Al Gore: Censorship of science? - pics, video, and article

[Kadie]

Al Gore speaks at the American Geophysical Convention in San Francisco, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Video: Al Gore: Censorship of science?

Al Gore on 'inconvenient truths'
From the American Geophysical Union Fall Conference in San Francisco: Former Vice President Al Gore speaks about a recent policy that requires scientists to submit their findings to the current administration.

2 minutes 55 seconds

Dec 14, 2006 3:13:00 PM

http://news.com.com/1606-2_3-6143929.html?part=rss&tag=2547-1_3-0-20&subj=news

Gore urges scientists to warn public about global warming
Global warming is going on, says Al Gore, and scientists need to help spread the word.

By Michael Kanellos
Staff Writer, CNET News.com

Published: December 14, 2006, 3:35 PM PST

SAN FRANCISCO--Scientists need to come forward and help communicate to the public about the dangers of climate change, former U.S. Vice President Al Gore told an audience of scientists Thursday.

"It is time for the scientific community to consider playing a more active communications role," Gore told an audience of a few thousand at the American Geophysical Union, a weeklong scientific conference taking place here. "We have to find a way to connect the dots and make clear and compelling the basis for dramatic change."

Climate change presents an unusual, and dire, set of circumstances, he noted. For one thing, the effects of global warming appear to be accelerating. Just this week, a report released at the conference predicted that the permanent arctic ice sheet could nearly melt away by 2040. (The earlier estimate was 2060.)

"If we let it go, it won't come back in any time scale relevant to the human species," he said. "I was shocked that (researchers') horizon is now 34 years."

Getting the public to understand the problem, though, and then act upon it is not easy. Humanity will essentially have to make large changes in how it consumes natural resources, and instilling massive societal changes is difficult. Typically, reform movements only begin after an irrefutable disaster.

more...
http://news.com.com/2100-11395_3-6143939.html?part=rss&tag=2547-1_3-0-20&subj=news

[tinfoil tiaras]

1. Recced--dear God this is scary

Scientists shouldn't have to submit ANYTHING to the * administration...

[valerief]

2. We should call him President Gore. After all, we did elect him

in 2000 and would probably have re-elected him in 2004.

[helderheid]

3. I'd like to re-elect him in 2008 - K&R

[valerief]

4. Ditto. nt

[madokie]

6. we're gonna get to helderheid

it won't matter who he picks for a running mate either

[helderheid]

10. Absolutely!

[Kadie]

7. That would be wonderful.

:hi:

[Greeby]

5. Al Gore is MY President

And I'm not even supposed to have one :evilgrin:

[NYCGirl]

8. Recommended! NT

[johnaries]

9. K&R. Al, we need you now more than ever. PLEASE run! nt.

[BlooInBloo]

11. Pretty please?

[Kadie]

12. .

morning :kick:

[nam78_two]

13. K&R.nt

[Kadie]

14. Here is another article - Gore implores scientists to raise alarms

Gore implores scientists to raise alarms
Ex-VP calls for research to be used for policy change
Jane Kay, Chronicle Environment Writer

Friday, December 15, 2006

Al Gore, who emerged from political defeat to attain celebrity status as a harbinger of the hazards of global warming, told thousands of scientists Thursday in San Francisco that they have a responsibility to translate their research into possible policy solutions.

Former Vice President Gore, presidential candidate turned climate crusader, spoke at the annual meeting of the world's largest scientific society, the American Geophysical Union.

He urged scientists to communicate the climate crisis "in ways that arouse appropriate alarm that can motivate changes in behavior.''

From his opening line ("I am Al Gore. I used to be the next president of the United States'') to his closing advice to speak out against censorship and manipulation of research, he used dry humor and impassioned pleas to encourage the scientists to play a new role in society.

"For civilization as a whole, we've somehow persuaded ourselves that we don't have to care about what happens to future generations,'' he said to about 7,000 scientists, including 3,000 in an overflow room at the Marriott Hotel. "We have a duty to act on the basis of the best evidence."

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/15/MNGGAN08GO1.DTL&type=science

[eppur_se_muova]

15. Apparently, this announcement (link) was timed to coincide with this speech:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2652351&mesg_id=2652351