From Slashdot:

“The producer of ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ is accusing the National Science Teachers Association of being in the pocket of Big Oil because she can’t get preferential treatment for her film. The entire situation is turning into a ‘if you’re not with us, you’re against us’ yelling match. Regardless of the viewpoint, is it even possible that science can remain apolitical? Has it ever been?”

Regardless of the fact that Global Warming is real, An Inconvenient Truth is propaganda. It isn’t some impartial documentary about the science of what is going on in our atmosphere, it pushes a political agenda. Yes, Global Warming is real, but Al Gore’s political platform does not necessarily provide the best (or only) solution. So I’m not entirely certain that An Inconvenient Truth should be shown in schools…at least not without some sort of discussion about alternatives and real science accompanying it.

I also don’t see a problem with Big Oil funding science education. Again, if we wind up with propaganda movies being shown in the classroom (regardless of which side they come from) they need to be accompanied by discussion about alternative viewpoints and real science… But it really is in Big Oil’s best interest to provide children with a solid scientific education. They don’t just guess about where to build multi-million dollar oil drilling operations – it involves countless hours of surveying, poring over data, digging up rocks, drilling test wells…all of which boils down to scientific analysis. If Big Oil didn’t have well trained scientists to hire they’d have a very hard time earning their money.

Of course Big Oil is going to try to skew things to their viewpoint, it would be silly to expect anything different. I also doubt if any of these oil companies have the best interests of anyone but themselves in mind – again, it would be silly to expect anything different. Of course the studies they fund are going to turn out favorable results… Of course their websites are going to paint a rosy picture… What would you expect?

But that doesn’t mean that they can’t fund science education. All it means is that funding (as well as that coming from Government sources) needs to be put to good use. The money needs to be spent wisely, teaching materials need to be evaluated, topics need to be actively discussed from all available viewpoints.

Global Warming is real, it is happening, and anyone who tells you otherwise is an idiot. But nobody knows yet if it really is caused by us humans or if it is a natural cycle – and anyone who tells you otherwise is an idiot.

Posted on November 28 at 12:02 PM