Critical Times

The Great Global Warming Swindle was something I discovered on pp.1 & 2 of The Age of Thursday May 24th. This is presented as a documentary questioning the science behind climate change. The program caused a storm when it was aired on UK Ch.4 in March. Howls of protest were heard from scientists including some featured in the film, that it’s makers used fabricated data, half truths and misleading statements.

It is postulated that the ABC Board has been pressuring the broadcaster to show this so called documentary to its Australian audience. Despite recommendation from the ABC Science Journalist, Robyn Williams, who advised the TV division not to buy the program, he has further labelled the broadcaster of “verging on the irresponsible” over its decision to air something that was “demonstrably wrong”.

The ABCV TV Director, Kim Dalton, is reputed to have caved in under pressure from the board and agreed to run this piece of unfounded sensationalism on the grounds that ‘Global Warming is up amongst the top two or three issues of public and political debate and—opinion out there questions the connection between global warming and CO2 emissions. Opinion maybe. Scientific facts, never. Opinion that is dangerous and lacks foundation, usually dollar dominated opinion.

I have not seen this piece of garbage, but suffice it to say its auspices should put any right minded person on guard from the start. Promoted as ‘the definitive response to Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth’ the fiction was created by a production company called Wag TV whose MD is one Martin Durkin, a former financial journalist.

For more, go to www.theage.com.au and have a read. With the political inertia in this country about the whys and wherefores of climate change ie. global warming, this is dynamite. The ABC is usually known for the authenticity and accuracy of its programs. A lot of ABC viewers will accept this as believable if Aunty shows it, and the inactivity of governments in rising to the challenge may go on. Howard can bless another several coal fired power stations with LETDF handouts and we will be further in the mire than ever. And, one may ask, who is putting pressure on the ABC Board?

Max Stark. Sale, Vic.