Wonk Room » Around The World, Activists Arrested For Protesting Coal’s Destruction
More than 100 Arrested at White House Demanding End to Mountaintop Removal | Rainforest Action Network
More than 100 people were arrested today during Appalachia Rising, the largest national protest to end mountaintop removal (MTR) coal mining. Arrests included Appalachian residents; retired coal miners; renowned climate scientist, James Hansen; and faith leaders. After a march from Freedom Plaza and a rally at Lafayette Park, more than 100 staged a sit-in in front of the White House to demand President Obama follow his own science and end mountaintop mining.
More than 100 Arrested at White House Demanding End to Mountaintop Removal | Rainforest Action Network
“The science is clear, mountaintop removal destroys historic mountain ranges, poisons water supplies and pollutes the air with coal and rock dust,” said renowned climate scientist James Hansen, who was arrested in today’s protest at the White House. “Mountaintop removal, providing only a small fraction of our energy, can and should be abolished. The time for half measures and caving in to polluting industries must end.”
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How can a public official head of such an important and visible department be allowed to use his position and influence to promote a personal cause? Hansen is not just an individual who has an opinion and the right to express it. He carries the weight and prestige of NASA.
America is a strange country. If you are PC you can use your taxpayer-paid offices as you wish, but if you are not PC, you'd better keep your mouth shut. Odd sort of freedom. Or - with the exception of police at your side - is it the sort of freedom the Europeans have long suffered with ...
they say "you're entitled to your opinion, BUT..." or "you have a right to freedom of speech, BUT..."
...and that means if you're politically correct, like Hansen, then you can have these freedoms, but if you're not, then we'll come after you with our teams of lawyers, and we'll get you one way or another
Dear Doug, everything is OK because what Hansen is doing *is* the de facto official opinion of GISS as well.
GISS as well as hundreds of other institutions want to terminate the top-removal coal, carbon-based economy, the free market, GDP growth, and many other things.
Of course that if GISS - whatever is the right way to "personalize" an institution - disagreed that it's OK to violate the law in the name of activism, with a GISS sticker on the shirt, he would have already been fired.
He does this because HE IS NOT A SCIENTIST!
A scientist is all about integrity and he has demonstrated the lack there of. On that basis alone I discount him as a scientist.
I would prefer he keep his science and policy straight and then engage in civil disobedience (and get arrested) than to skew his science and policy and keep his personal life and public persona squeaky clean.
So yes, even scientists and agency heads should be allowed to speak out and get arrested in this kind of protest.
What I find worse is the many millions of professionals that are not agency heads working for gov't or private business that would like to protest (various issues) but that will not for a reasonable fear of losing their jobs. That's what really sucks.
I may disagree with Hansen on many issues, but good for him for speaking out against mountain top removal.
Climate hoax promoter is a climate hoax promoter because, because, because -- because he just is OK!!!
Sceptic = So Called Experts Perpetually Talking In Circles
"How can a public official head of such an important and visible department be allowed to use his position and influence to promote a personal cause?"
The Bush administration tried to curb some of Hansen's extra curricular activities, but it was a coup for Hansen as he per arrangement immediately ran to CBS's 60 minutes to proclaim how he was being persecuted by the "anti-science" Bush administration.
Since Hansen wasn't fired it's clear to see that the Bush Administration backed off. This will continue to happen as long as the 'tail wag the dog media' media continues to have influence and utilize it to promote their lefty agenda.
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