Citizen Tom

Because news stories can proceed rather strangely from dubious “facts,” it is often better to set back and watch awhile before offering an opinion.  Since the emails related to ClimateGate were stolen, I reserved judgement – waiting for confirmation.   However, at this point I have also begun wondering how long I will have to wait.  For example, what is the news story at the top of the Google stack for “climategate“?  This story is Data-leak lessons learned from the ‘Climategate’ hack.  This author’s main concern is computer security.  Supposedly, the researchers were considering destroying their data rather than respond to a legal FOIA request, but they never really did.  That is, we are suppose to take comfort from the lack of confirmation in the emails.   

Unfortunately, we do have confirmation, Britain’s Climate Research Unit to release data in wake of Climategate.  Here is how the article begins.

In an about face brought about as a result of more than a thousand leaked emails last week, Britain’s Climate Research Unit (CRU) announced it would make its data publically available, something which it had refused to do previously. The unit however has admitted that it did not have access to much of the raw data required to reconstruct climate records because it had been deleted.

Oops!  We have emails indicating the intention to delete data, and that data is gone.  Nothing suspicious there. 

Scientists are just like anyone else.  Scientists can be tempted by fame and fortune.  That is why proper peer review is so important.  When we know a disinterested party is looking over our shoulder, we tend to be more honest.  When the issue of Global Warming has become highly politicized, proper peer review is critical, but here we have good reason to suspect that process has been corrupted.

Other Views

Some Virginia blogs regard ClimateGate as a smoking gun, proof of scientific dishonesty.

From On High, The right-wing liberal, YankeePhil, SkepticalObservor, The Contemporary Conservative, SWAC Girl, Old Virginia Blog, Virginia Virtucon, novatownhall blog, The Journey, The Roanoke Slant, ShaunKenney.com, Bacon’s Rebellion, and Tidewater Liberty  have run posts, some quite scathing, starting November 20. 

Liberal bloggers have largely ignored the issue.  Only Blue Virginia has actully mentioned the affair by name,  Overhyped Nonsense by “Powerhouse” Panelists: Yes, It’s “This Week” Time Again!  However, X Curmudgeon offered this ”timely” post, Manufacturing Doubt on Global Climate Change. 

How has America’s corporate news media reacted?  Virginia Virtucon offered up this post on the 24th,  American MSM’s split decision on ClimateGate.   The Virginian produced something similiar, Climategate: MSM Writers Try to Ignore Scandal in Global Warming Stories But Readers Bring Them Back to Reality and Why the MSM Cannot Possibly Report on ClimateGate.  So has SWAC Girl, MSM ignoring Climate-Gate?  According to Tidewater Liberty, the Brits are covering the affair, Beating Trees into Hockey Sticks.