Joshua
"Crock of the Week" started off with Newt Gingrich responding to a question by an Iowa primary voter that he would not include in a new book a chapter on "climate change" written by "climate scientist", Katherine Hayhoe.
The interview of Hayhoe rapidly switched to the theme that <em>"much of this is intended to intimidate"</em>, without providing the bridge for this strange shift.
The "Grist" interviewer asked Hayhoe if this move by Gingrich had intimidated her.
Hayhoe, a very appealing young lady, explained that she had spent quite a bit of time on this chapter, which she regretted was now wasted time.
She stated that in science there are <em>"standards of truth and decency"</em>, which should be followed, but that much of the climate debate was <em>"outside of science"</em>.
She stated that, in this debate, the approach was often to <em>"discredit the messenger"</em> rather than the science. To scientists this is shocking, since facts are what is important
Most attacks on her are from men, according to Hayhoe, and this makes them more <em>"threatening and intimidating"</em>
The interviewer then switched to Hayhoe's faith (she is an Enagelical Christian). and asked how her beliefs contrasted with those of what he referred to as the <em>"climate denial machine"</em>.
Hayhoe stated that as a Christian she believed in conserving our resources and our planet and in loving God and our global neighbors.
The conversation then switched to her specific area of scientific research. She mentioned the Great Lakes region, where she feels that global warming will result in <em>"increased risk of heavy rainfall"</em>. The US southwest on the other hand, which is withdrawing water from aquifers more rapidly than this can be replenished for agricultural use, is <em>"facing warmer temperatures"</em> (= more water needed for irrigation)" and increased droughts due to global warming. Although the droughts themselves are physically caused by La Ninas, the natural variability will in the future be superimposed on the climate change extremes to exacerbate the situation, according to Hayhoe.
The intimidation part of the interview was weak (and contrived, in my opinion).
The young scientist being interviewed is a very pleasant person, who is convinced that global warming will cause problems to the regions she has studied and who is operating with a Christian belief system that reinforces her idealized desire to do the right thing for her global neighbors and for the planet.
She opposes the political baggage attached to the global warming controversy and finds it shocking that personal attacks are used in this debate, especially attacks on scientists.
I can accept that this lady is for real, while she may have been used a bit for political reasons by both Gingrich and Grist in the interview.
Max
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