Harrabin’s Anti Coal Mine Campaign Steps Up
By Paul Homewood
Even by Harrabin’s standards, this is really the most disgraceful piece of political campaigning dressed up as a news story:
The leading climate scientist James Hansen has warned Boris Johnson that he risks “humiliation“ over plans for a new coal mine in Cumbria.
The UK government, which hosts a climate summit this year, has allowed the mine at Whitehaven to go ahead.
Dr Hansen, formerly Nasa’s leading global warming researcher, urged the PM to halt production – or be “vilified”.
No 10 said the UK was a world leader on climate change, but would not reverse the local council decision on the mine.
In his letter, Dr Hansen – whose testimony before the US Senate helped raise wider awareness of global warming back in 1988 – writes: “In leading the [climate conference], you have a chance to change the course of our climate trajectory, earning the UK and yourself historic accolades.
“Or you can stick with business-almost-as-usual and be vilified around the world.
“It would be easy to achieve this latter ignominy and humiliation – just continue with the plan to open a new coal mine in Cumbria in contemptuous disregard of the future of young people and nature.
“The contrary path is not so easy, but, with your leadership, it is realistic.”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55923731
Quite what relevance the view of one US scientist has to do with UK political affairs is a mystery. Last time I checked, we were a parliamentary democracy.
As usual with a Harrabin report, there are no counter views offered, other than a standard government response, so his readers are unable to see all the facts and make their own judgment.
His position at the BBC is surely now untenable.
Comments are closed.
NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT 
“His position at the BBC is surely now untenable.”
I wouldn’t bet on it.
It’s been untenable for as long as I can remember, but as long as he toes the party line, he is safe (even now that he is long past retirement age).
A cursory mention that it is for steel production which in a balanced report would actually be the main point to refute Hansen. Anyway, humiliated by who? A tiny number of climate zealots and 6 houses Kerry?
I knew good quality coal was needed for much steel making when I was around 15, in the 1960s: it was either in my O’ level Chemistry course, or just General Knowledge.
The fact that this fact has disappeared from view highlights the woeful state of education.
Don’t forget his private jet as used to collect green awards (see WUWT today).
Yes, I heard Harrabin this morning on the today programme. His report was predictable . Less predictable was the competent riposte from a local and elected officer. Steel making is a strategic resource for the UK and some pollution is the price unless, like so many other dirty industries, the process is sent off shore to India or China.
I see Harrabin now holds the post of environmental analyst at the BBC.Not exactly a compelling authority.
I could hardly believe my ears listening to the Today programme this morning when, as Thomas says, they allowed a response demolishing Hansen’s ignorant propaganda. Where were the BBC thought police? How was this allowed? No doubt the local man will be banned for life when someone realises what happened.
Talking of humiliation, and purely for balance purposes, perhaps Hairbrain could have mentioned that Hansen has a history of so many failed and exaggerated alarmist prophecies to his name that most decent and honourable scientists would have died of embarrassment by now had they uttered them.
Secondly, being such a huge fan of renewables, is not the Beeb aware that it is impossible to plaster the country with windmills without the use of millions of tons of steel, for which coking coal, such as that being mined at Whitehaven, is an essential ingredient in their manufacture. Surely they wouldn’t want such activities, along with their resulting emissions, to be off shored to countries with much lower environmental standards than ourselves?
Hairbrain has never allowed facts to get in the way of seeing his byline under an alarmist headline. A psychiatrist would have a field day uncovering all the insecurities that lead Hairbrain to act the way he does. He is the perfect example of the woeful state of UK education highlighted by Robert Christopher above.
Roger Harrabin from Wikipedia..”.b.28 March 1955 (age 65 years)”
From https://www.gov.uk/state-pension-age/y/age/1955-03-28
“You’ll reach State Pension age on 28 March 2021.”
Can’t someone just tell him to f#ck off at the end of next month!.
He’s probably already tapped up (or been tapped up by) the likes of Greenpeace for a job.
Heck he’d think he deserves it after all the free publicity he gives them.
Don’t forget his predecessor Roger Black, now working for the ECIU misinformation unit!
I gave up listening to BBC Radio 4 some time ago. It was not good for my blood pressure.
Benny Peiser was on Talk Radio just earlier. Refreshing to hear a radio station prepared to provide balanced debate.
Complaint sent to bbc – I know it’s useless to do so but I have plenty of time on my hands at the moment!
Can you tell me what is the address I should use to send complaints.
Here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact/complaints/make-a-complaint/#/Complaint
You can do it online here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact/complaints
I had a look at the company’s website. Some strong arguments about steelmaking in the UK and Europe.
One statistic caught my eye: an offshore wind turbine requires 250 tons of coal for its steel.
Mr H should be challenged to state where he thinks the steel needed for UK projects should come from. He wants more turbines. Does he want them to be built with British materials?
If yes then STFU.
If no then explain what that means for “green” jobs.
” Dr Hansen – whose testimony before the US Senate helped raise wider awareness of global warming back in 1988 – writes: “In leading the [climate conference], you have a chance to change the course of our climate trajectory, earning the UK and yourself historic accolades. Or you can stick with business-almost-as-usual and be vilified around the world. “It would be easy to achieve this latter ignominy and humiliation – just continue with the plan to open a new coal mine in Cumbria in contemptuous disregard of the future of young people and nature.”
Dr. Hansen (along with activist Bill McKibben) is the one who demands we return the atmosphere to what it was in 1987…350 ppm. What he apparently fails to comprehend is that Net-zero goal would now take the capture and geological storage of 65 ppm. Had he bothered to make the calculation he would realize that requires storing safely ~500 gigatonnes of oxidized carbon. Totally impossible. It might be humiliating to have to address and explain that to a Senate committee on a cold and snowy day.
This is utterly preposterous from the BBC. Hansen is expressing nothing more than a personal political opinion. The fact he is a climate scientist is completely irrelevant. Giving coverage to one person’s political opinion without balancing it with somebody else’s opposite opinion is obviously biased.
It could not be more clearly political bias.
Harrabin? A climate scientists? Not according to Wikizero.
“Harrabin was born and raised in England where his father ran a building firm with his wife and brother. He attended Stivichall Primary School and King Henry VIII School. He then studied English at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge”
Sorry, misread the name… you were referring to Hansen.
Hansen was so sure of his testimony to the Senate that he and AN Other opened the windows in the hearing room the night before to ensure that the aircon would malfunction. This meant the hearing was held in a hot room. This immature activist has even boasted about what they did. So right from the start there was no faith that their story would be convincing on its own.
Interestingly looking at the comments section on Harrobin BBC article. The majority of contributors looks to be in favour of the West Cumbria Coal mine going ahead. Looks like common sense is over coming his preposterous eco propaganda
Hansen loves to get himself arrested for his political protests. We should crowd-fund the airfare to send him to Beijing to do one of his protests.
Just seen the BBC 6 pm propaganda slot. Sod the economy, sod the jobs – let’s make a gesture because Britain is hosting a COP 26 talking shop. Oh and it will have diddly squat effect on the climate as we will simply burn imported coal instead.
I saw the short piece on BBC 6.00pm news by Justin Rowlett who let it be known that lots and lots of environment NGOs are outraged but did have the decency to include a short walking interview with the Mayor of Whitehaven who was delighted about the mine bringing prosperity and jobs to the area.
BTW We know Hanson hates coal from years back when he equated a train of coal trucks to the Nazi trains of Jewish prisoners on their way to the concentration camps. What a charming fellow he is!
Fyi
I shall reply appropriately!
Chris Davie (MSc Mining Engineering, Imperial College)