Busted! Top Climate Change Denier Took Energy Mega-$
A prominent academic and climate change denier’s work was funded almost entirely by the energy industry, receiving more than $1.2m from companies, lobby groups and oil billionaires over more than a decade, newly released documents show.
Over the last 14 years Willie Soon, a researcher at the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics, received a total of $1.25m from Exxon Mobil, Southern Company, the American Petroleum Institute (API) and a foundation run by the ultra-conservative Koch brothers, the documents obtained by Greenpeace through freedom of information filings show.
According to the documents, the biggest single funder was Southern Company, one of the country’s biggest electricity providers that relies heavily on coal.
The documents draw new attention to the industry’s efforts to block action against climate change – including President Barack Obama’s power-plant rules.
Unlike the vast majority of scientists, Soon does not accept that rising greenhouse gas emissions since the industrial age are causing climate changes. He contends climate change is driven by the sun.
In the relatively small universe of climate denial Soon, with his Harvard-Smithsonian credentials, was a sought after commodity. He was cited admiringly by Senator James Inhofe, the Oklahoma Republican who famously called global warming a hoax.
Copyright 2015 Liberaland
By: dave-dr-gonzo
David Hirsch, a.k.a. Dave "Doctor" Gonzo*, is a renegade record producer, video producer, writer, reformed corporate shill, and still-registered lobbyist for non-one-percenter performing artists and musicians. He lives in a heavily fortified compound in one of Manhattan's less trendy neighborhoods.
* Hirsch is the third person to use the pseudonym, a not-so-veiled tribute to journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, with the permission of his predecessors Gene Gaudette of American Politics Journal (currently webmaster and chief bottlewasher at Liberaland) and Stephen Meese at Smashmouth Politics.
39 responses to Busted! Top Climate Change Denier Took Energy Mega-$
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Anomaly 100 February 21st, 2015 at 18:09
Surprised?
Carla Akins February 21st, 2015 at 18:14
Nope
Hirightnow February 21st, 2015 at 19:10
Only if Fox mentions it.
Anomaly 100 February 21st, 2015 at 19:39
Bingo!
dave-dr-gonzo February 21st, 2015 at 20:22
But… but… but… that would cause the heads of some people (the one who are convinced that scientists who have demonstrated that global warming is real have secretly been in on a big huge conspiracy to pocket thousands of dollars in university grant money) to EXPLODE!
Gindy51 February 22nd, 2015 at 07:15
Literally, I wish. It’d be messy but so worth it.
rg9rts February 22nd, 2015 at 07:19
No fear….they are empty anyway…like a balloon popping
rg9rts February 22nd, 2015 at 07:19
Just under the wire
Anomaly 100 February 21st, 2015 at 19:09
Surprised?
Carla Akins February 21st, 2015 at 19:14
Nope
Hirightnow February 21st, 2015 at 20:10
Only if Fox mentions it.
Anomaly 100 February 21st, 2015 at 20:39
Bingo!
dave-dr-gonzo February 21st, 2015 at 21:22
But… but… but… that would cause the heads of some people (the one who are convinced that scientists who have demonstrated that global warming is real have secretly been in on a big huge conspiracy to pocket thousands of dollars in university grant money) to EXPLODE!
rg9rts February 22nd, 2015 at 08:19
No fear….they are empty anyway…like a balloon popping
rg9rts February 22nd, 2015 at 08:19
Just under the wire
KABoink_after_wingnut_hacker February 21st, 2015 at 18:21
Another example of how dark money will destroy us and our nation.
The “citizens united” ruling sold our democracy to the highest bidder and of course science is has been for sale ever since the tobacco giants waged their science propaganda war to defend killing millions of people whilst making millions of dollars.
KABoink_after_wingnut_hacker February 21st, 2015 at 19:21
Another example of how dark money will destroy us and our nation.
The “citizens united” ruling sold our democracy to the highest bidder and of course science is has been for sale ever since the tobacco giants waged their science propaganda war to defend killing millions of people whilst making millions of dollars.
