Climate And Ocean Scientists Put Under New Speech Restraints

[lovuian]

http://www.commondreams.org/news2007/0403-02.htm

Climate And Ocean Scientists Put Under New Speech Restraints
Any Scientific Statements “of Official Interest” Must be Pre-Approved


Washington, DC — Federal climate, weather and marine scientists will be subject to new restrictions as to what they can say to the media or in public, according to agency documents released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). Under rules posted last week, these federal scientists must obtain agency pre-approval to speak or write, whether on or off-duty, concerning any scientific topic deemed “of official interest.”

On March 29, 2007, the Commerce Department posted a new administrative order governing “Public Communications.” This new order covers the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which includes the National Weather Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service. Commerce’s new order will become effective in 45 days and would repeal a more liberal “open science” policy adopted by NOAA on February 14, 2006.

Although couched in rhetoric about the need for “broad and open dissemination of research results open exchange of scientific ideas,” the new order forbids agency scientists from communicating any relevant information, even if prepared and delivered on their own time as private citizens, which has not been approved by the official chain-of-command:
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It is ridiculous because its not going to stop other countries from talking about it

[WePurrsevere]

1. Gee, one would think this admin was threatened by Science & FACTS.

Silencing the scientists will not change the REALITY of global warming, etc. It just makes us look ridiculous and rather primitive to the rest of the world.

[DIKB]

2. Everyone needs

to be made aware of how damaging this administration has been to scientific study, debate, and possibilities. It will take generations to undo what the neocons have done.

[TZ]

3. It isn't just global warming scientists

that the neocons are harming. Gag orders aside, I have also witnessed another tactic that doesn't get much attention. The funding that Chimpy and co, do hand out are usually as rewards to scientific cronies to forward their career. I witnessed a NIH department fall apart and get rid of a "troublemaker" with fresh ideas who was progressing research on the topic forward swiftly but making the imcompetants look bad. After the troublemaker was ejected suddenly , the government was verrry interested in funding malaria research, when it had been ignored for the past few years even with "promises" from Chimpy. I think that once the "threat" was gone Chimpy sent a whole bunch of money for this crony to be able to have years of study (yes they did also say they were "slowing down", apparantly the old guy was "too hasty"). Empire building for cronies also is a threat to good science, cause believe me these guys are not practicing good science

[thecrow]

4. Does this include hurricane warnings? n/t

[jarnocan]

5. still trying to hide the truth-amazing nt

[mmonk]

6. Can they write their research down and have

someone who is not a scientist read it to people?

[lovuian]

7. Its not going to work but it just shows

how they want science to be held back
there is no wonder we are behind

[jazzjunkysue]

8. "of official interest." De-regulate polluters but regulate science.

George Orwell must have known someone in the Bush crime family.

Didn't everything eventually become "official" under the Nazi party?

[file83]

9. Can we IMPEACH Bush yet?

I mean, what does an anti-American "decider" have to do to get impeached around here?