G-spotter Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/canadian-climate-scientist-finds-fame-hate-mail-in-us/article2297802/?service=mobile She once was a science-minded undergrad who spent her nights minding the telescopes on the top floors of the University of Toronto’s McLennan building. Katharine Hayhoe is now a figure of some fame and controversy in the United States, for her sin is that she is an evangelical Christian who is also a climate scientist trying to convince skeptics that climate change is for real. Dr. Hayhoe made headlines after the Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich came under pressure and dropped plans to have her write an opening chapter on climate change for his upcoming book. Now, her teaching duties at Texas Tech University have resumed and the sting from the Gingrich snub is fading. But the hate mail is still pouring in, dozens of insulting e-mails every morning. “It’d be a lot easier to stay home. It’s not easy having people standing up and screaming at you. It’s not easy opening your mail in the morning and seeing a hundred e-mails, each one more hateful than the last,” Dr. Hayhoe said Monday, in her first interview with a Canadian news outlet. “That’s not easy. And it’s not the science that motivates me. It’s what comes from the heart.” That introduction to the sharp-elbowed world of politics was the latest blow for the 39-year-old, who already had a taste of hostile audiences from public speaking at Christian schools, seniors homes, farmers’ group and book clubs. She was prepared to deal with emotional, unfriendly reactions. But she wasn’t expecting what came with the name recognition, she said. “There’s a well-organized campaign, primarily in the United States but also in other countries, including Canada and Australia, of bloggers, of people in the media, of basically professional climate deniers whose main goal is to abuse, to harass and to threaten anybody who stands up and says climate change is real – especially anybody who’s trying to take that message to audiences that are more traditionally skeptical of this issue.” It was even more shocking because she didn’t see herself as a “Godless, tree-hugging activist” but a scientist who also happened to be a member of an evangelical Bible church. She is also married to a pastor. “The attacks’ virulence, the hatred and the nastiness of the text have escalated exponentially. I’ve gotten so many hate mail in the last few weeks I can’t even count them.” On one occasion, after appearing on Bill O’Reilly’s show on Fox TV, she received nearly 200 hate e-mails the next day. She sees her work almost like a pastoral mission, where she frames the issue as doing the right thing for the love of one’s children and neighbours. “My own faith is the Christian faith and in the Christian faith we are told to love our neighbours as much as ourselves. And our neighbours, especially the poorer ones, are already harmed by climate change. Most of her family still has roots in the Toronto-area. Her father is a retired science co-ordinator for the Toronto District School Board. An aunt is a sinologist at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Her parents were also missionaries and between the ages of nine and 18 she spent much time with them at a school where they worked in Colombia. She graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in physics and astronomy. With her father and a sister and another professor, Dr. Hayhoe co-authored a grade 10 Ontario textbook on climate change. While doing graduate studies at the University of Illinois, she met her husband, a linguist. Six years ago, the couple moved to Lubbock, after he got tenure at Texas Tech. Her husband is also the pastor of a local evangelical church. Dr. Hayhoe says she had never met people who didn’t believe in climate change until she moved to the U.S. and began her public work. Because she framed her concerns with optimism rather than doom, she was approached four years ago by Terry Maple, who was co-editing Mr. Gingrich’s book, to pen an opening chapter. Mr. Gingrich, however, has struggled with some core Republicans who accuse him of harbouring environmental sympathies. And thus, in mid-December, Marc Morano, a conservative activist, derided the planned book co-operation with Dr. Hayhoe, saying that it proved Mr. Gingrich was a “committed greenie” and a “warmist.” Mr. Morano is a former Fox News contributor and his item was picked up by radio host Rush Limbaugh. On Dec. 28, Mr. Gingrich was approached by a female supporter at an Iowa campaign stop. A video posted by the weekly The National Journal shows the woman telling Mr. Gingrich she wanted to talk about “Rush” and the global-warming book chapter. Mr. Gingrich stopped her in mid-sentence. “It’s not going to be in the book. We didn’t know that they were doing that and we told them to kill it.” “Good, that’s all I needed to know,” the woman said. Afterward, Mr. Gingrich signalled to an aide. “Remind me when we’re back in the bus: ‘Rush’ and ‘global warming’,” he told the aide. Dr. Hayhoe’s learned of the decision from the media. “Nice to hear that Gingrich is tossing my #climate chapter in the trash. 100+ unpaid hrs I [could have] spent playing w my baby,” she wrote on Twitter. She says that she now feels no grudge against Mr. Gingrich and that the incident is just proof of the acute polarization that has affected what should be a scientific debate. “Attacking me and my colleagues and trying to intimidate us and trying to smear us is not going to change the facts of the situation.” Quote
j_b Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 (edited) “Attacking me and my colleagues and trying to intimidate us and trying to smear us is not going to change the facts of the situation.” Nothing personal, it's just "freedom" loving regressives doing what they do best (as shown for as long one cares to think about, including on this board). Edited January 12, 2012 by j_b Quote
