairly well-reasoned piece, but it got panned in the local warmosphere.
The other issue to watch "Down Under" is the Australian political situation which has developed over the Labor/Green Govt intending to introduce a Carbon Tax. The PM ,Julia Gillard, could be rolled in the next month or so as a result of this --- the opinion polls have Labor falling through the floor.
@ Latimer Alder
"It's the same with cults all through history. And if they get a lot of followers they become called a religion. Seems to me that the first purpose of any religion is to bolster it's own belief system. Then to find non-believers and suppress/kill them. Each cult has it's High Priests who pour out the One True Message to the Faithful who mindlessly absorb and regurgitate it."
Such wild assertions simply damage the climate sceptics' case. You might as well say that all politicians are thieves who start unjustified wars, or that all climate sceptics are right-wing conspiracy theorists.
Roy
Nice post.Thank you for sharing such informative post.