Turn the Tables on Monckton
Update (July 18, 2011): Monckton told he’s not member of House of Lords. Clerk of parliaments publishes letter on Lords’ site saying peer is not and has ‘never been a member of the House of Lords’.
Christopher Monckton and other deniers get far more press coverage than they deserve. Journalistic false balance has caused the public to be confused on climate change – the greatest threat to humanity this century. Worse, these deniers have used mainstream media to attack climate science and the scientists who pursue the truth. Let us now turn the tables.
Monckton has been exposed by Dr. John Abraham and instead of hiding his tail and whimpering away, Monckton has gone on the offensive by attacking Dr. Abraham and asking his followers to essentially “email bomb” Dr. Abraham’s university president. We need to alert the media to this story.
I have assembled a list of media contacts in the hopes that my readers will follow my lead and send letters asking for an investigation of Monckton and his attack on Abraham. Please feel free to use the letter I sent below as your own or to modify as you see fit. I have placed mailto links that will make it easy to send letters to several contacts at once with a single click.
In the thread comments, please suggest other contacts in the US and from abroad. This blog thread can then be used in the future to alert the media to denialist activity.
Dear Sir or Madam,
Journalistic “false balance” has led the general public to believe that there is still scientific debate about whether humans are causing climate change. The IPCC (2007) WGI report states: “Most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations. Discernible human influences now extend to other aspects of climate, including ocean warming, continental-average temperatures, temperature extremes and wind patterns.” There are no international bodies of science that hold a dissenting opinion and over 97% of climate scientists that publish in journals agree with the IPCC conclusions.
Several publications (eg. Boykoff and Boykoff, 2004; Oreskes and Conway, 2010) have shown that mass media has repeatedly presented the science as having two sides well after scientists have arrived at a consensus on issues such as tobacco’s link to cancer, acid rain, DDT, ozone depletion, global warming, and others. There is only one side with regard to the primary cause of modern global warming: humans are responsible for most of the warming. One of the most visible and publicized deniers of manmade global warming is Christopher Monckton.
Christopher Monckton has no scientific credentials nor has he published any articles in a peer-reviewed science journal. Monckton has only a degree in classics and a diploma in journalism, yet he is consistently quoted in the media as an “alternative voice” to the scientific consensus and he recently appeared in a recent (2010) congressional hearing regarding “Climategate”. (Climategate was a well-orchestrated attack on scientists and climate science that has been shown repeatedly to have been without merit.)
Recently, Dr. John Abraham of St. Thomas University painstakingly debunked many of Monckton’s false claims and misrepresentations of the science of climate change and posted these results on the Web. In response, Monckton has embarked on a smear campaign against Dr. Abraham and has asked his followers to flood the email inbox of the University President demanding removal of the documents that expose his unsubstantiated “scientific claims”.
These personal attacks on scientists must end now. Climate change is the greatest threat to humanity this century and it is criminal to intentionally misrepresent the science and attack the scientists that find the evidence for manmade warming. Please investigate the Monckton and Abraham story. Expose Monckton for the fraud that he is, and by doing so, you may regain the trust of scientists that may be shunning mass media because of the journalistic false balance that discourages scientific engagement with the media. The public do not read scientific journals so they rely on your service to be accurately informed. Serve your listening public, maintain your journalistic integrity, and do the right thing.
Please feel free to contact my if you wish more information about this story.
Sincerely,
Scott A. Mandia, Professor – Physical Sciences
T-202 Smithtown Sciences Bldg.
S.C.C.C.
