Archive for March, 2007
Dunno why I am surprised by this. This administration has done this basic action again and again over the last 6 years. But there’s something about this one that seems more arrogant than the others. And more frustrating.
As reported by the New York Times, the Bush administration has basically forbidden government scientists and employees of the Fish and Wildlife Service from discussing issues regarding global warming:
Internal memorandums circulated in the Alaskan division of the Federal Fish and Wildlife Service appear to require government biologists or other employees traveling in countries around the Arctic not to discuss climate change, polar bears or sea ice if they are not designated to do so.
But the Bush administration decided this isn’t Draconian enough:
“Please be advised that all foreign travel requests (SF 1175
requests) and any future travel requests involving or potentially
involving climate change, sea ice and/or polar bears will also require
a memorandum from the regional director to the director indicating
who’ll be the official spokesman on the trip and the one responding to
questions on these issues, particularly polar bears.”The sample
memorandums, described as to be used in writing travel requests,
indicate that the employee seeking permission to travel “understands
the administration’s position on climate change, polar bears, and sea
ice and will not be speaking on or responding to these issues.”
I am not sure how many different ways this frustrates me. The administration is basically trying a combination of censorship (only employees aligned with the administration’s philosophy can comment about the issues) and bullying (scientists won’t even be allowed to travel near the arctic unless they agree to the rules). All so they can try and hide the reality of global warming, and the impact it is already having.
The administration realizes that polar bears could be a major rallying point. Everyone loves polar bears, everyone thinks they’re cute and fun and cuddly. Knowing that polar bears are being driven towards extinction could motivate millions of people into action. Millions who would otherwise not care about the issue, or at least not care enough to get involved.
