cc: Sian Buckley <sian.buckley@bbc.co.uk>
date: Thu, 25 Jul 2002 18:25:26 +0100
from: David Akerman <david.akerman@bbc.co.uk>
subject: Lomborg programme - request...
to: "'m.hulme@uea.ac.uk'" <m.hulme@uea.ac.uk>

   Dear Dr Hulme,

   I know that you have just spoken with our researcher, Sian, and thought it would be helpful
   as the producer/director of this project to outline for you our interest in your
   participation in this film.

   We aim to explore the ideas of Bjorn Lomborg, principally, with the co-operation of the man
   himself.  We do not seek to stir further controversy - that was done last year and earlier
   this year - but we do aim to try to shed a little light on why there was such controversy
   surrounding the publication of Lomborg's book, the Skeptical Enironmentalist.  Our film
   will not by any means be limited to an exposition BL's ideas on global warming or the
   appropriateness of Kyoto - but it will feature those topics at some length.  In this regard
   we feel we need both visual materials and some expert guidance on how climate modelling is
   done - so there is a partly expository reason for asking to film at the Tyndall Centre.
   Moreover, we feel it important - in order not to confuse the viewer with rival and equally
   weighted alternative views - to talk to some expert "honest brokers", people without
   affiliation to Lomborg, but equally without feelings of great antipathy to him or his ideas
   - who can pick their way through the minefield and point out just where the real fault
   lines lie in this debate.  In other words, some kind of assessment of where Lomborg is
   asking the right questions (or the wrong ones) and proposing interesting solutions and
   alternatives  (or not, as the case may be...)  It's a delicate matter - we aren't trying to
   make a classically "balanced" film, in the sense of presenting two rival views and allowing
   the viewer to decide (in theory) ...  because we can't possibly do that 40 minutes for one
   thing and it would likely end up being bewildering for most viewers... but we do want to
   shed light on how Lomborg's ideas fit (or don't) into the framework of the
   environmental/global warming debate.  For your information, we will probably speak to three
   or four people in total in the way we are requesting to speak to you.  The rest of the cast
   list is quite uncertain, but may include people like Prof Philip Stott,  Sir John Maddox
   (former Ed of Nature) and Lewis Wolpert (from UCL...) - none of these people is identified
   (to the best of my knoweldge) with any commitment to a political faction, neither have they
   taken up arms either for or against Lomborg...

   I hope you feel you would be able to speak to us.  If you will consider it, then I know
   August 12th would be the earliest date you could make...  so perhaps then or the 13th/14th?

   I look forward to hearing from you.  I shall be away from the BBC for a few days from
   tomorrow - but available on my alternative email:  davidakerman7@hotmail.com - or by all
   means contact Sian again, on 0208 752 4537

   Best wishes,

   David Akerman
   Producer/Director,  BBC Current Affairs
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