Thursday, Jan. 18, 2007 3:43 p.m. EST
TV Weathermen: Agree to Global Warming or
Else
In an attempt to stifle debate over global warming, a Weather
Channel climatologist is advocating that broadcast meteorologists
be stripped of their scientific certification if they express
skepticism about warming.
The Weather Channels (TWC) Heidi Cullen, who hosts the weekly
global warming program "The Climate Code," wants the American
Meteorological Society (AMS) to revoke its "Seal of Approval" for
any TV weatherman who expresses skepticism that human activity is
creating a climate catastrophe.
"If a meteorologist can't speak to the fundamental science of
climate change, then maybe the AMS shouldn't give them a Seal of
Approval, Cullen wrote on TWCs Web site.
"Clearly, the AMS doesn't agree that global warming can be blamed
on cyclical weather patterns."
This attempt to silence skeptics of man-made global warming was the
subject of discussion at the just-concluded AMS annual conference
in San Antonio, notes Marc Morano, communications director for the
U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works.
Cullen also wrote: "It's like allowing a meteorologist to go on-air
and say that hurricanes rotate clockwise and tsunamis are caused by
the weather. It's not a political statement . . . it's just an
incorrect statement."
Morano noted that hurricanes (cyclones) do rotate clockwise in the
Southern Hemisphere.
"Cullens call for decertification of TV weathermen who do not
agree with her global warming assessment follows a year (2006) in
which the media, Hollywood and environmentalists tried their
hardest to demonize scientific skeptics of man-made global
warming, Morano wrote on the committees Web site.
Scott Pelley, a "60 Minutes correspondent, compared skeptics of
global warming to "Holocaust deniers, and former Vice President Al
Gore has repeatedly referred to skeptics as "global warming
deniers."
Cullens call for squelching scientific dissent comes as many
skeptical university scientists have essentially been silenced over
fears of loss of tenure and the withdrawal of research grant money,
according to Morano.
Broadcast meteorologists critical of climate alarmism "have - up
until now - been unburdened to speak out on climate issues, he
points out.
"Cullens call for decertification by the AMS can only serve to
intimidate skeptics and further chill free speech in the scientific
community.
"Stripping the Seal of Approval from broadcast meteorologists
could affect their livelihoods, impact their salaries and prestige.
TV weathermen are truly the last of the independent scientists and
past surveys have shown many of them to be skeptical of manmade
global warming claims. Their independence is being threatened
now.