In Bold Move, White House Orders Better Environmental Data Sharing

[hatrack]

WASHINGTON — "The White House on Wednesday told 15 federal agencies to better share scientific data about the Earth among themselves and with other nations.

The administration's draft plan for the next 10 years requires the agencies to identify ways they can help create a global system for observing the planet. The effort so far involves 48 other countries, the European Commission and 29 international groups.

Environmental changes are to be tracked in every part of the globe, said John H. Marburger III, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The plan is expected to be made final by year's end and is part of an international system under development.

EDIT

"We must connect the scientific dots," said retired Navy Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, a Commerce Department undersecretary who heads the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Until we do, and all of the individual technology is connected as one integrated system, there will always be blind spots and scientific uncertainty."

EDIT/END

Hmm, 'We must connect the scientific dots.' Good idea, Conrad. Try mentioning it to your boss some time.

http://www.enn.com/news/2004-09-09/s_27015.asp

[sally343434]

1. Nothing but an election facade

We've already seen several stories like this, where "The White House" is heralded as doing something positive. In this story it involves the environment, but there have been stories in other areas like this in the last couple of weeks.

None of these is a serious proposal.

This is nothing but Bush's "fake to the center" for the sole purpose of getting elected. If he manages to win, watch for all of these "proposals" to go the way of the "trip to Mars" -- straight down the memory hole.

[hatrack]

2. Yes, like suspending the new roadless rule until November

No, nothing political to see here, move along . . .

[necso]

3. !!!