[Coral-List] carbon offsetting AND slowing down

[Steve Mussman]

Dear Ulf,

I don’t believe there is any lingering (scientific) debate left to consider, be it two-sided, three-sided or more. As far as “other researchers” being critical, that there are, but at this critical juncture, I’m not convinced of their “good reasons”.  Healthy skepticism should always be encouraged, but to be legitimized these alternative theories have to withstand the test of time and fair review. The only real question that remains is how societies will decide to respond and that, of course, is more political and ideological than scientific. It is most unfortunate, but it appears that what we need most at this time, unity and a sense of commonality of purpose has been supplanted by ever increasing polarization. Ten years ago in “Storms of My Grandchildren” James Hansen lamented that “the problem with governments is not scientific ability . . . Instead, the government’s problem is politics, politics as usual”. I believe, as he put forth in his thesis, that we have an obligation to future generations to preserve the planet (coral reefs and all). “Native Americans speak of obligations to the “seventh generation”. It is a paradigm of almost all religions and of humanists that Earth, creation, is an intergenerational commons, the fruits and benefits of which should be accessible to every member of every generation.” That vision of sustainability is precisely what most are advocating here, not the subversion of antithetical scientific thought. 

Regards,
Steve 



Sent from my iPad

> On Jun 17, 2019, at 11:44 AM, Ulf Erlingsson <ceo at lindorm.com> wrote:
> 
> Yes Steve, but this is not a two-sided debate, it is a three-sided debate.
> 
> 1. Industry that is trying to block the research
> 2. Researchers who are working with theories and data
> 3. Other researchers who are being critical for good reasons.
> 
> If you are conflagrating 1 and 3 you are making 1 a favor. 
> 
> Ulf Erlingsson
> 
> 
> 
>> On 2019-06-14, at 17:06 , Risk, Michael via Coral-List <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:
>> 
>> Some context as to who is David and who is Goliath:
>> 
>> "Every year, the world's five largest publicly owned oil and gas companies spend approximately $200 million on lobbying designed to control, delay or block binding climate-motivated policy." (Forbes, Mar 25/19)
>> 
>> -and this doesn't count the Dark Money from dark places. (No, not THERE, Steve-get your mind out of the gutter.) 
>> 
>> It's no mystery why action on this front is so difficult.
>> ________________________________________
>> From: Coral-List [coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov] on behalf of Steve Mussman via Coral-List [coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov]
>> Sent: June 14, 2019 3:38 PM
>> To: coral list
>> Subject: Re: [Coral-List] carbon offsetting AND slowing down
>> 
>> I have no problem with Gene’s post being allowed on list. To me it’s a first amendment issue. However, I do take issue with the fact that the post used an anonymous source to make a rather serious accusation about the veracity of the SST data analysis and projections compiled by NOAA - all without bothering to cite a reference to the data that the author claims refutes the warming trend. Such tactics should be condemned by all.
>> This egregious modus operandi is nothing new, but it certainly runs counter to the ideals generally adhered to throughout the scientific community. As for bullying, one has to be totally disconnected and/or somewhat confused not to realize that we are living in an era of unprecedented attacks on science and scientific integrity. The post in question clearly epitomizes this unfortunate state of affairs.
>> 
>> Steve Mussman
>> 
>> 
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