Conservation Debate III: A Rejoinder to Alan Oxley
William Laurance et al | November 01, 2010
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404427PalmHugger.org takes the view that after Climategate and the saga of the East Anglia emails, trust for weather scientists and in fact, all environmental "scientists" (especially those who claim to be "leaders" in their "respective fields" such as Mr Laurance and his merry band of 12), are in serious deficit!
For Mr Laurance to accuse Oxley of a lack of transparency is the height of hypocrisy. If he is so enamored of funding transparency vis a vis Mr Oxley, perhaps Mr Laurance should enlighten us as to the source of funding for him and his merry band of 12. That could perhaps throw some light on their motivation for launching this extraordinary personal attack on Oxley and his organizations.
Uglyobama is right. "These peoples agenda is plain to see. The politicization of "science" is fact."
If PalmHugger.org may add, the "sell-out" of science is complete!
["Oxley’s reply contains some important inaccuracies or misperceptions. Most notably, he understates the environmental impacts of OIL PALM expansion while ignoring its close linkages with the timber and wood-pulp industries and their collective roles in promoting tropical deforestation and frontier-road expansion"]
oil palm? I think common usage would be Palm Oil.
What is inaccurate? What misperception?
Mr. Oxley possibly assumes that his readers are NOT idiots.
Of course palm oil production would be related to the cutting down of trees and the building of roads. I suppose they might levitate into the area but until science finds a way to counter the law of gravity efficiently, humans will probably be using trucks for a while yet.
And why should we trust you people to translate this "vast body of scientific literature" for us. We've already read the east anglia emails.
These twelve genius' who are endlessly repeating their eco-mantra offer no proof, only that the "vast body of scientific literature" is all that's needed to persuade the masses that it is vital to shut down productive industries which create wealth, jobs, and prosperity before we all become extinct. Horrors!
["The 12 scientists who drafted our original open letter did so without communicating with any environmental organization"]
Well, thats great. So how did 12 scientists who all placed their name at the end of the article organize that? Ah, I see, must be an academic or scientific "organization".
These peoples agenda is plain to see.
The politicization of "science" is fact.
Why do they not put their superior
phd intellect on something that may have some impact in this century?
Like....uh, how to plug up a volcano and prevent the spewing of millions of tons of "greenhouse gases" into the poor delicate environment.
Seems as worthwhile a project as this one is.
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Last week on these pages we wrote a serious critique of Alan Oxley and his affiliated organizations, World Growth International and ITS Global.
In his reply, Oxley countered virtually none of our specific, documented assertions. Instead, he has muddied the waters — focusing not on our assertions but on the views of environmental groups such as WWF and Greenpeace.
Oxley’s reply contains some important inaccuracies or misperceptions. Most notably, he understates the environmental impacts of oil palm expansion while ignoring its close linkages with the timber and wood-pulp industries and their collective roles in promoting tropical deforestation and frontier-road expansion. And he ignores entirely a vast body of scientific literature revealing the serious impacts of these industries on tropical biodiversity and greenhouse-gas emissions.
We stand by our original assertions. Alan Oxley, WGI and ITS rely on the direct financial support of major timber, oil palm and wood-pulp corporations. Over the past two decades, some of these corporations, such as Rimbunan Hijau and Asian Pulp & Paper, have been among the most chronic environmental offenders in the tropical world.
We assert that Oxley, WGI and ITS should be regarded as paid lobbyists, not as independent research organizations or NGOs. Oxley refuses to disclose the funders of WGI — a striking lack of transparency. Two environmental groups that Oxley frequently criticizes, WWF and Greenpeace, are open about their funders. Why not do the same?
The 12 scientists who drafted our original open letter did so without communicating with any environmental organization. Each of us is regarded as a leader in our respective field, and as such we felt a responsibility to take a stand.
Oxley, WGI and ITS seemingly attempt to cast all who disagree with them, no matter their professional background or the seriousness of their arguments, as extremists. In the realm of public discourse, this is not “fair play.”
William F. Laurance, PhD
Thomas E. Lovejoy, PhD
Sir Ghillean Prance, FRS, VMH
Paul R. Ehrlich, PhD
Georgina Mace, PhD, FRS, CBE
Peter H. Raven, PhD
Susan M. Cheyne, PhD
Corey J.A. Bradshaw, PhD
Omar R. Masera, PhD
Gabriella Fredriksson, PhD
Barry W. Brook, PhD
Lian Pin Koh, PhD
Alan Oxley's opinion article appears here.
The original open letter by William Laurance et al appears here.
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