(The following article is from the April 16-30, 2009, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $25/year, or $12 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $25 US per year; other overseas readers - $25 US or $35 CDN per year. Send to: People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 133 Herkimer St., Unit 502, Hamilton, ON, L8P 2H3.)

By Kimball Cariou

     As the annual celebrations of Earth Day (April 22) draw near, the science of climate change related to human economic activity is once again under fire from sources linked to the transnational energy monopolies.

     One example came in the British Sunday Telegraph, which on March 29 printed a story by Christopher Booker, calling the rise of sea levels "the greatest lie ever told". The article has been widely circulated as "proof" that climate change is a "hoax."

     Like so many such "exposés of traditional science," this article assigns the views of one "contrarian" scientist the same weight as the collective judgement of the vast majority. After all, the argument goes, why conclude that one particular theory has greater validity than any other?

     The same tactic is often used to "refute" evolution, by arguing that "intelligent design" presents an equally valid explanation for natural phenomena. This is essentially a cover for smuggling certain dogmatic forms of Christian fundamentalism into school curricula.

     Over a century of research and study has led the overwhelming majority of scientists - including most who consider themselves religious believers - to agree that Darwin's theory of natural selection explains the process of evolution of species. The theory continues to take account of new findings, a process which constitutes further development of Darwin's historic advance in scientific thought, not rejection. Just because a few people with university degrees advocate "intelligent design" - creationism - does not mean that such views possess any scientific validity.

     The Telegraph article is based on the arguments of Nils-Axel Morner, whose views and credentials are presented without question.

     The author describes Morner, a Swedish geologist and physicist, as "one scientist who knows more about sea levels than anyone else in the world." In Dr. Morner's view, sea levels are not rising, which they should be if climate change includes a rise in global temperatures. He is reported to be "formerly chairman of the INQUA International Commission on Sea Level Change." INQUA is the International Union for Quaternary Research, composed of scientists who study the last 2.6 million years of the Earth's history.

     Space does not permit a complete response to this article, but People's Voice readers are encouraged to seek further information for comparison. Here are some fascinating tidbits.

     In addition to "debunking" climate change, Nils-Axel Morner is an enthusiast of dowsing and water witching, and has expressed very unusual ideas about archaeology. He has been interviewed by the Executive Intelligence Review, a publication of anti-Semitic conspiracy theorist Lyndon LaRouche. One can easily find materials related to these matters by Googling Morner's name.

     Of course, holding unusual opinions on various subjects does not disqualify a scientist's views on other topics, in this case sea levels and climate change. Nor does association with the LaRouche movement.

     However, Dr. Morner is also an "allied expert" with the Natural Resources Stewardship Project, a group controlled by energy industry lobbyists. This link is far more relevant, since the energy monopolies work relentlessly to "disprove" the theory of a human factor in climate change, which threatens their staggering profits. Any scientist on the payroll of such an industry group has little credibility.

     But what about Dr. Morner's INQUA credentials? Shouldn't his record as a highly qualified researcher stand on its own merits?

     Possibly. But in this case, Morner has no right to cloak himself with INQUA's reputation. For example, in 2004 Morner misrepresented his professional position in a presentation to the Russian Academy of Sciences. In response, INQUA President John J. Clague wrote the following:

     "It has come to my attention that Dr. Nils‑Axel Morner gave presentations at the seminar on climate change organized by the Russian Academy of Sciences... Dr. Morner attacked the science of climate change, while claiming that he is President of the Commission on Sea Level Change of INQUA... Dr. Morner has misrepresented his position with INQUA. Dr. Morner was President of the Commission on Sea Level Change until July 2003, but the commission was terminated at that time during a reorganization of the commission structure of INQUA. Dr. Morner currently has no formal position in INQUA, and I am distressed that he continues to represent himself in his former capacity. Further, INQUA, which is an umbrella organization for hundreds of researchers knowledgeable about past climate, does not subscribe to Morner's position on climate change. Nearly all of these researchers agree that humans are modifying Earth's climate, a position diametrically opposed to Dr. Morner's point of view."

     Anyone interested in the scientific community's views on climate change can check on the INQUA position rather than simply believing Dr. Morner. For the record, here is part of the conclusion of a recent INQUA statement on climate change:

     "We urge all nations to take prompt action to reduce the human causes of climate change, adapt to its impacts, and ensure that the issue is included in all relevant national and international strategies.... We call on world leaders to acknowledge that the threat of climate change is clear and increasing; launch an international study to define scientifically informed targets for atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations and their associated emissions scenarios that will enable nations to avoid impacts deemed unacceptable; develop and deploy clean energy technologies and approaches to energy efficiency, and share this knowledge with all other nations."

     There's much more information on the INQUA website. This Earth Day, I hope readers will take a few minutes to visit this site, or others such as http://www.realclimate.org, where credible scientists discuss climate change. The future of our planet depends on urgent action - don't ignore this crucial issue on the word of a few scientists on the Big Energy payroll.