NW10 February 21st, 2015 at 18:31
http://www.myfacewhen.net/uploads/3380-excellent-raccoon.png
(((NW10,PATRIOT! ✓ᵛᵉʳᶦᶠᶦᵉᵈ))) February 21st, 2015 at 19:31
http://www.myfacewhen.net/uploads/3380-excellent-raccoon.png
Suzanne McFly February 21st, 2015 at 19:40
I am so sick of having this exact argument with my father. He insists there is no global “warming” and that this “climate change” thing is something concocted by people who are making money off people who are trying to conserve. I have no idea who is making money off of conservation, that part of the argument makes my head throb. I ask why is it so terrible to work to clean up the Earth, to which he has no reply. All I can see is that he is against it because President Obama is for it. I wish the President would come out against it, then we can get these rwnj’s to support it. He would piss off the left for coming out against it but its not like we wont see what he is actually doing and he isn’t running for office again (at least not yet).
Mike February 21st, 2015 at 23:21
I support the complex compendium of theories that encompass what we call Climate Change, however there is money to be made by both sides. You said you have no idea “…who is making money off of conservation…” I Googled those words… you get a page of 10 links, 7 from the left and 3 from the right. Your head is no longer throbbing by the time you get to an article titled “How Do We Make Money Off of Elephants” from Mother Jones of all people.
https://www.google.com/search?q=who+is+making+money+off+of+conservation&rlz=1C1CHMR_enUS325US335&oq=who+is+making+money+off+of+conservation&aqs=chrome..69i57&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=0&ie=UTF-8
$20 Billion is spent worldwide annually on research grants that numerous Universities (like my own) bid for. For a myriad of reasons, much of this research is redundant in nature and could be called wasteful. (some of it truly is)
The other side wants to keep us using fossil fuels and does everything they can to thwart new methodology, innovation, technology, and pragmatism. One needs only look at how Tesla might be forced to set up dealer franchises in the 50 states.
http://my.teslamotors.com/en_HK/forum/forums/rumours-tesla-going-dealership-route
The point I’m trying to make is that if you choose to examine only one thing to base your beliefs on, you are merely looking to reinforce a predetermined opinion. I could say religion is all about making money and on this site I would get a lot who would agree with me. But there are many people of faith who would disagree with that, I’m an Atheist but I was educated in Catholic Grammar schools and attended a Catholic University (Notre Dame) Try and figure that out.
Climate Change is extremely complex for not just the average person to understand, but the well educated person also. As stated above, it is a compendium of theoretical ideas that when taken in totality, shows us a very vivid picture. But like an X-ray, the untrained eye sees just black and white shading while an expert sees a tumor the size of a dime.
Mathematics is the strongest and least understood (by most average people) part of the theory, for obvious reasons. Here’s an idea of some formulations:
http://www.roperld.com/science/GlobalWarmingMathematics.htm
Some of those took 20 years to settle on the actual metrics of what is important to measure. A few are being rewritten as I write this.
Computer Modeling is the weakest link in the chain and used more often than any other to debunk because of erratic predictions and more than a few bad presentations, again for obvious reasons. The predictions made years ago using 25 year old computers half as powerful as your IPhone today were pretty much off the mark. Software and hardware advances have taken the same data used 25 years ago and have accurately predicted the situation we are in today. Hence my claim about the math being very good.
Here’s a page of links that might help you convince your Dad the threat is not only real but very possibly, too late to reverse. We might only be left with mitigating it’s impact.
One last thought…Even if it’s a hoax, would he say we made a better world when we didn’t need to…???
https://www.google.com/search?q=the+best+proof+of+global+climate+change&rlz=1C1CHMR_enUS325US335&oq=the+best+proof+of+global+climate+change&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i64l3.20271j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=0&ie=UTF-8
Suzanne McFly February 22nd, 2015 at 09:43
Thanks for all the information, I will have to open the links later, I have to go shovel and plow again. But you are absolutely correct when you say “Even if it’s a hoax, would he say we made a better world when we didn’t need to…???” and that is my main argument….what is so terrible about cleaning up the Earth?
Suzanne McFly February 21st, 2015 at 20:40
I am so sick of having this exact argument with my father. He insists there is no global “warming” and that this “climate change” thing is something concocted by people who are making money off people who are trying to conserve. I have no idea who is making money off of conservation, that part of the argument makes my head throb. I ask why is it so terrible to work to clean up the Earth, to which he has no reply. All I can see is that he is against it because President Obama is for it. I wish the President would come out against it, then we can get these rwnj’s to support it. He would piss off the left for coming out against it but its not like we wont see what he is actually doing and he isn’t running for office again (at least not yet).
