DVDs of Mass Denial!
Page December 29th, 2007
So, we’re coming to the end of another year. We’ve learned a lot about our world this year, and not all of it is good news. Scientists are predicting that it will only be 5-6 years before Arctic summers are ice-free. 2007 was the second-hottest year on record. Climate change is resulting in more natural disasters, and affecting wildlife and humans alike. Through his movie An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore did his damndest to sound the alarm about climate change, and get us to realize that we can take action.
Predictably, his movie was barely out before big oil-funded free market think tanks were scrambling to refute everything the movie - and the science - was saying. “AL GORE IS A NAZI!” they screamed on Fox News. “DON’T BELIEVE HIM!”.
There were even documentaries made to present a “balanced” view to the public, parroting James Inhofe (R-Exxon)’s famous babble that climate change is a hoax. Glenn Beck hosted “A Climate of Fear” on CNN (with hilariously dismal ratings). And, in the UK, “The Great Global Warming Swindle” was aired on ITV’s Channel 4. The makers trotted out the usual suspects, “scientists” who are prominent members of the Global Warming Deniers Hall of Shame, like Patrick Michaels (”[Gore’s movie is a] riveting work of science fiction”) and John Christy (co-author of Global Warming and Other Eco-Myths).
Despite all of this, the truth still prevails (even on the cover of Newsweek); despite the fact that the US federal government is abysmal at reducing carbon emissions and admitting the truth about climate change, a number of governors around the nation have decided to take matters into their own hands, including several Republicans. Arnold Schwarzenegger is one; Charlie Crist, the Republican governor of Florida, is another (read about his climate initiatives here).
So Crist’s cabinet must have been scratching their collective heads and saying “Um, thanks. Really, you shouldn’t have… really!” when they received a very special holiday gift from Florida Attorney General (and former Republican Congressman) Bill McCollum:
Attorney General Bill McCollum isn’t buying Gov. Charlie Crist’s belief that global warming is a threat to Florida and the world. Shortly before Christmas, McCollum sent a memo (Word file) to Crist and the other Cabinet members, advising them that “the science is not all in” on the subject and urging them to view the enclosed DVD, a British television documentary called The Great Global Warming Swindle. (It costs $19.99, and this is not exactly “It’s a Wonderful Life.”)
The letter is short:
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in our recent climate change workshops.
While many believe the science of global warming is undisputed, I would encourage you to view the attached DVD documentary.
Your leadership on this important issue is appreciated.
Dude, let me repeat: your own governor gets it. He was the first Florida governor to get it. He’s even a Republican. The rest of his cabinet gets it, so why don’t you?
No offense, but I’m sure those DVDs will make nice coasters or Frisbees.
(Hat tip to dailyKos diarist kansasr.)