Copenhagen Climate Treaty & Climategate

Climate Debate Heats Up Caribbean Summit

November 27, 2009

Tri-City Herald - An approaching global climate summit has raised the temperature at a typically low-key meeting of leaders from Britain's former colonial empire.

The Commonwealth heads of government, meeting in the Caribbean this week, are discussing climate change just before a major summit on the issue in Copenhagen. Leaders of the 53-nation group, whose profile has waned in recent years, say they now have a chance to influence the global debate.

"What we can do is to raise our voices politically," said Prime Minister Patrick Manning of Trinidad and Tobago, which is hosting the biennial meeting. "We feel can have some effect in influencing the discussions in Denmark."

Others apparently agree. This year's meeting is drawing leaders from outside the Commonwealth such as Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and, most unusually, French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Manning stressed to journalists Thursday that the leaders would not be negotiating the details of a climate treaty in their private meetings. Rather, they would be working out a statement that reflects a huge segment of world opinion, a quarter of the world's countries.

"A statement from countries as diverse as those that you find in the Commonwealth is a statement that would be much more reflective of world than would otherwise be the case," he said.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, also attending the meeting, has called for a strong statement warning of the economic and environmental dangers of letting climate change go unchecked.

"A strong message from the Commonwealth on the dangers of climate change can create the momentum needed for a global response at Copenhagen next month," Brown told Trinidad's Express newspaper.

Sarkozy is a surprising participant at the English-speaking meeting, but the French leader has been a vocal advocate for setting ambitious goals for cutting greenhouse gas emissions at the Dec. 9 summit in Copenhagen. He is expected to hold separate private meetings Friday with Brown and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The Commonwealth, established in 1949 and made up almost entirely of former British colonies, promotes democracy, good government and education.

But the mission seems to be fading: A new report by the Royal Commonwealth Society, a non-governmental organization, said its polling found "members of the public are largely unaware of what the Commonwealth is or does" and called for a more aggressive role in international affairs.

Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah, the director of the society, said he was pleased to see the heads of government focusing on climate change at such a key moment but fears the organization hasn't really changed - it's only tackling a relevant issue by coincidence.

The leaders who are coming to Trinidad, he said, are here this week because it's the largest gathering of leaders before Copenhagen.

"We deserve better than that," he said. "We aspire to be better than that as the Commonwealth family"...

Unearthed Files Include “Rules” for Mass Mind Control Campaign

November 25, 2009

Infowars - Hacked into by a person or persons unknown, the unearthed material out of the University of East Anglia’s Climate Research Unit’s main server reveals a 62 megabyte zip file confirming that which was already blatantly obvious, namely that the data has been fudged to convince unsuspecting audiences that ‘the debate is over.’

The intruded central computer was not only filled to the brim with obvious and attempted ostracizing of scientists who don’t blindly follow the leader, the files also reveal that the folks of the IPCC made use or considered making use of a disinformation campaign through a ‘communication agency’ called Futerra.

The agency describes itself as “the sustainability communications agency” and serves such global players as Shell, Microsoft, BBC, the UN Environment Programme, the UK government and the list goes on. The co-founder of Futerra, Ed Gillespie explains:

“For brands to succeed in this new world order, they will have to become eco, ethical and wellness champions.”

The document included within the climategate treasure-chest is called ‘Rules of the Game’ and shows deliberate deception on the part of this agency to ensure that the debate would indeed be perceived as being settled. When facts do not convince, they reasoned, let us appeal to emotions in order to get the job done.

Outlining the ‘rules of the game’ in regards to climate change communication strategies, Futerra considers these rules as a “first step to using sophisticated behaviour change modelling and comprehensive evidence from around the world to change attitudes towards climate change.”

“We need to think radically”, proclaim the authors, 'and the Rules of the Game are a sign that future campaigns will not be “business as usual.'”

First Rule as outlined by Futerra is called “Blowing away Myths.” Pressing the point that any company wishing to sell global warming must be cautious in using the fear-card:

“Fear can create apathy if individuals have no ‘agency’ to act upon the threat. Use fear with great caution.”

Arrogantly stating to “forget the climate change detractors,” the document goes on to say that “those who deny climate change science are irritating, but unimportant.” Futerra also stresses that “there is no ‘rational man’” and “information can’t work alone.”

The second Rule all should abide by is “a new way of thinking.” “Once we’ve eliminated the myths,” the report goes on to say, “there is room for some new ideas.” These include:

“Climate change must be ‘front of mind’ before persuasion works,” Futerra says. “Currently, telling the public to take notice of climate change is as successful as selling tampons to men” and “people don’t realise (or remember) that climate change relates to them.”

