Scientists Denounce Global Warming Report 'Edits': Public Health Experts Say Edits Represent Censoring of Science

News Type: Event — Seeded on Fri Oct 26, 2007 9:23 AM EDT

Article Source: ABC News

science, global-warming, climate-change, bush-administration, censorship, public-health, white-house-office, polticalization

Seeded by Catch22

Environmental and public health experts overwhelmingly denounced editing by the White House of a federal health agency head's testimony to Congress Tuesday. Significant deletions were made from the testimony, concerning global warming and the potential impact on human health.

The original, unedited testimony presented to Congress by Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and obtained by ABC News was 14 pages long, but the White House Office of Management and Budget edited the final version down to a mere six pages.

Scientists and public health organizations called the move "frustrating," "terrible" and "appalling." The edits essentially deleted all sections that referred to climate change as a public health concern -- including the risks of increased food-borne and waterborne diseases, worsening extreme weather events, worsening air pollution and the effect of heat stress on humans.

UPDATE:
Link to Report Showing Testimony and Redaction by OMB: View text of unedited climate testimony
White House removed large chunk of CDC director's statement

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3.9

{"commentId":1131753,"authorDomain":"japark"}

jpark

Since the CDC is not staffed with climatology experts, a climatology report from that agency is probably inappropriate.

It is generally inappropriate for an agency to issue reports in areas in which they have no expertise and which fall outside of their regulatory oversight.

{"commentId":1131753,"threadId":"167410","contentId":"1051426","authorDomain":"japark"}

1 vote

#1 - Fri Oct 26, 2007 11:32 AM EDT

{"commentId":1131840,"authorDomain":"Catch22"}

Catch22

Did you actually read the seed? Its not a climatology report. Its a report on the health impacts from climate change IF it happens. This is not a report about the likelyhood of climate change - IT is a report about the probable health impacts as climate change occurs.

These are different issues. Nor does the report address what the causes of climate change are.

ISSUE ONE: Should we expect climate change.
ISSUE TWO: What are the drivers of current changes in climate.
ISSUE THREE: IF there is climate change as predicted above, what impacts should we expect on public health.

This report is not about either ONE or TWO but only THREE.

including the risks of increased food-borne and waterborne diseases, worsening extreme weather events, worsening air pollution and the effect of heat stress on humans.

Who do you think has the expertise to issue reports on the probably public health impacts of climate change. Climate change experts are not experts about pubic health dependence on the environement.

{"commentId":1131840,"threadId":"167410","contentId":"1051426","authorDomain":"Catch22"}

2 votes

#1.1 - Fri Oct 26, 2007 12:00 PM EDT

{"commentId":1132570,"authorDomain":"japark"}

jpark

This seed does not contain the original report or the redacted report nor does it contain links to either report.

Difficult to discuss details when details are not available.

{"commentId":1132570,"threadId":"167410","contentId":"1051426","authorDomain":"japark"}

1 vote

#1.2 - Fri Oct 26, 2007 4:00 PM EDT

{"commentId":1132633,"authorDomain":"Catch22"}

Catch22

If you read the article it was clear what was being reported upon.

In any case here is a link to the report. (I am also updating the seed to include the link to the report)

Notice that the edits were performed not by scientists or people with expertise about public health and climate but rather than by the Office of Management and Budget. The OMB is an extension of the White House.

{"commentId":1132633,"threadId":"167410","contentId":"1051426","authorDomain":"Catch22"}

1 vote

#1.3 - Fri Oct 26, 2007 4:22 PM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"167410","isPrivate":false}

White House: Report Not `watered Down'	Associated Press	Tue Oct 23	6
CDC congressional testimony severely edited by White House	CNN	Wed Oct 24	0
Sources: White House cut testimony - What is the government hiding about the health risks of global warming?	CNN	Wed Oct 24	2
White House Chided for Editing Testimony	Associated Press	Wed Oct 24	1
CDC Director's unedited report to Congress available here.	NRDC Blog	Fri Oct 26	0

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Scientists Denounce Global Warming Report 'Edits': Public Health Experts Say Edits Represent Censoring of Science

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