In Defense of Fossil Fuels, CO2, Prosperity, and Skeptical Scientists

In Defense of Fossil Fuels, CO2, Prosperity, and Skeptical Scientists

by John Hayward 16 Apr 2015

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/04/16/in-defense-of-fossil-fuels-co2-prosperity-and-skeptical-scientists/

The witch-hunting obsessions of the climate cult took them into the realm of total absurdity with March’s “Open Letter to Museums From Members of the Scientific Community,” which called upon museum administrators to begin refusing donations from the evil fossil-fuel industry.

“Museums are trusted sources of scientific information, some of our most important resources for educating children and shaping public understanding,” this letter declared.  “We are concerned that the integrity of these institutions is compromised by association with special interests who obfuscate climate science, fight environmental regulation, oppose clean energy legislation, and seek to ease limits on industrial pollution.”

Well, then they wouldn’t want anything to do with the likes of the Climagate authors who admitted “obfuscating climate science,” or promoters of the false “hockey stick” graph that conjured historical warming trends out of tortured data, or former NASA scientist James Hansen, whose global warming predictions were off by a good 400 percent, would they?

But of course, that’s not the kind of “obfuscation” they have in mind.  Hansen is the first signatory on the letter.  Their example of a forbidden museum sponsor is, of course, David Koch of the Koch Brothers, who loom so large as devils in the left’s theology.  The writers of this letter definitely know who their audience is and what sort of whistles they respond to.

Even if we table the matter of whose theories have most dramatically failed to comport with reality, the stated demand makes little sense.  Turning away donations from fossil-fuel companies and oil magnates doesn’t hurt them very much – it would be a minor insult at worst.  If museums really want to hit Big Oil where it lives and be true to Church of Global Warming mythology, they should immediately disconnect themselves from all carbon-spewing energy sources, foregoing such decadent amenities as air conditioning and extensive electric lighting.  Refuse to admit patrons who burn fossil fuels to visit the museums. Require all visitors to arrive by foot or horseback, by ensuring there are no parking lots within several miles of each museum.  (No, electric cars are not acceptable.  Where do you think the electricity stored in the car battery comes from?)  Power the museums with nothing but solar panels and wind.  The latter will be tough on the local bird populations, but radical environmentalists quickly made their peace with birds getting cut to ribbons by wind turbines, didn’t they?

The response to this burst of irresponsible hysteria and left-wing political trolling from the skeptical scientists of the CO2 Coalition is a marvel of sweet reason and perspective.  “The idea that the world can or should abandon fossil fuels is deeply wrong-headed, not just from a scientific perspective, but also from a humanitarian perspective,” the authors declare, as they ask museum directors to ignore the call for divestment from oil companies.

“For thousands of years only a small fraction of mankind lived well while the rest faced poverty, filth, hunger and disease. That has all changed over the past century and a half, thanks to the use of fossil fuels,” the CO2 Coalition scientists explain. “The benefits of low-cost and abundant energy from fossil fuels have permitted a standard of living for most of mankind that exceeds the wildest dreams of past elites. Today China, India and other developing countries are lifting hundreds of millions of people out of deprivation by the greater use of fossil fuels. In spite of these clear benefits, a movement has emerged that demonizes fossil fuels and anyone who questions the dogma that a near-term climate catastrophe is upon us. The letter is a good example of the movement’s tactics.”

The responsible use of fossil fuels is a far cry from the planet-destroying industrial nightmare posited by the climate cult, and also from… well, whatever pre-industrial scenario the enemies of fossil fuel envision.  They’re remarkably shy about telling us what the ideal oil-free world would look like, much less leading the way by living in it themselves.

Likewise, the much-demonized carbon dioxide is vital, not a toxic substance to be eradicated at all costs. “At current CO2 levels of about 400 parts per million, the Earth remains in a CO2 famine compared to levels of 1,000 parts per million and higher that have prevailed since the Cambrian period, some 550 million years ago. The world has already shown noticeable ‘greening’ because plants are growing better and more extensively due to the modest increases of atmospheric CO2 seen over the past century,” the letter states, noting that the doomsday forecasts of the 80s and 90s anticipated a world very different from the one we can see outside our windows.

Rather than moderating these flawed apocalyptic predictions, the climate change movement doubled down, shifting to shrill rhetoric about “deniers” as a band of heretics funded by self-destructive tycoons, who presumably think they can show themselves a good time and check out before the much-delayed global warming Armageddon arrives.  The letter describes the hypocrisy of these complaints about money as “breathtaking,” since “orders of magnitude more funding has been given by governments and foundations to organizations and individuals charged with ‘scientifically’ proving the alleged evils of CO2 and inventing ways to cope with it.”

“Apparently the movement’s scientific case is so weak that they feel threatened by any research that does not support their doctrine,” the CO2 Coalition charges, well-supported by the inability of the climate-change movement to attack anything but the funding of research they don’t like.

Conversely, the signatories of the letter aren’t interested in suppressing anyone’s work: “We applaud support for informative studies of the climate, for example, ocean monitoring programs, satellite instruments, or meteorological networks with high-quality data archives. This work needs no defense from scientific challenges, regardless of the source of funding. The honest scientists responsible for much of this excellent work cannot be blamed for the excesses of the anti-fossil fuel movement.”

