Free speech and The Swindle
I posted about the Great Global Warming Swindle before, but just saw this article from the Sydney Morning Herald titled "Climate program swindled viewers". The Swindle was shown on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (different ABC from the one in the US).
This bit captures the issue perfectly:
The ABC's Science Show presenter, Robyn Williams, said the claims in Swindle were "obviously flawed for many reasons" but not to screen it would have been censorship. "I'm in favour of free speech but in this area the waters have been completely muddied by propagandists, so I thought the way we did it in the end was reasonable," said Williams, who participated in the discussion after the show.The program was widely criticised by Australian climatologists when it was aired. Among many other errors, it was pointed out that graphs purporting to show temperature rises being affected by sunspots excluded contradictory evidence.
So they knew The Swindle was inaccurate (to put it politely), and aired the program anyway.
I'm also in favor of free speech, but am I obligated to let someone use my blog (for example) to repeat things I know are not true? I don't think so. They are welcome to spread their bullshit somewhere else, but not on around here. I've got an obligation to be truthful and honest with my audience. I violate that if I give someone space to spread false information.
In fairness, ABC did a good job of framing the show, before and after. Watch their interview with The Swindle's director here. Unfortunately, this still works for the climate change deniers. As long as they can keep the idea that there is still legitimate debate on global warming, they can delay the energy revolution we need.
See also...
New Scientist, "Climate change: who is swindling who?".
Follow Greenpeace »
Post a comment