Revolt news239 of 19.10.07 and other issues are sent bcc and free. To
subscribe or unsubscribe simply email me. Email addresses which fail for
three consecutive issues will be removed in any case. For your
convenience, these news issues are usually in plain text for easy
transmission. For further information please see
.
Statements made by me as editor or by other parties and quoted for
information do not necessarily represent the views of Revolt. Criticism
of government and industry, and grievances from members of the public,
are in the nature of Revolt's work, though we try to give credit where
it is due. Revolt is strictly non-party-political and regrets any
offence which may be inadvertently caused.
CORRECTION: In news235.2 the sentence "Roger Moller, himself electro-
sensitive, reports to us on the charity Electrosensitivity-UK for ES
sufferers" was not meant to imply that Roger Moller reports to Revolt in
any formal sense. It was simply that he brought us news on that occasion
about the charity and its web link. We are sorry for the unintended
impression which the sentence could clearly give.
1. The full judgement on legal challenge to showing Al Gore's global
warming film in UK schools (news236.6, 239.3) has been more prominently
reported. While government will focus on the fact that the film was
permitted with advice, and, they claim, its general message endorsed,
the judgement confirms serious errors. In my view over-zealous reporting
to the point of serious scientific error tends to be counter-productive,
as government was supposed to have learned from the BSE-CJD affair.
There is a genuine message and risk, warranting proportionate
precaution, but it's much less cut-and-dried than the propagandists
would have us believe.
2. From the BBC on-line report of the final judgement on the Gore film:
Mr Justice Burton told London's High Court that distributing the film
without the guidance to counter its "one-sided" views would breach
education laws. "I conclude that the claimant substantially won this
case by virtue of my finding that, but for the new guidance note, the
film would have been distributed in breach of sections 406 and 407 of
the 1996 Education Act", he said.
3. Ironically, we learn 12th October of Al Gore's Nobel Peace Prize.
Here is an extract from When Science Meets Politics on Global Warming,
Washington Times, August 1998, by Roy W. Spencer, Senior Scientist for
Climate Studies, NASA/MSFC/GHCC (courtesy of Country Guardian):
"Even though I am a global warming skeptic, if global warming is proven
to be a dire threat, I hope that I am the one who proves it. But in
today's politically correct climate, I can guarantee you that no one
will ever receive a Nobel Prize for proving that it was not a threat."
4. Propaganda and counter-propaganda abound on the internet on the Gore
saga, as we should expect. My conversational comments are at APPENDIX A.
5. Landowners in Wales are complaining bitterly about National Grid.
It's not the pylons this time but the gas pipeline (see also news215 and
223). One correspondent writes "My neighbour had rocks the size of
Rugby balls on his lawn after a blasting incident. Also our rivers are
being polluted by NG. We are truly tired of NG". We hope we detect
improvements in some areas of dealing with NG, but there seems still to
be some way to go.
6. Snips from news@all-energy 99 are at APPENDIX B.
7. More on the Beauly-Denny inquiry, as it proceeds to the Perth local
stage, is at APPENDIX C.
8. Burial of low-voltage power lines in selected parts of National
Parks continues, partly funded by Ofgem but also requiring financial
support from the distribution company. North York Moors National Park
Planning Committee reports on 14 candidate sites for work within NEDL's
£5.5 million fund. In August 2007 NEDL confirmed 3 sites to go forward
in the first round and agreed the construction timetable.
9. In selecting projects for undergrounding in National Parks, NEDL has
a set of criteria under the broad headings of Part A Line
Characteristics and Setting, and Part B Level of Impact, with a scoring
system. These criteria focus on landscape and visual impacts, unlike our
wider criteria for priority undergrounding of high voltage lines
(news235.10).
10. The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution announced today
19-10-07 that its next major study will be on "Adapting the UK to
Climate Change". In the jargon, "adapting" means preparing for what is
going to happen, as distinct from trying to prevent it for example by
carbon reduction.
*****
*****
APPENDIX A Conversational comments on the Gore saga propaganda.
Comments after thanks for the pointer to "green" web talk at
The counter-propaganda (counter-counter-propaganda?) is to be expected.
There has been plenty of
character assassination including unqualified implication from the Royal
Society that all dissenters to the anthropogenic global warming (AGW)
hypothesis are funded by the oil industry and must be suppressed. There
are plenty of counter-examples including me who are definitely not
funded by any industry. Most prominent and well qualified dissenters are
retired (and free to speak). Seen it all before, with BSE and many other
issues.