It’s a good rule of thumb that in a scientific debate, the side screaming “SHUT UP!” is probably losing. Every young student hears tales, sometimes of dubious historical accuracy, about how the forces of benighted ignorance in centuries past would suppress dangerous ideas through torture and imprisonment.  The business of suppressing knowledge doesn’t become more palatable when it’s done with online mobs, personal attacks on skeptical scientists, political crusades, biased media, tedious lawsuits, and threats to museum funding instead of thumbscrews.

Make no mistake, lives are on the line, no matter how urbane today’s Grand Inquisitors of Climate pretend to be.  “Without the benefits of low-cost and abundant energy from fossil fuels, much of the world’s poor today and in the future would be condemned to continued poverty, ignorance and exploitation,” the CO2 Coalition letter concludes.  Why pay attention to anyone comfortable with that, especially when their comforts include the abundant energy, technological sophistication, plentiful food, and fossil-fuel guzzling transportation they would deny to so many others?

Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh

Teresa Heinz Kerry is a trustee emeritus at the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), the vice chair for the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment, and married to John F. Kerry.

Note: Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank), the Climate Reality Project, the Center for American Progress, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Sundance Institute.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, and a supporter for the Center for American Progress.

Albert A. Gore Jr. is the chairman for the Climate Reality Project, George T. Frampton Jr. was his attorney, and his chief of staff was Ronald A. Klain.

Theodore Roosevelt IV is a director at the Climate Reality Project, a governing council member for the Wilderness Society, and a trustee at the American Museum of Natural History.

Sherwood L. Boehlert is a director at the Climate Reality Project, and was a trustee at the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment.

Larry J. Schweiger is a trustee at the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment, a director at the Climate Reality Project, a director at the Blue-Green Alliance, and was the president & CEO for the National Wildlife Federation.

Alison M. Byers was a trustee at the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment, and is a director at the National Wildlife Federation.

Reality Coalition is a partner with the National Wildlife Federation.

Carol M. Browner was a director at the Climate Reality Project, the energy czar for the Barack Obama administration, an administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and is a senior fellow, director for the Center for American Progress.

Hansjorg Wyss is a director at the Center for American Progress, and a governing council member for the Wilderness Society.

Janet F. Haas was a governing council member for the Wilderness Society, and is a trustee at the University of Pennsylvania.

Ezekiel Emanuel is the vice provost for the University of Pennsylvania, Rahm I. Emanuel’s brother, and was the health care policy adviser for the Barack Obama administration.

John D. Podesta is the founder of the Center for American Progress, a counselor for the Barack Obama administration, and a director at the Apollo Alliance.

Van Jones was a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, a director at the Apollo Alliance, and a special adviser for green jobs at the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

Cathleen Kelly is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, a deputy associate director for climate change adaptation for the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and a director of climate change policy for the Nature Conservancy.

George T. Frampton Jr. was the chairman for the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Albert A. Gore Jr’s attorney, and is a governing council member for the Wilderness Society.

Crandall C. Bowles is a governing council member for the Wilderness Society, and a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Richard C. Blum is a governing council member for the Wilderness Society, married to Senator Dianne Feinstein, and an honorary trustee for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Teresa Heinz Kerry is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), a trustee emeritus at the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, the vice chair for the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment, and married to John F. Kerry.

John F. Kerry is married to Teresa Heinz Kerry, the secretary at the U.S. Department of State for the Barack Obama administration, and Cameron F. Kerry’s brother.

Cameron F. Kerry is John F. Kerry’s brother, and a fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Cyrus F. Freidheim Jr. is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Rahm I. Emanuel is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the Chicago (IL) mayor, Ezekiel Emanuel’s brother, and was the White House chief of staff for the Barack Obama administration.

R. Eden Martin is the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago, counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, and was a trustee at the Museum of Science and Industry.

Newton N. Minow is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.

Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.                    

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

Richard J. Grad is a partner at Sidley Austin LLP, and a trustee at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles.

John G. Levi is a partner at Sidley Austin LLP, and a fellow at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Charles W. Douglas is a partner at Sidley Austin LLP, and a trustee at the Notebaert Nature Museum.

Elizabeth Esty was an attorney at Sidley Austin LLP, and is a member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

James L. Connaughton was a partner at Sidley Austin LLP, and the chairman for the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

Van Jones was a special adviser for green jobs at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, and a director at the Apollo Alliance.

Apollo Alliance was a merged organization with the Blue-Green Alliance.

Larry J. Schweiger is a director at the Blue-Green Alliance, a director at the Climate Reality Project, a trustee at the  H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment, and was the president & CEO for the National Wildlife Federation.

Alison M. Byers was a trustee at the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment, and is a director at the National Wildlife Federation.

Reality Coalition is a partner with the National Wildlife Federation, the Sierra Club, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Natural Resources Defense Council is a partner with the Reality Coalition, and a member of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership.

Leonardo DiCaprio is a trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council, a director at the World Wildlife Fund, and was a board member for Global Green USA.

