Author: petewsh61

I'm a forty something father of an amazing 8 year-old girl, a college prof (ecology/conservation), and wind farm GIS consultant. Ocean kayaker, wildlife tracker, electronics hacker, and 2x4 wacker.

ACLU Slams Bush for Restricting Scientific Information

The ACLU joins the chorus of those unhappy with the Bush Administration’s approach to dealing with science that doesn’t fit their policies and restricting information based on homeland security issues.

AP The American Civil Liberties Union charged Tuesday that the Bush administration is placing science under siege by overzealously tightening restrictions on information, individuals and technology in the name of homeland security.

The administration “has sought to impose growing restrictions on the free flow of scientific information, unreasonable barriers on the use of scientific materials and increased monitoring of and restrictions on foreign university students,” the ACLU said.

The ACLU also criticized the treatment of foreign students and researchers, complaining that the visa process is too cumbersome and that foriegn scientists are restricted from certain types of research without sound justification.

While I can imagine circumstances where certain types of sensitive intelligence information or defense related research should be restricted, the Bushies have clearly used this pretext for hiding/altering information that is merely counter to their policies and has no clear security risk.

This subject seems to be attracting more headlines recently.  The chief of staff for the White House Council on Environmental Quality was recently outed for altering a report on Global Warming, quiting his government position, and immeadiately  accepting a job working for Exxon (AP).    And Page recently summarized several articles on efforts to weaken the G8 report on global warming. And just yesterday the Union of Concerned Scientists submitted a letter of protest to the Bush Administration concerning their policy of limiting the use of scientific information in endangered species management.

Denver Post Some want the repeal of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife regional policy preventing the use of new genetic data, saying it gives leeway for some populations to be wiped out.  A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service policy that critics say may undermine the Endangered Species Act by ignoring new genetic studies in evaluating plants and animals drew a protest letter today from 163 scientists.

The letter, sponsored by the Washington-based Union of Concerned Scientists, a nonprofit public-policy group, urges that the policy be rescinded.

The Bush adminstration refers to their approach to science as merely  part of the “standard editing and review process.”  We know better.  We know it’s part of their efforts to fix the facts around their policies.

Their approach to science is one way Democrats can really distinguish ourselves from the Republican’s.  They are the party that believes policy should be crafted based on sound information.  Whether it is scientific or intelligence data, DEms want the facts to help them govern.

When I compile a list of all the places the Bush Administration and their allies have either suppressed, distorted, or changed scientific data and analyses it makes my head reel.

Global Warming

Evolution

Breast Cancer and Abortion

Abstinence Programs

Endangered Species:  Grazing, Genetic Data, Defining Harm, No new species listed (Xray the Enforcer)

HIV and French Kissing

Birth Control and Sterility

Gays and Adoption

Effects of Mercury

Terry Schiavo’s Diagnosis

Stem Cells (Xray the Enforcer)

Add yours to the list, I’m sure I missed a lot.

Knowledge is power.  By creating your own versions of reality you increase your power.  That is until you are found out.  And I hope we are beginning to witness a new interest by the MSM in the Bush Administration’s shameful disrespect for reality.

Downlaod the ACLU’s report here: The Assault on Scientific Freedom

Note:  For those of you who read DKos I’m sorry for the cross-posting.  It has become my impression that science related diaries only get attention at DKos if their written by one of the front pagers.  That’s OK, its part of the proccess of there. (Maybe it’s my writting.)  But, if I’m going to spend time diarying science and conservation issues, I do want it read.  So, I am  again trying out the waters here.  Perhaps I’ll find a home here and only post here.  Enjoy.

Yale Poll: Overwhelming support for renewable energy.

More evidence the Administration and Congress are completely out of touch with the American peoples views.  A recent survey by the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies finds overwhelming support for renewable energy and strong support for federal involvement in developing renewable energy sources and environmental protection.

The results of this survey are important and the MSM has failed to report on this.  We need to get this information out there.

ENS Across all regions of the country and every demographic group, there is broad support for a new emphasis on finding alternative energy sources. Building more solar power facilities is considered a “good idea” by 90 percent of the public; 87 percent support expanded wind farms; and 86 percent want increased funding for renewable energy research.

Counter to Bush’s and the Congress’s refusal to increase mileage standards, the American public has broad and near complete support for increasing automobile efficiency.

Results of the poll indicate that 93 percent of Americans say requiring the auto industry to make cars that get better gas mileage is a good idea. Just 6 percent say it is a bad idea.

This sentiment varies little by political leaning, with 96 percent of Democrats and Independents and 86 percent of Republicans supporting the call for more fuel-efficient vehicles.

These findings come just after Congress rejected a proposal to require sport utility vehicles and minivans to become more fuel-efficient and achieve the same gasoline mileage as passenger cars.

We want more, not less federal involvement in energy and environmental policies.

Asked, “Do you think {federal government/state government/local government] does too much, about right the right amount or not enough for the environment”, 68% believe the Feds should do more.

                    Federal State    Local

Should do much more.    49    45    42

Should do more.            19    17    17

Right amount.            20    29    32

Does too much.             7     4     4

Those who state that environmental protection is bad for the economy do not fool Americans.  When asked if they agreed with the following statement:

You don’t have to sacrifice environmental protection to get economic growth.  The choice between jobs and the environment is a false one: we can have both.

75% of the respondents agreed.

You can download the Survey Questions and Surveys Key Findings.

Come on Congress; follow the led of the American people, not your myopic President.  Give us the strong environmental and sound energy policies we want.

This is an important survey, please let your Senators and Reps know about it.

Postscript:  I posted this diary a few days ago at DKos (Petewsh61)  Didn’t get much response there.  Saw the diary here “What’s your main political concern?” and read that many of you list the environment as one of your top priorities.  So, I felt I should give the BooMan a try.