Skeptic Handbook, Politics and Changing Climates
I am not surprised that an energy company CEO was spreading a skeptics handbook to elites., apparently his email was a mistake and went out to a larger listing and clearly leaked to the media. He was in the Liberal Party. His wife was the Chancellor of Sydney University mentioned below. It is not in the interests of an energy business to have the idea of CO2 pumped out from electricity generation is causing climate change. This could affect business. This is why Al Gore in his film Inconvenient Truth raised issues about the disinformation in the media and that from a scientific peer reviewed perspective there was unanimous agreement that climate change was reality.
I think after witnessing the earthquakes, hurricanes, mudslides, melting permafrost, ice bergs breaking away from the Arctic and Antarctica you would have to be on another planet to believe that it is not happening. Even the temperature is different, people are noticing that it is not normal. I also remember meeting an energy industry guy who told me it wasn’t happening. He argued with me and I just looked at him bemused. Such is how greed influences our opinions. Just imagine if universities have people on the Boards and suddenly climate research is redirected to developing energy given grants and courses in this area. I add this as my previous blog talks about universities and the influence of senior people like the Chancellor of a university with industry and political links. At the end of the day politics is influencing people to your way of thinking whereas democracy is respecting all viewpoints. We wonder why we don’t have a real democracy. Politics is the name of the game pushing agenda’s for self interest. I think we all deeply desire people who have the best interests of the planet and its people first and foremost.
Just one more point, in all this arguing and politicking I doubt they stop to think about their children and grandchildren the reality they will inherit. Such is group think and vested interests. I deeply feel for the children what a world they are being given. Our world has been grossly mismanaged and greed unfortunately is behind this.
So to the article interesting to see what skeptics think. I smile and shake my head. Such is diversity on our planet.
Electricity boss mistakenly sent climate skeptic handbook to Australia’s elite
By Angela Lavoipierre
Have you ever sent an email to the wrong person?
What about sending the wrong email to just about everyone in your address book?
Prominent businessman Roger Massy-Greene knows the feeling.
The Prime Minister’s wife Lucy Turnbull and New South Wales Premier Mike Baird were just two of them.
The 16-page, user-friendly document explains how climate skeptics can win arguments with people who believe that climate change is caused by human activity.
At last count, that group included 97 per cent of climate scientists.
Mr Massy-Greene is the Chairman of Endeavour Energy and Ausgrid – two NSW government owned electricity providers.
Until recently, Mr Massy-Greene was also the Chairman of Networks NSW, a state run umbrella body for the sector.
His stance on climate change is very different from the public positions of the organisations he runs.
Endeavour’s environment policy describes climate change as “the single greatest environmental challenge to fulfilling our commitment to future generations.”
However, in the email that accompanied The Skeptics Handbook, Mr Massy-Greene said “This short piece on global warming by science writer (and scientist) Jo Nova is the best piece I have seen on global warming, and helps to explain what has so far been a very confusing debate.”
Here’s some excerpts from the Handbook.
An excerpt from ‘The Skeptics Handbook’
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An excerpt from ‘The Skeptics Handbook’
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Apparently the email wasn’t supposed to be sent to that many people.
It was followed by not one but TWO apologies.
Roger Massy-Greene email.
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One can only guess at the extent of the reply all carnage.
Views ‘very alarming’
Leading climate scientist, Professor Tim Flannery from the Climate Council, described The Skeptics Handbook as “absolute rubbish”.
“I’m astonished that anyone in any sort of position of responsibility could take it the slightest bit seriously,” he told Hack.
Professor Flannery said it was good to know where Mr Massy-Greene stood.
“One benefit that’s come from this sorry tale is that some clumsy thumbs have revealed the true character of an important person,” he said.
“We don’t want people lurking in the shadows when they hold important positions and have views of that nature.
“This should be a call to arms to be asking all chairmen and business people where they stand on climate change.”
The Skeptics Handbook is also at odds with Endeavour Energy’s and Ausgrid’s policy stance.
Endeavour’s policy on climate change states: “Our role is clear; we must achieve a sustained reduction in greenhouse gas emissions while achieving sustainable growth in our business.”
In the past, Ausgrid has contributed just under $150 million dollars to the NSW Government’s Climate Change Fund, which works to increase public awareness and acceptance of climate change, among its other goals.
Ties to the NSW Liberal Party
Roger Massy-Greene made headlines back in 2013 for being paid $150,000 for three months consulting work, before being appointed chairman of Networks NSW on a $600,000 three-year contract by the now-Premier Mike Baird.
It was later revealed Mr Massy-Greene’s company Eureka Capital Partners made two $5,000 donations to Mr Baird’s political campaigns.
Roger Massy-Greene has numerous community and philanthropic ties too.
He’s about to become the President of the School Council at the exclusive Sydney boys school Cranbrook.
He’s also married to the Chancellor of Sydney University, Belinda Hutchinson.
Roger Massy-Greene was not available for comment because he is overseas.
Credits
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AuthorAngela Lavoipierre