Crying Wolf?
Posted on June 04, 2004
If you happen to be watching CNN's International Correspondence last week you might have heard this interesting exchange between media critic A.A. Gill and climate campaigner for Greenpeace Rob Gueterbock regarding the seriousness of the issues brought up in the new Global Warming disaster film "The Day after Tomorrow".
GILL: One of the problems with the green movement, and specifically with Greenpeace, is that for 30 years it has done nothing but cry wolf when there are no wolves there. There is a serious problem and you have jumped endlessly on bandwagons, sent people up Big Ben with huge banners for things that simply haven't happened. And what the problem is is that there is a problem and you're not taking it seriously enough.
GUETERBOCK: I think that is totally unfounded nonsense. I mean, you're entitled to your opinion but I think it's frankly nonsense.
I mean, the reality of climate change is that the decisions taken in the next few years are going to determine whether or not 1/3 of land-based species are wiped out by 2050.
GILL: Now see, you there you go. Now, where does that come from? Nobody knows that? This is exactly what you guys do.
(CROSSTALK)
GUETERBOCK: I do know that. And frankly, you know, you have great expertise as a restaurant critic, but as a climate scientist I think, you know, your opinions are not quite as strong.
The science of climate change is out there. It's very strong. We know that.
GILL: Those models -- taking computer models that just say 1/3 of all species are going to disappear, that's exactly the sort of crying wolf that I'm talking about.
RODGERS [Host Walter Rodgers]: let me jump in here for a second. Let me quote you something, and this is a direct quote. "Climate change over the next 20 years could result in a global catastrophe costing millions of lives in wars and natural disasters." That was the "Observer" the 22nd of February of this year.
Now the Pentagon tells Bush global change will destroy us. They're talking about tidal waves. They're talking about European cities buried under water. They're talking about mini-Ice Age. They're talking about riots and wars.
This is the "Observer. This is a Pentagon report.
GUETERBOCK: I think that is totally unfounded nonsense. I mean, you're entitled to your opinion but I think it's frankly nonsense.
I mean, the reality of climate change is that the decisions taken in the next few years are going to determine whether or not 1/3 of land-based species are wiped out by 2050.
GILL: Now see, you there you go. Now, where does that come from? Nobody knows that? This is exactly what you guys do.
(CROSSTALK)
GUETERBOCK: I do know that. And frankly, you know, you have great expertise as a restaurant critic, but as a climate scientist I think, you know, your opinions are not quite as strong.
The science of climate change is out there. It's very strong. We know that.
GILL: Those models -- taking computer models that just say 1/3 of all species are going to disappear, that's exactly the sort of crying wolf that I'm talking about.
RODGERS [Host Walter Rodgers]: let me jump in here for a second. Let me quote you something, and this is a direct quote. "Climate change over the next 20 years could result in a global catastrophe costing millions of lives in wars and natural disasters." That was the "Observer" the 22nd of February of this year.
Now the Pentagon tells Bush global change will destroy us. They're talking about tidal waves. They're talking about European cities buried under water. They're talking about mini-Ice Age. They're talking about riots and wars.
This is the "Observer. This is a Pentagon report.
Leave a comment.
I watched it - that guy Gill was such a patronizing arse. I wanted to slap him!
::posted by: Gary at June 17, 2004 12:10 PM
