Hansen Faces Hatred and Death Threats

I interviewed author Mark Bowen a year ago about James Hansen, the great climatologist, with whom Bowen wrote the book Censoring Science. Somehow the discussion went to the intensity of reaction against Hansen from those who refuse to accept the reality of global warming.

Bowen mentioned that Hansen had gotten some death threats. He said Hansen considered the threats too flaky to be very worrying.

I didn't pursue the topic far, but this week I was reminded of Bowen's remark by a long thread of web comments notable for the disgust and hatred directed against Hansen and climate activist Danny Bloom.

Bloom has, according to the popular site Watts Up With That, filed a suit against national governments seeking $1 billion in damages from "all world leaders for intent to commit manslaughter against future generations of human beings."

Filing such a suit was a misguided idea, in my view, for the same reason that pursuing impeachment against Bush and Cheney would have been a misguided strategy for Democrats to pursue.

Better to elect a President who really cares about the planet. And better to back ways and means of conserving energy, reducing carbon emissions, and increasing societal resilience, to protect us against the harms of global warming — and other threats. 

Nonetheless, the rawness and the viciousness of the hatred expressed on the thread can be quite shocking. Particularly since Hansen has absolutely nothing to do with this suit.

One has to wonder if this deeply thoughtful, thoroughly decent man really is at risk and should take precautions, in the same way that others in the public sphere have to guard against fanatics. 

Here's an example from the thread: Brooklyn Red Leg(03:16:48) :