James Hansen Calls for Trial of Oil Giant CEO's

Twenty years after his first testimony to congress about the dangers of climate change James Hansen is back. According to the New York times he is back with attitude. Or more seriously, he has long since run out of patience with obstructionist politicians and companies that are pushing us all down a destructive path that we need not be on. The timeline of climate change and its public presentation durning the last twenty years is here.

Hansen called for the trial of oil company CEO's who where involved in spreading misinformation about climate change in an attempt to stifle decisive action. An attempt that worked and that we are not paying the price for. Interestingly the NYT ignored this aspect of the story! We have to cross the channel and read the Telegraph or the Guardian to find out about Hansen's statements on the parralles between big oil and big tabacco and how they delt with science.

Hansen tells the Guardian:

When you are in that kind of position, as the CEO of one the primary players who have been putting out misinformation even via organisations that affect what gets into school textbooks, then I think that's a crime.

Against this backdrop it is rather sad to see Gordon Brown begging for more oil. New Labour don't seem to get it--The opportunities of greentech, and the need for action, that is.

Home del.icio.us Digg This!