For the avoidance of doubt I am not a member of the New Party (nor had I
heard of it until I followed your links) nor of the Scientific Alliance.
I have seen Scientific Alliance newsletters and occasionally sent in a
mildly critical response, but I have to say the newsletters are
generally scientifically sound and reasonably balanced.
Of course the courts are not the place to decide scientific argument. I
guess the best place is the peer-reviewed literature, though not without
its limitations, as we see in EMF. The best thing is to examine the
scientific evidence directly. Part of the problem with AGW is the vast
range of evidence. By and large the IPCC did a good job and,
interestingly, established an approach to uncertainty rather different
from (and better than?) that used by IARC for EMF. But politics gets
involved, both small and large P. The Wegman report, which reviewed the
controversy over the hockey-stick graph, has interesting comments about
how networks of scientists can promote their own work and conceal their
flaws. On examination, the hockey-stick case shows that promotion of AGW
has prominently used scientifically flawed work.
All these flaws, and even dirty tricks, seem to be part of the human
condition (if somewhat inflamed on this issue), and neither prove nor
disprove AGW. Dissenters generally accept GW but doubt the extent of
AGW. My view is that there is enough evidence to warrant proportionate
precaution (which is also warranted on ethical grounds of minimising
waste), but the green lobby exaggerates the case which remains quite
uncertain especially regarding extent and timescale. It will be
important
to concentrate on "adaptation" to likely climate change, and not be
distracted by ineffective responses to AGW. There are financial
interests on both sides of course, so I don't think trading allegations
of financial interest tells us much; we should always be wary of them,
in EMF as in AGW.
I still would not want to be associated with the Gore approach. He is
reported (roughly, from recollection) to defend exaggeration as
necessary to stir public response. That may be valid, and I accept the
need to stir (and educate) the public to respond on such issues. But I
am uncomfortable with the idea of deliberately exaggerating, though I
suspect I may be inadvertently guilty of exaggeration myself! I am
especially uncomfortable with the idea of a major big-money campaign of
spin, which to me seems both dishonest and ultimately counter-
productive, as it destroys trust (again as we have seen before with BSE,
Iraq and so on).
*****
*****
APPENDIX B Snips from news@all-energy 99.
4.GRID, NETWORKS, TRANSMISSION ISSUES
4.1.Minister's sweet words on grid charges
Malcolm Wicks met a delegation from HIE and the three Scottish island
authorities who pressed home their concerns about the unfair cost of
connecting to the electricity grid
4.3.New approach to connections?
Ofgem outlined short-term measures to speed up the connection of
generators to Britain's electricity network
4.4.Planning system 'in need of shake-up
The debate over grid connection charges may continue, but Scotland will
realise its full potential for RE production only when the government
overhauls the planning system, according to the industry regulator
4.5.Pylon inquiry to hear health data
The Beauly-Denny inquiry has agreed to accept a submission detailing
possible health risks of the plan
6.WIND - INTERNATIONAL NEWS
>Danish researchers say that to assess the overall environmental impact
of wind power, the finite lifespan of turbines and the need to replace
and recycle them must be taken into account
11.FUEL CELLS AND HYDROGEN
11.1.Large hydrogen plant in Tees Valley
A new £2bn crude oil processing facility planned for the Tees Valley in
the North East incorporates what would be one of the largest hydrogen
producing plants in Europe
*****
*****
APPENDIX C More on Beauly-Denny inquiry.
Press & Journal, 16 October 2007
PYLONS PLANNING INQUIRY RESUMES
The much criticised and costly year-long public inquiry into plans for
doubling the size of many electricity pylons between the Highlands and
central Scotland resumes today in Perth.
The Scottish Government hearing will take evidence over the next 17
days focussing on future transmission lines just south of the
Cairngorms National Park.
More than 18,000 people, a raft of environment organisations and every
local council along the 137-mile route have objected to the proposals
of Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Ltd (SHETL), a subsidiary of
Scottish and Southern Energy.
The applicants claim the upgrade is essential to carry an expected
influx of energy from renewable energy sources, predominantly onshore
windfarms.
Estimates have suggested the public inquiry into the £300million
project will cost customers up to £10million.
MSPs from all parties have echoed many participants who have branded
the process "biased" in Shetl's favour. Some politicians have urged
Scottish Government ministers to intervene. The new SNP-led
administration has refused.
Energy Minister Jim Mather has told critics it would be "inappropriate
for ministers to seek to interfere in the independence of the inquiry
process".
*****
****
--
Mike O'Carroll