533 College Rd.
Selden, NY 11784
(631) 451-4104
mandias@sunysuffolk.edu
http://www2.sunysuffolk.edu/mandias/
Print Media:
John Hillkirk, USA Today – Editor@usatoday.com
Alan Murray, Wall Street Journal – a.murray@wsj.com
Bill Keller, NY Times – http://www.nytimes.com/gst/emailus.html
Russ Stanton, LA Times – russ.stanton@latimes.com
Marcus W. Brauchli, Washington Post – letters@washpost.com,
Reporters: Juliet Eilperin- eilperinj@washpost.com & David Fahrenthold – fahrenthold@washpost.com
Gerould W. Kern, Chicago Tribune – ctc-editor@tribune.com
Martin Dunn, Daily News (NY) – voicers@edit.nydailynews.com
William K. Marimow, Philadelphia Enquirer – bmarimow@phillynews.com
Jeff Cohen, Houston Chronicle – outlook@chron.com
Col Allan, New York Post – letters@nypost.com
E-mail all above (Except NY Times)
Jonathan Wolman, The Detroit News – jon.wolman@detnews.com
Robert W. Mong, Jr, Dallas Morning News – bmong@dallasnews.com
Nancy Barnes, Minneapolis Star Tribune – nancyb@startribune.com
Peter S. Canellos, Boston Globe – canellos@globe.com
Kevin Whitmer, Star-Ledger (NJ) – kwhitmer@starledger.com
Julia Wallace, Atlanta Journal-Constitution – jdwallace@ajc.com
Carroll, Nicole, Arizona Republic – nicole.carroll@arizonarepublic.com
Debby Krenek, Newsday (NY) – editor@newsday.com
Stephen Proctor, SF Chronicle – sproctor@sfchronicle.com
Susan Goldberg,Cleveland Plain Dealer – sgoldberg@plaind.com
Wire:
Associated Press Headquarters – info@ap.org
Reuters Washington Bureau (Headquarters) – editor@reuters.com
Magazines:
Newsweek – letters@newsweek.com
Time – letters@time.com
U.S. News & World Report – letters@usnews.com
Editorial Board Editor Mortimer Zuckerman – mzuckerman@usnews.com
Television:
ABC – comments@abcnews.go.com
DC Bureau Chief Robin Sproul – robin.sproul@abc.go.com
World News Tonight – http://abcnews.go.com/WN/mailform?id=10691207
Executive Producer Paul Friedman – paul.friedman@abc.go.com
Nightline – nightline@abc.go.com
Executive Producer Tom Bettag – tom.bettag@abc.go.com
20/20 – 2020@abc.go.com
Good Morning America – netaudr@abc.go.com
E-mail all above (Except World News Tonight)
CBS Evening News – evening@cbsnews.com
60 Minutes – 60m@cbsnews.com
CNN Headquarters – community@cnn.com
Late Edition With Wolf Blitzer – http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form5.html?21
Executive Producer Sam Feist – sam.feist@cnn.com
Reliable Sources – reliable@cnn.com
Anchors Howard Kurtz – kurtzh@washpost.com
Meet the Press – http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6872152/
Nightly News – nightly@nbc.com
Executive Producer David Corvo – david.corvo@nbc.com
Today Show – today@nbc.com
Executive Producer Jeff Zucker – jeff.zucker@nbc.com
E-mail all above (Except Wolf Blitzer & Meet the Press)
Dateline NBC – dateline@nbc.com
MSNBC – letters@msnbc.com
Hardball w Chris Matthews – hardball@msnbc.com
Rachel Maddow Show – Rachel@msnbc.com
Countdown with Keith Olbermann – countdown@msnbc.com
CNBC World – cnbcworld@cnbc.com
FOX News Watch – newswatch@foxnews.com
Public Broadcasting :
National Public Radio – yourturn@npr.org
Diane Rehm Show – drshow@wamu.org
On The Media – onthemedia@wnyc.org
News Hour with Jim Lehrer – newshour@pbs.org
Global Warming: Man or Myth? 
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Scott A Mandia and Scott A Mandia, Scott A Mandia. Scott A Mandia said: Turn the Tables on Monckton, Alert the Press Here – http://bit.ly/aX8I8H […]
Tweets that mention Turn the Tables on Monckton « Global Warming: Man or Myth? -- Topsy.com
July 18, 2010 at 7:16 am
THANK YOU!!!!!!
Edward Greisch
July 18, 2010 at 7:49 am
Scott, your second sentence is:
There most certainly is a debate: at dinner in the early evenings at houses and at the bars later in the evening across this nation. The debate exists. Its just not a scientific debate. The scientific debate was on life support into the late 1990s then just slipped away one night when no one seemed to notice.
You leave out the word “scientific” and people will catch you on that, claiming that you are trying to silence them, even attempting to violate the Freedom of Speech. Put in the word “scientific” and they can still make that claim but it becomes a great deal easier to show that it hasn’t any merit.
