[Coral-List] Ocean acidification is simply a bandwagon.

[Steve Mussman]

Dear Listers,

Just consider the commentary thus far. 
All these top-notch, well-respected scientists and environmental 
activists of unquestionable integrity perhaps losing sight of the fact 
that we are on the same team with the same ultimate goal – to safeguard
our coral reef ecosystem for future generations to come.

Billy, Ove and others have expressed similar and equally conspicuous 
sentiments in concluding that we are doing ourselves a disservice
by sustaining the debate over which specific effect (OA or rising 
temperatures, among others) is the leading cause of coral decline. 
All the while CO2 and other greenhouse gases remain the ultimate storm
on the horizon. It is no wonder that we remain in limbo as to resolve. 

But you must know by now that it will take more than a concerted effort
on the part of the scientific community if we are to regain focus and 
effectively combat the insidious nature of the issue before us. It is 
no longer enough to ask science to concisely delineate cause and effect. 
It seems obvious that Climate Change has now been effectively framed more 
as a political/ideological value-based issue than one of a factual nature 
that can ultimately be resolved by the establishment of a clear scientific
consensus. If you have any doubt, just listen to the echoes of the climate
change deniers/skeptics involved in contemporary political discourse.

If you have a charge in this aspect of what has sadly become a sub-plot 
in an ideological culture war, it is to establish the role that science 
can play in offsetting the demagoguery. We have yet to find an effective 
means to combat deception and time is running out. The last thing we can 
afford to do under these conditions is nurture discord amongst ourselves.
I agree that so many of you are coral reef heroes, but now it is past time
to fully live up to that calling. 

Regards,
 Steve