Mike February 22nd, 2015 at 00:21
I support the complex compendium of theories that encompass what we call Climate Change, however there is money to be made by both sides. You said you have no idea “…who is making money off of conservation…” I Googled those words… you get a page of 10 links, 7 from the left and 3 from the right. Your head is no longer throbbing by the time you get to an article titled “How Do We Make Money Off of Elephants” from Mother Jones of all people.
https://www.google.com/search?q=who+is+making+money+off+of+conservation&rlz=1C1CHMR_enUS325US335&oq=who+is+making+money+off+of+conservation&aqs=chrome..69i57&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=0&ie=UTF-8
$20 Billion is spent worldwide annually on research grants that numerous Universities (like my own) bid for. For a myriad of reasons, much of this research is redundant in nature and could be called wasteful. (some of it truly is)
The other side wants to keep us using fossil fuels and does everything they can to thwart new methodology, innovation, technology, and pragmatism. One needs only look at how Tesla might be forced to set up dealer franchises in the 50 states.
http://my.teslamotors.com/en_HK/forum/forums/rumours-tesla-going-dealership-route
The point I’m trying to make is that if you choose to examine only one thing to base your beliefs on, you are merely looking to reinforce a predetermined opinion. I could say religion is all about making money and on this site I would get a lot who would agree with me. But there are many people of faith who would disagree with that, I’m an Atheist but I was educated in Catholic Grammar schools and attended a Catholic University (Notre Dame) Try and figure that out.
Climate Change is extremely complex for not just the average person to understand, but the well educated person also. As stated above, it is a compendium of theoretical ideas that when taken in totality, shows us a very vivid picture. But like an X-ray, the untrained eye sees just black and white shading while an expert sees a tumor the size of a dime.
Mathematics is the strongest and least understood (by most average people) part of the theory, for obvious reasons. Here’s an idea of some formulations:
http://www.roperld.com/science/GlobalWarmingMathematics.htm
Some of those took 20 years to settle on the actual metrics of what is important to measure. A few are being rewritten as I write this.
Computer Modeling is the weakest link in the chain and used more often than any other to debunk because of erratic predictions and more than a few bad presentations, again for obvious reasons. The predictions made years ago using 25 year old computers half as powerful as your IPhone today were pretty much off the mark. Software and hardware advances have taken the same data used 25 years ago and have accurately predicted the situation we are in today. Hence my claim about the math being very good.
Here’s a page of links that might help you convince your Dad the threat is not only real but very possibly, too late to reverse. We might only be left with mitigating it’s impact.
One last thought…Even if it’s a hoax, would he say we made a better world when we didn’t need to…???
https://www.google.com/search?q=the+best+proof+of+global+climate+change&rlz=1C1CHMR_enUS325US335&oq=the+best+proof+of+global+climate+change&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i64l3.20271j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=0&ie=UTF-8
Suzanne McFly February 22nd, 2015 at 10:43
Thanks for all the information, I will have to open the links later, I have to go shovel and plow again. But you are absolutely correct when you say “Even if it’s a hoax, would he say we made a better world when we didn’t need to…???” and that is my main argument….what is so terrible about cleaning up the Earth?
cecilia February 21st, 2015 at 22:57
he should be arrested for crimes against humanity
cecilia February 21st, 2015 at 23:57
he should be arrested for crimes against humanity
Roger Xavier Jackson February 22nd, 2015 at 03:53
Koch brothers will destroy this country
rg9rts February 22nd, 2015 at 07:17
First on their list is what is left of the gopee
William February 22nd, 2015 at 23:15
It’s a family tradition
Roger Xavier Jackson February 22nd, 2015 at 04:53
Koch brothers will destroy this country
rg9rts February 22nd, 2015 at 08:17
First on their list is what is left of the gopee
William February 23rd, 2015 at 00:15
It’s a family tradition
rg9rts February 22nd, 2015 at 07:17
Like usual follow the $$$$$
rg9rts February 22nd, 2015 at 08:17
Like usual follow the $$$$$
William February 22nd, 2015 at 08:38
Koch brothers?
Wow now there’s a surprise.
bluejayray February 22nd, 2015 at 23:04
It cracks me up how they freak out when they see an upside down 5 pointed star–because Satan and all–unless of course it’s on their very own logo.
William February 22nd, 2015 at 09:38
Koch brothers?
Wow now there’s a surprise.
$134608037 February 23rd, 2015 at 00:04
It cracks me up how they freak out when they see an upside down 5 pointed star–because Satan and all–unless of course it’s on their very own logo.