Timothy Chase
July 18, 2010 at 11:46 am
Good point! I just revised the letter but it already went out to all 57 contacts in the original form. Thanks for that catch.
Scott Mandia
July 18, 2010 at 3:07 pm
http://www.comedycentral.com/help/questionsCC.jhtml
Jon Stewart
The Daily Show
Dear Mr. Stewart,
Although you have said on many occasions that you are not a journalist, since the mainstream media has abdicated its responsibility to journalism and instead elected to become a marketing tool for big business free market freebooters, you are the best we have. In order to give an appearance of “balance”, and generate false controversy which sells advertising, the MSM has resorted to presenting all sorts of right wing wack jobs as “climate experts” to dispute the undeniable effects of Anthropogenic Global Warming. Some of the voices of skepticism actually have a science background, but for whatever reason have chosen to ignore the vast scientific evidence for global warming and instead choose to emphasize clouds, or Cosmic Rays, in the unlikely hope that they will will provide a magic bullet to “fix” global warming.
On the other hand, one of the most strident voices of denialism which has been given unwarranted air time is that of the politician/journalist (remind you of anyone?) the self styled “Lord” Monckton of Brenchley.
His rants appear to be composed of one part scientific disinformation, cherrypicking, and outright lies[1], and one part vitriolic character assassination[2]. His latest target is Dr. John Abraham of St. Thomas University, who painstakingly debunked many of Monckton’s false claims and misrepresentations of the science of climate change and posted these results on the Web. Monckton, instead of responding with scientific backup for his claims(there isn’t any), has instead put a call on the antiscience blog Wattsupwithat for a letterbombing campaign directed to Abraham’s university president.
No doubt the MSM will either ignore this malicious attack, or, in the case of the Wall Street Journal whose product (their followers; selling access to them is their business model) is right wing investors, will spin it into comforting lies about how Business As Usual will lead to endless profits without any downside. If you choose to bring Monckton’s mendacity to public light, it would be a greatly appreciated public service. If you can’t, eventually the adverse changes of global warming will cause the deniers to get what’s coming to them; unfortunately, the rest of us will also suffer what’s coming to them.
Brian Dodge
It’s probably an exercise in pissing into the wind, but-
cc: Editor@usatoday.com;a.murray@wsj.com;russ.stanton@latimes.com;letters@washpost.com;ctc-editor@tribune.com;voicers@edit.nydailynews.com;bmarimow@phillynews.com;outlook@chron.com;letters@nypost.com
[1] http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2008/07/once-more-unto-the-bray/
[2] http://sppiblog.org/news/hitler-youth-in-denmark-again One might think that the URL is unspeakable enough, but let me quote from this site –
“James Hansen, a fully-paid-up member of the new regime, has notoriously called for anyone who disagrees with the new superstition to be put on trial for “high crimes against humanity”. Now, crimes against humanity are punishable by death, as Saddam Hussein discoveredt. So what Hansen is asking for is the judicial murder of those of his fellow-citizens who disagree with him – one of the unfailing hallmarks of Nazism and Fascism everywhere.”
Any original statements contained herein I place in the public domain, and my be reproduced, modified, quoted or misquoted in or out of context in whole or in part for any purpose, even just for the hell of it, and without attribution or obligation to me. Which is more or less how the internet works anyway.
Brian Dodge
July 18, 2010 at 4:08 pm
[…] logic is to scientific investigation. Scott A Mandia has put together an excellent post, “Turn the Tables on Monckton“, in which his supplied an example letter and nearly 60 media email addresses. He is calling […]
Climate Denial Should Face the Microscope « Moth incarnate
July 18, 2010 at 10:15 pm
Since the editors are a major part of the problem, you should try to address the journalists directly. For the Washington Post, the main environmental politics reporters are Juliet Eilperin and David Fahrenthold:
eilperinj@washpost.com
fahrentholdd@washpost.com
CapitalClimate
July 18, 2010 at 11:31 pm
David Fahrenthold’s email is rejecting my message. Are you sure about the address? I cannot find it online to verify. There is just a Web form for contact.
