Scientists have complained about the Bush administration's
pseudo-
science for a long time now?this administration has even
muzzled
NASA! Now a nonprofit group dedicated to government
responsibility asserts that climate and ocean scientists are
being gagged.
PEER (Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility) has
issued a press release saying that from now on, any scientific
statements "of official interest" must be pre-approved by the
government. This means that Federal climate, weather and
marine scientists will be subject to new restrictions about
what they can say to the media or in public. 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 that the government
considers to be "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 [and] 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. It says that any "fundamental research
communication" must "before the communication occurs" be
submitted to and approved by the designated "head of the
operating unit." While the directive states that approval may
not be withheld "based on policy, budget, or management
implications of the research," it does not define these terms
and limits any appeal to within Commerce.
National Weather Service employees are allowed only "as part
of their routine responsibilities to communicate information
about the weather to the public?; and scientists must give
the Commerce Department at least two weeks "advance
notice" of any written, oral or audiovisual presentation
prepared on their own time if it "is a matter of official interest
to the Department because it relates to Department
programs, policies or operations."
PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch says, "This ridiculous gag
order ignores the First Amendment and disrespects the world-
renowned professionals who work within Commerce agencies.
Under this policy, National Weather Service scientists can
only give out name, rank, serial number and the temperature."
The agency rejected a more open policy adopted last year by
the NASA. The new policy also was rushed to print despite an
ongoing Commerce Office of Inspector General review of
communication policies that was undertaken at congressional
request. While claiming to provide clarity, the new Commerce
order gives conflicting directives, on one hand telling
scientists that if unsure whether a conclusion has been
officially approved "then the researcher must make clear that
he or she is representing his or her individual conclusion." Yet,
another part of the order states non-official
communications "may not take place or be prepared during
working hours." This conflict means that every scientist who
answers an unexpected question at a conference puts his or
her career at risk by giving an honest answer.
However, NO such directive has been issued for military
personnel who want to make personal
statements condemning the basic rights of US
civilians.
Art credit: freeimages.co.uk
Here at unknowncountry.com, we don't let anyone
shut us
up! But we could fade away?if we don't get your support,
so please
subscribe
today! This Saturday, April 14, from 10 to 11 am Pacific,
subscribers get a chance to chat with Dr. Lynne Kitei about
her adventures with the
Phoenix
Lights, one of the world?s most famous
group
UFO sightings.
For more information, click here.