Global Green USA is a US affiliate of Green Cross International.

Mikhail Gorbachev is the founder of Green Cross International, was a general secretary for the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, and the president of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

Patricia E. Mitchell is a board member for Global Green USA, the vice chair for the Sundance Institute, and an honorary board for the Green Cross International for the USA.

Robert Redford is the founder & president for the Sundance Institute, a trustee at the

Natural Resources Defense Council, a member of the Kappa Sigma, and an honorary board for the Green Cross International for the USA.

Natural Resources Defense Council is a partner with the Reality Coalition, and a member of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership.

Ted Turner is a member of the Kappa Sigma, an honorary board for the Green Cross International for the USA, and a co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Green Cross International for the USA.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Cross_International

Honorary Board

Patricia E. Mitchell, USA

Robert Redford, USA

Ted Turner, USA

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Jessica Tuchman Mathews is a director at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), was the president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), a director at the American Friends of Bilderberg (think tank), an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and a 2008 Bilderberg conference participant (think tank).

Ed Griffin’s interview with Norman Dodd in 1982

(The investigation into the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace uncovered the plans for population control by involving the United States in war)

http://www.illuminati-news.com/110106a.htm

Teresa Heinz Kerry is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), a trustee emeritus at the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, the vice chair for the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment, and married to John F. Kerry.

John F. Kerry is married to Teresa Heinz Kerry, the secretary at the U.S. Department of State for the Barack Obama administration, and Cameron F. Kerry’s brother.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), the founder of the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, and the founder of the Carnegie Institution for Science.

Cristian Samper is a trustee at the Carnegie Institution for Science, the president & CEO for the Wildlife Conservation Society, was a director at the World Wildlife Fund, a director at the Nature Conservancy, a director at the National Museum of Natural History, and an acting secretary for the Smithsonian Institution.

Joseph R. Biden Jr. is a regent for the Smithsonian Institution, and the vice president for the United States.

John G. Roberts Jr. is the chancellor for the Smithsonian Institution, and the chief justice for the U.S. Supreme Court.

National Air and Space Museum is a member of the Smithsonian Institution.

National Museum of African Art is a member of the Smithsonian Institution.

National Museum of American History is a member of the Smithsonian Institution.

National Museum of Natural History is a member of the Smithsonian Institution.

National Museum of the American Indian is a member of the Smithsonian Institution.

National Postal Museum is a member of the Smithsonian Institution.

National Zoo is a member of the Smithsonian Institution.

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center is a member of the Smithsonian Institution.

David M. Rubenstein is a regent at the Smithsonian Institution, a fellow at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a board member National Museum of American History, a board member for the National Museum of Natural History, the president of the Economic Club of Washington, and a co-chairman for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Vernon E. Jordan Jr. the president of the Economic Club of Washington, is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), Valerie B. Jarrett’s great uncle, a director at the American Friends of Bilderberg (think tank), and a 2008 Bilderberg conference participant (think tank).

Teresa Heinz Kerry is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), a trustee emeritus at the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, the vice chair for the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment, and married to John F. Kerry.

Cyrus F. Freidheim Jr. is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Valerie B. Jarrett is Vernon E. Jordan Jr’s great niece, the senior adviser for the Barack Obama administration, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

William M. Daley is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, a trustee at the Third Way, and was the chief of staff for the Barack Obama administration.

Ronald A. Klain is a trustee at the Third Way, the coordinator of government Ebola efforts for the Barack Obama administration, married to Monica Medina, and was Albert A. Gore Jr’s chief of staff.

Monica Medina is married to Ronald A. Klain, and was a principal deputy under secretary for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Kathryn D. Sullivan is the administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the under secretary for the U.S. Department of Commerce, was an astronaut for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the president & CEO for the Center of Science & Industry.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce,

Penny S. Pritzker is the secretary for the U.S. Department of Commerce, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, was the national finance chair, fundraiser for the 2008 Barack Obama presidential campaign, a co-chair for the 2009 Barack Obama inaugural committee, a fundraiser, national co-chair for the 2012 Barack Obama presidential campaign, a contributor for the 2013 Barack Obama inaugural committee, and the host for the Barack Obama fund-raising dinner, 7/2/2008.

Rahm I. Emanuel is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the Chicago (IL) mayor, Ezekiel Emanuel’s brother, and was the White House chief of staff for the Barack Obama administration.

R. Eden Martin is the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago, counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, and was a trustee at the Museum of Science and Industry.

Newton N. Minow is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.

Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.                    

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

Richard J. Grad is a partner at Sidley Austin LLP, and a trustee at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles.

John G. Levi is a partner at Sidley Austin LLP, and a fellow at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Charles W. Douglas is a partner at Sidley Austin LLP, and a trustee at the Notebaert Nature Museum.

Elizabeth Esty was an attorney at Sidley Austin LLP, and is a member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

James L. Connaughton was a partner at Sidley Austin LLP, and the chairman for the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

Van Jones was a special adviser for green jobs at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, and a director at the Apollo Alliance.

Apollo Alliance was a merged organization with the Blue-Green Alliance.