Scott Mandia
July 19, 2010 at 6:50 am
Try dropping the second d; looks like the name is too long to follow their usual convention.
CapitalClimate
July 19, 2010 at 11:42 am
Thank you. We need more of this kind of action.
I also plan to contact candidates for office (even those I will never vote for); primaries are coming up.
You can find who’s running here:
http://www.congress.org/election/home/
sample letter:
Dear Candidate,
I am writing to remind you that global climate change is the most critical challenge facing our generation. Scientific evidence shows without a doubt that humans are changing the very fabric our environment. Clear statements summarizing the science and the dangers of inaction have been issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, National Academy of Sciences, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Meteorological Society, American Geophysical Union, among many, many others. These statements are based on independent analyses of thousands of peer-reviewed articles that have studied and debated all parts of earth system science. We now know conclusively that (i) the climate is warming; (ii) warming is caused by the transfer of fossil carbon from deep in the earth into the atmosphere; (iii) the economic benefits of converting to renewable and efficient energy far outweigh the costs of doing nothing.
The years 2000-2010 were the hottest decade in recent history and record high temperatures are occurring around the globe; the oceans have warmed and are becoming acidified; glaciers are melting; extreme weather events such as floods, heat waves, droughts, and storms are becoming more common.
A small, but vocal group, continues to dispute the evidence for global warming and its human causes. A recent study showed that more than 97% of climate scientists agree with the basic facts of human-caused climate change (Anderegg, et al., 2010). The recent attacks on climate science known as “climategate” have been proved to be completely baseless. The accused scientists at the University of East Anglia were cleared of any wrongdoing in three independent inquiries, and their scientific results were shown to be correct. On the US side of that issue, Dr. Mann at Penn State was also completely exonerated. Prominent climate change denier Christopher Monckton continues to promote his distorted scientific interpretations to the public despite a recent point-by-point debunking by Prof. John Abraham of the University of St. Thomas. Opinions and threats cannot trump science; climate change will continue whether or not people dispute the facts. But, we cannot afford to allow these sideshows divert us from the crisis at hand.
I expect my elected officials to be responsible for the well-being of their constituents and to show that they understand the overriding threat posed by global warming. Please explain clearly in your campaign how you plan to move our society away from dependence on risky forms of energy such as coal and protect our climate for future generations.
My support will depend on this issue.
Sarah
July 19, 2010 at 12:18 pm
You guys are joking right?
These personal attacks on scientists must end now. Climate change is the greatest threat to humanity this century and it is criminal to intentionally misrepresent the science and attack the scientists that find the evidence for manmade warming.
After the whitewash of the CRU investigations, the MM is all over reporting how jones et al have been cleared of any wrongdoing.
The personal attacks on scientists have ben directed almost exclusively at “denialists” for years – turnabout is fair play after all.
Have you ever met a denialist? I have – they don’t deny anything.
Have a nice day.
e.a.blair
July 20, 2010 at 6:40 am
do you live under a rock?
or just with your head in the sand?
visit Exxon Secrets some time
citizenschallenge
July 29, 2010 at 3:45 pm
E.A. Blair says:
You guys are joking right?
[–SNIP–]
The personal attacks on scientists have ben directed almost exclusively at “denialists” for years – turnabout is fair play after all.
***************************
Forever the Bully crying out Victim! You make the vile and Orwellian claim that personal attacks were initiated against skeptics for years. Let’s go back, say five years, and collect all the statements made by one side in reference to the other. The following makes it obvious what you and your kind are made of.
For example, Mr. Blair, those who believe in Man Made Global Warming are supposed to be guilty of killing millions of Africans who have died from famine. Makes sense, does it not?
Environmentalists are responsible for the deaths of 40 million Africans, mostly children, who have died from Malaria? Who would have known?
And, of course, the usual litany of Glenn Beckian curse words hurled at them for daring to oppose the will of “skeptics” Oil Company Pimps. To wit:
Fascist, Socialist, Communist, Marxist, Nazi, Goebbelian, Hitler Youth* and every political obscenity that slanderous sphincter mouths can puke.
That is what His Lordship Monckton, Prince of “skeptics” has been hurling at the faces of scientists and those who acknowledge Man Made Global Warming. And he has the whole hearted support of millions of lunatics who parrot his every word.