Another one:

“Use transmitters and social learning.” Futerra proposes targeting ‘trendsetters’ to persuade people to acknowledge climate change as a genuine threat to them: “people learn through social interaction, and some people are better teachers and trendsetters than others. Targeting these people will ensure that messages seem more trustworthy and are transmitted more effectively.”

Under the header of the third ‘Rule,’ “linking policy and communication” it is stated that “everyone must use a clear and consistent explanation of climate change” and “government policy and communications on climate change must be consistent.” Indeed. If the lie is to be sold effectively, they must all communicate the same lie. How to best sell it?

-“Create a trusted, credible, recognized voice on climate change.”

-“Use emotions and visuals: another classic marketing tool: changing behaviour by disseminating information doesn’t always work, but emotions and visuals usually do.”

It seems that people have been listening. The advertisement of global warming is thick with apocalyptic visuals, ranging from polar bears crashing to their doom and a large family of hurricanes plaguing the continental United States.

Last but not least, the old Edward Bernays-trick is being proposed, the power of repetition:

“The communications must be sustained over time: all the most successful public awareness campaigns have been sustained consistently over many years.”

Indeed they have. The good news is that with the unveiling of the recent e-mails and documents the lies are being exposed in such a quick pace, the propaganda will be hard pressed to keep up.

Climate Change Scandal Deepens as BBC Expert Claims He was Sent 'Cover-Up' Emails a Month Before They Went Public

November 25, 2009

Daily Mail - The controversy surrounding the global warming scandal today deepened after a BBC correspondent admitted he was sent the leaked emails more than a month before they were made public.

Paul Hudson, weather presenter and climate change expert, claims the documents allegedly sent between some of the world's leading scientists are of a direct result of an article he wrote.

In his BBC blog two days ago, Hudson said:

'I was forwarded the chain of emails on the 12th October, which are comments from some of the world's leading climate scientists written as a direct result of my article "Whatever Happened To Global Warming".'

That essay, written last month, argued that for the last 11 years there had not been an increase in global temperatures. It also presented the arguments of sceptics who believe natural cycles control temperature and the counter-arguments of those who think it's man's actions which are warming the planet.

The leaked files - which show 4,000 documents which have allegedly been sent by scientists over the past 13 years - were apparently taken from servers at the University of East Anglia's Climate Research Unit, which is a world-renowned centre focused on studying climate change.

They were then uploaded on to a Russian server before being published on a blog called Air Vent.

The emails apparently show researchers discussing how to 'spin' climate data and how that information should be presented to the media.

In his blog for BBC Look North, Hudson added:

'The emails released on the internet as a result of CRU being hacked into are identical to the ones I was forwarded and read at the time and so, as far as l can see, they are authentic.'

He also publishes a link to the messages which global warming sceptics claim provide 'smoking gun' evidence that some scientist talked about manipulated data to support the theory that climate change is being caused by mankind.

However, Hudson does not explain why he sat on the controversial information for so long, but added:

'I do intend to write a blog regarding the CRU being hacked into, and the possible implications of this very serious affair.'

Former Chancellor Lord Lawson has called for an inquiry into the scandal, warning the credibility of UK science is at stake. It comes amid pressure on the professor at the centre of the scandal to quit from his position at the CRU. In one damning email, he appears to call the death of a climate change sceptic 'cheering news!'

In other messages, researchers appear to be manipulating data and discussing how to dodge Freedom Of Information requests.

Another shows a climatologist from the U.S. admitting it was a travesty that the lack of global warming in recent years could not be explained.

George Monbiot, a leading environmentalist, said he was convinced the emails were genuine, adding:

'I'm dismayed and deeply shaken.

'There are some messages that require no spin to make them look bad.

'The head of the unit, Phil Jones, should now resign. Some of the data discussed in the emails should be re-analysed.'

However, Professor Jones today told the Telegraph he stands by his findings. He called any conspiracy to manipulate climate data to support the theory of man-made global warming 'complete rubbish'.

'The facts speak for themselves, there is no need for anyone to manipulate them,' he added.

When posted on the internet, the emails were accompanied by the anonymous statement:

'We feel that climate science is, in the current situation, too important to be kept under wraps.

'We hereby release a random selection of correspondence, code and documents.

'Hopefully it will give some insight into the science and the people behind it.'

A spokesman for the University of East Anglia said:

'We are aware that information from a server used for research information in one area of the university has been made available on public websites.

'Because of the volume of this information we cannot currently confirm that all this material is genuine.

'We are undertaking a thorough internal investigation and have involved the police in this inquiry.'

Paul Hudson was unavailable for comment.