j_b Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 When Virginia Attorney General Kenneth Cuccinelli II on Monday revived his anti-climate science crusade with a new, 30-page civil subpoena demanding boatloads of documents from the University of Virginia, we wondered what he might have discovered recently about the work of former U-Va. researcher Michael E. Mann, the object of the probe, that would justify further investigation. The answer: essentially nothing. [...] The attorney general's logic is so tenuous as to leave only one plausible explanation: that he is on a fishing expedition designed to intimidate and suppress honest research and the free exchange of ideas upon which science and academia both depend -- all because he does not like what science says about climate change. Among other things, the attorney general demands that U-Va. turn over any correspondence it may have between Mr. Mann and 39 other scientists. Mr. Mann points out that among those Mr. Cuccinelli did not list by name are the two other researchers on the African savannah research grant that the attorney general is supposedly investigating. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/05/AR2010100504908.html Quote
billcoe Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 FALSIFY THE DATA? WHAT? DAMMIT! HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A University of Connecticut researcher known for his work on red wine's benefits to cardiovascular health falsified his data in more than 100 instances, university officials said Wednesday. UConn officials said nearly a dozen scientific journals are being warned of the potential problems after publishing his studies in recent years. The researcher, Dr. Dipak Das, did some studies of resveratrol, an ingredient in red wine that has shown potential for promoting health. But Dr. Nir Barzilai, whose research team conducts resveratrol research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, told The Associated Press that Das is not a major figure in the field. The new allegations will not make a material difference to resveratrol research, which is being conducted extensively around the world with encouraging results from many labs, Barzilai said. Enthusiasm in the potential health benefits from red wine grew after a widely reported study in 2006 in which obese mice lived longer, healthier lives after getting resveratrol. Das was not involved in that research. UConn officials said their internal review found 145 instances over seven years in which Das fabricated, falsified and manipulated data, and the U.S. Office of Research Integrity has launched an independent investigation of his work. Quote
ivan Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 scientists versus bible-thumpers? i like the odds - scientists can make nukes n' napalm, n' all the other guys can do is put on a magic show Quote
j_b Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 FALSIFY THE DATA? WHAT? DAMMIT! Bill-"let's go back to 1850"-coe found a crooked researcher, which obviously means that all researchers that say things regressives don't like should be harassed. Quote
j_b Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 scientists versus bible-thumpers? may be, as long as you include free-marketeers in the zealots-r-us denomination. Quote
murraysovereign Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 scientists versus bible-thumpers? i like the odds - scientists can make nukes n' napalm, n' all the other guys can do is put on a magic show The other guys can't actually do magic themselves. All they can do is convince one another that there's a magic show going on, and that it's really cool but you have to believe that before you can see it. Scientists actually can blow 'em all up with nukes, for real. It doesn't matter if they believe it's happening or not - they still blow up. Quote
akhalteke Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 You guys sure showed those Christians! Little hypocritical when you call for blowing up a people because you don't think they are tolerant enough eh? Just sayin' Quote
ivan Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 You guys sure showed those Christians! Little hypocritical when you call for blowing up a people because you don't think they are tolerant enough eh? Just sayin' your reading comprehension is siiiiick! i said i like the odds, if it came to it... Quote
jordansahls Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 scientists versus bible-thumpers? i like the odds - scientists can make nukes n' napalm, n' all the other guys can do is put on a magic show Well, the extreemist christians have blind devotion and extreem hatred on their side. Rational thinkers don't make the best soldiers so science is lacking there. Quote
ivan Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 scientists versus bible-thumpers? i like the odds - scientists can make nukes n' napalm, n' all the other guys can do is put on a magic show Well, the extreemist christians have blind devotion and extreem hatred on their side. Rational thinkers don't make the best soldiers so science is lacking there. stalin and mao and robespierre sure seemed to find enough to get the job done? Quote
billcoe Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/12/idUS265209529320120112 By Kurt Orzeck at TheWrap Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:01pm EST Ben Stein claims he's a victim of political discrimination. The conservative pundit and actor -- and former Nixon speechwriter -- alleges that his position on climate change had him kicked off a $300,000 acting gig, only to be replaced by a lookalike. Stein filed a discrimination suit against Japanese company Kyocera Corporation and New York ad agency Seiter & Miller Advertising, in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday. He is claiming breach of contract, wrongful discharge and emotional distress, among other charges. In the suit, which was obtained by TheWrap, Stein says Kyocera reneged on the deal and replaced him after the company found out that he isn't sure humans are responsible for climate change. Probably should have just closed his eyes, nodded his head, gone along, and kept cashing those oversized paychecks. Quote