The TURNABOUT, as you refer to it, Mr. Blair, is going to be directed at your very face and that of those psychopaths/narcissists/psychotics who INITIATED SUCH VILE AND INSANE ACCUSATIONS.
Do keep in mind also, that you intellectually bankrupt and moral degenerates have done much more than merely slander people.
Your kind has inflicted pain and suffering as well as harassment and persecution.
You have inspired death threats against those whose jobs are of far more worth than that of those Corporate vampires that you worship.
You are laying the foundations for Global Genocide.
There’s an ill wind blowing Mr. Blair and it’s coming your way.
* Directed at a Jewish student who twice told “His Lordship” that he did not attend let alone interrupt his meeting.
villabolo
August 9, 2010 at 10:59 pm
Excellent, Thank you!
I hope you don’t mind if I shamelessly copy this post onto my own blog… of course giving you full credit and a link to this blog.
citizenschallenge
July 29, 2010 at 3:13 pm
Let’s not forget one of the foremost interviewers in this country Terry Gross at Fresh Air
http://www.wnyc.org/shows/freshair/
Also those Young Turks on YouTube:
Rebel Headquarters:
http://www.theyoungturks.com
theyoungturks@googlegroups.com
citizenschallenge
July 29, 2010 at 3:47 pm
Oh and let’s not forget the report that NOAA just released
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2010/20100728_stateoftheclimate.html
NOAA: Past Decade Warmest on Record According to Scientists in 48 Countries Earth has been growing warmer for more than fifty years
July 28, 2010
The 2009 State of the Climate report draws on data for 10 key climate indicators that all point to the same finding: the scientific evidence that our world is warming is unmistakable.
Check out the link – the truth is out there!
citizenschallenge
July 29, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Incidentally, I was so impressed with Professor Abraham’s presentation that I created an index, with notes relating to every slide – a study guide so to speak. I have striven to make these notes true to the words and the spirit of PhD Abraham’s ±90 minute, 126 slide presentation.
If anyone’s interested:
#1 Index for “Abraham v Monckton”:
http://citizenschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/06/index-for-abraham-v-monckton.html
#2 A Citizen’s Unauthorized Notes:
http://citizenschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/06/citizens-unauthorized-notes-science-on.html
citizenschallenge
July 29, 2010 at 8:07 pm
[…] Monckton of Brenchley, sent the following email message to me in response to my blog post titled Turn the Tables on Monckton: The Viscount Monckton of Brenchley's Message to Me […]
Monckton Responds to My Defense of Abraham « Global Warming: Man or Myth?
August 2, 2010 at 7:55 am
Scott.
Given Monckton’s response to your defense of John Abraham, I am moved to add my support for this thread, and for you.
Bernard J.
August 2, 2010 at 10:29 am
[…] the facts about climate science and then threatened people like John Abraham who expose him. Prof. Mandia wrote, Monckton has been exposed by Dr. John Abraham and instead of hiding his tail and whimpering away, […]
The Monckton Files: Threatening Scott Mandia « Anti-Climate Change Extremism in Utah
August 2, 2010 at 10:35 am
[…] here), Scott figured that such a move is as good for the goose and wrote a piece titled, ‘Turn the tables on Monckton‘, in which he formulated a standard email and collected a stack of media email addresses to […]
The Dirty Hands of Bad Science: Fighting reason with legal action « Moth incarnate
August 3, 2010 at 12:46 am
[…] 1050+ comments), has now threatened action for libel against Professor Scott Mandia. Mandia wrote a blog post in support of Abraham, inviting members of the media to consider if Monckton were a fraud — which drew a spiteful […]
Monckton is a fraud
August 3, 2010 at 5:36 am
[…] stand by my original blog post and I request that you immediately apologize to Dr. Abraham and to the University of St. Thomas for […]
Open Letter to Christopher Monckton « Global Warming: Man or Myth?
August 6, 2010 at 6:03 am
WHO IS LORD MONCKTON? (673)
Dear Durango Telegraph Editor,
There’s an exciting brouhaha going on within the Global Warming blogosphere these days. Every bit as heated and implication laden as ClimateGate was a half year ago. Not surprisingly, big media isn’t covering this story. Just as they seem to be ignoring the exposure of the fabricated charges and nonexistent sins scientists supposedly perpetrated in “ClimateGate.”
