date: Wed, 14 Jan 2004 10:35:15 -0000
from: "Curran, James" <James.Curran@sepa.org.uk>
subject: RE: "Bad Scientists"
to: 'Mike Hulme' <m.hulme@uea.ac.uk>

   Well, good luck in your discussions !



   I think it is important to counter these ill-informed and prejudiced commentators but I
   agree that it is wearing, time-consuming and distracting.  Probably only the high profile
   and potentially most damaging should be tackled.  Maybe DEFRA would consider a bit of
   additional funding specifically to undertake the task since these activities may gradually
   undermine their entire approach and strategy?



   James



   Professor James Curran
   Environmental Futures
   Scottish Environment Protection Agency
   Corporate Office
   Erskine Court, Castle Business Park
   STIRLING FK9 4TR  Scotland
   Tel 01786 457700
   Fax 01786 446885

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   -----Original Message-----
   From: Mike Hulme [mailto:m.hulme@uea.ac.uk]
   Sent: 14 January 2004 10:21
   To: Curran, James
   Cc: a.minns@uea.ac.uk
   Subject: Re: "Bad Scientists"

     James,
     Thanks for this.  Unfortunately Wogan isn't the only one!  Melanie Phillips in the Daily
     Mail (it would be!) wrote an even more vitriolic attack on climate science, and Sir
     David King in particular, just this week.  And then just last night on Radio4, the
     Climate Wars programme drew attention to a controversy that has blown up over the warmth
     of the last millennium with powerful USA vested interests.  This is one where we have
     taken a stand and several senior climate scientists, myself included, have resigned from
     the disputed journal.
     We will certainly consider your suggestion; how much energy we - Tyndall - puts into
     these types of responses is a tricky Q for us; one person could almost be employed
     full-time.  But it is also an issue I intend to raise at the new climate science-policy
     forum DEFRA are convening later in January with Hadley, Tyndall, UKCIP, etc.
     Best wishes for the New Year,
     Mike
     At 09:30 14/01/2004 +0000, you wrote:

     I'm sure you don't listen to it and it must be a pure accident that I quite often hear
     it on the way to work - but do you ever come across the Terry Wogan programme on Radio 2
     in the mornings ?  I believe it has the biggest radio audience in the UK - several
     million perhaps.
     Terry Wogan doesn't have a particularly good environmental record in his personal life -
     something about planting trees in Caithness as a tax avoidance measure some years ago ?
     Anyway, he has a real down on climate change, especially just now, and makes repeated
     disparaging remarks.  Yesterday (13/1/04) he actually made some comment about it being
     promoted by "bad scientists".
     Rather than just complaining to the BBC, I wondered if you might consider inviting him
     to the Tyndall Centre to try and persuade him how well researched and serious the issue
     is  and hopefully getting him to talk some sense on his show.
     Best wishes,  James
     Professor James Curran
     Environmental Futures
     Scottish Environment Protection Agency
     Corporate Office
     Erskine Court, Castle Business Park
     STIRLING FK9 4TR  Scotland
     Tel 01786 457700
     Fax 01786 446885
     The information contained in this email is confidential and is intended solely for the
     use of the named addressee.  Access, copying or re-use of the information in it by any
     other is not authorised.  If you are not the intended recipient please notify us
     immediately by return email to postmaster@sepa.org.uk