G-spotter Posted January 12, 2012 Author Posted January 12, 2012 So tell me Bill, does free speech extend to hundreds of death threats a day? Quote
jon Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 I still don't understand evangelicals refusal to believe in climate change. Why are people so angry about it? Quote
sobo Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 Cuz it's not in their bible. If it ain't in the bible, then it's just heresy, right? Quote
ivan Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 I still don't understand evangelicals refusal to believe in climate change. Why are people so angry about it? ummm, what AREN'T they angry about? for followers of a pretty mellow hippie dude, they sure seem aggro at all hours and in any weather - perhaps it's b/c the old testament w/ it's meth-head raging god taxes their reading abilities so much they never can quite make it to the second half where He has a kid and chills the fuck out? Quote
tvashtarkatena Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 Because it flies in the face of their 'this earth was put here for man's use' doctrine. Also, it requires change from the standard American consumptive lifestyle Kristians subscribe to. It's the way we've always done it, American way..blah blah. In general, bringers of bad news are maligned by the angry hairless monkeys on the receiving end. And finally, you couldn't find a less analytical, scientifically minded group, given their beliefs. All science is an affront to their bible, from evolution to genetically based man on man action. No amount of evidence will convince many of these folks of anything. Hopefully, a sterilizing virus that selects for stupid will come along... Quote
ivan Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 not to tar all the christian folk w/ the same brush, mind ye - dog bless the amish for example, who no doubt must have the smallest carbon foot-print of all americans! Quote
billcoe Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 So tell me Bill, does free speech extend to hundreds of death threats a day? No. The supreme court has already indicated that even yelling "Fire" in a crowded theater is not protected speech under the 1st amendment. If this is a reference to my panties being twisted because the President ordered the death, with no judicial review wanted, needed or allowed, of an American citizen in Yemen. If the politicians in office can start whacking us cause we are yelling douchebag things about our politicians, then I'd expect spray to start thinning out as they reach their tentacles down to us low life's. As far as what is salacious political talk that should get you executed immediately with no judicial recourse, I don't believe they have ruled on that ...yet. I don't know what your question is in direct reference to Drew, but perhaps that question is related to something else like the Ben Stein story I linked above? Or...hmmm, hey - must have been drinkin' again? Is this you? Quote
j_b Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 (edited) She is an evangelical but the article doesn't say that evangelicals are especially the culprits, which makes sense since free market zealots and their think tanks are the main demographics behind climate science denial. Edited January 12, 2012 by j_b Quote
j_b Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 By Kurt Orzeck at TheWrap Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:01pm EST Ben Stein claims he's a victim of political discrimination. The conservative pundit and actor -- and former Nixon speechwriter -- alleges that his position on climate change had him kicked off a $300,000 acting gig, only to be replaced by a lookalike. Stein filed a discrimination suit against Japanese company Kyocera Corporation and New York ad agency Seiter & Miller Advertising, in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday. He is claiming breach of contract, wrongful discharge and emotional distress, among other charges. In the suit, which was obtained by TheWrap, Stein says Kyocera reneged on the deal and replaced him after the company found out that he isn't sure humans are responsible for climate change. Probably should have just closed his eyes, nodded his head, gone along, and kept cashing those oversized paychecks. Not entirely surprising that a technology company doesn't want an anti-science fool to be their public figure, which is entirely different than being canned for expressing views that have nothing to do with one's job description. Quote
G-spotter Posted January 12, 2012 Author Posted January 12, 2012 perhaps that question is related to something else like the Ben Stein story I linked above? I know you are barely above a moron in reading comprehension and thought process so I will pitch this to you slowly. The original post is about a scientist who is getting hundreds of death threats a day for having the temerity to call herself a Christian while producing science that indicates that climate change is occurring. You post a link claiming that Ben Stein had a contract terminated for being a climate denier. Hence my question. Are these two things really equal to you? Are you really that dumb? Quote
akhalteke Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 scientists versus bible-thumpers? i like the odds - scientists can make nukes n' napalm, n' all the other guys can do is put on a magic show Rational thinkers don't make the best soldiers so science is lacking there. Beg to differ hommie. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.