This saga concerns the lowly academician who dared question the darling of the “Man Made Global Warming Is A Hoax” community. You see, one John Abraham PhD, a professor of Thermo Sciences sat in on the, by now infamous, September 14th 2009 lecture by Lord Christopher Monckton for the Minnesota Free Market Institute. Professor Abraham came to listen and what he heard so disturbed him that for the next few months he turned all his spare time and energy into investigating specific claims Lord Monckton made and then created a presentation of his own: “Abraham v Monckton.” Google it.
It is a beautiful piece of scientific video debate. Item by item Professor Abraham calmly points out… how should I put it… distortions, misrepresentations, meaningless distractions, fabrications, avoidance of existing contrary evidence in Lord Monckton’s ninety minute presentation. Please, listen to it. I’ll bet you agree “Abraham v Monckton” sounds like a serious professor talking to a class and expecting folks to do some homework.
Lord Monckton, never one to allow criticism ~ and never one for a focused point by point, head to head ~ has retaliated with a withering 48,000 word long missive, containing among other sections, 466 questions for Professor Abraham’s 126 slide presentation, plus a demand for $110,000 in damages. Reading through Monckton’s endless words I kept being reminded of the punch line to some old joke: “baffle ‘em with bullshit.”
Notably, in Lord Monckton’s missive: the man refers to himself “pluralis majestatis,” that is, in the royal third person. Consider the implications of such a conceit. It implies one believes they are ordained by God from up on high… personal like! Historically, that’s how Kings maintained power, they were God’s appointed and anointed and superior to all their subjects. The further unavoidable implication is that Chris Monckton actually believes his own words are “infallible.” That would explain why he’s so livid at Professor Abraham and has so loudly, theatrically even, threatened impossible legal action.
I am not misleading about Monckton’s presumption. To prove it one only needs to look at Lord Monckton’s opening slides. The first one is Monckton’s brand, I guess he’d call it a “royal seal.” In the Viscount of Brenchley Lord Monckton’s case it looks like jail bars bracketed by lengths of chain, over arching all is a regal crown. In this first slide it’s superimposed upon an infrared image of the sun. Orwell couldn’t have made up this stuff, but you only need to look up Monckton’s power point to see it happening.
But, it’s the second slide that really gets my goat. It is Lord Monckton’s brand flanked by crossed American and Canada flags and the good lord’s proclamation: “Christopher Monckton of Brenchley Dominion – Canada and United States of America.” Come on Chris! What the heck! “Dominion over the USA?” Just who do you think you are? Distressingly, during his presentation these salt of the earth Minnesota Republicans are applauding this guy like he’s the second coming. Wouldn’t proud American’s be appalled and demand: “How dare you slather such nonsense in our faces?!”
It makes me despair at how far right wingers will go to avoid looking at the real physical planet we are passengers on. The lord claims he is smarter and more honest than tens of thousands of hard working scientists, yet all Monckton showed his audience was a whole lot of partisan political entertainment with precious little science – all the while ignoring tons of down to earth evidence. And the crowd was eating it up.
Why this need to embrace willful ignorance, when there really is new stuff out there that all of us, including right wingers, had better start honestly learning about?
citizenschallenge
August 8, 2010 at 3:36 pm
Scott,
Lord Bunkum has a history of threatening with legal action, those that reveal his lies for what they are.
You are in good company.
Thank you for standing up for science!
Amoeba
August 9, 2010 at 12:17 pm
[…] you to send letters to the various media sources that I have listed in the previous blog post Turn the Tables on Monckton. Please make your voices […]
Monckton Testimony at US Congress: Ignorance or Perjury? « Global Warming: Man or Myth?
September 21, 2010 at 6:30 pm
[…] all of Monckton’s points. Monckton then produced a rebuttal to Abraham, demanded that St. Thomas retract Abraham’s presentation, and asked his supporters to bombard the email inbox of St. Thomas School’s president demanding […]
War Stories: Perspectives of Scientists Who Become Targets - Climate Science Legal Defense Fund
March 28, 2017 at 9:09 pm