cc: Jonathan Overpeck , "Michael E. Mann" , Caspar M Ammann , Raymond Bradley , Keith Briffa , Tom Crowley , Malcolm Hughes , Phil Jones , Tim Osborn , Kevin Trenberth , ethompso@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu date: Thu, 24 Jul 2003 09:38:40 -0700 from: Jonathan Overpeck subject: Re: letter to Senate to: Michael Oppenheimer Also makes sense... seems like things are getting done on multiple fronts. Sounds like your NAS comm., Mike, is the "weight in on solar forcing" committee. That explains the make up in my mind. Have fun... the NAS word on this issue will be important, and relevant to the issues (and papers) we've been debating. cheers, peck >Tom: > >I wasn't suggesting that AGU get involved...I agree that it's >neither necessary nor >a good use of AGU at this point. Rather, both our paper and the AGU >press release >are already public documents, so those in Washington with an >interest in this, like >my former colleagues, will likely just put the two together and >circulate them on >the Hill. > >Michael > >Tom Crowley wrote: > >> this has gotten too complicated..... >> >> I doubt AGU is going to contact the senators on this officially - I >> am not sure they should. why doesn't Mike M., as the senior author >> on the paper, just send an information copy to John McCain - >> practically the only Republican who has power and still seems >> somewhat sane. Mike does not need the permission of either his >> co-authors or AGU to do this - it is simply an information item as a >> point of note. >> >> Tom >> >> >Dear All: >> > >> >Since several of you are uncomfortable, it makes good sense to >>step back and >> >think about a more considered approach. My view is that >>scientists are fully >> >justified in taking the initiative to explain their own work and its >> >relevance in >> >the policy arena. If they don't, others with less scruples will be heard >> >instead. But each of us needs to decide his or her own comfort zone. >> > >> >In this case, the AGU press release provides suitable context, so it >> >may be that >> >neither a separate letter nor another AGU statement would add much >> >at this time. >> >But this episode is unlikely to be the last case where clarity from >> >individuals >> >or groups of scientists will be important. >> > >> >Michael >> > >> > >> > >> >Tom Wigley wrote: >> > >> >> Folks, >> >> >> >> I am inclined to agree with Peck. Perhaps a little more thought and time >> >> could lead to something with much more impact? >> >> >> >> Tom. >> >> _____________________________ >> >> >> >> Jonathan Overpeck wrote: >> >> > Hi all - I'm not too comfortable with this, and would rather >>not sign - >> >> > at least not without some real time to think it through and debate the >> >> > issue. It is unprecedented and political, and that worries me. >> >> > >> >> > My vote would be that we don't do this without a careful >>discussion first. >> >> > >> >> > I think it would be more appropriate for the AGU or some other >> >> > scientific org to do this - e.g., in reaffirmation of the >>AGU statement >> >> > (or whatever it's called) on global climate change. >> >> > >> >> > Think about the next step - someone sends another letter to the >> >> > Senators, then we respond, then... >> >> > >> >> > I'm not sure we want to go down this path. It would be much better for >> >> > the AGU etc to do it. >> >> > >> >> > What are the precedents and outcomes of similar actions? I >>can imagine a >> >> > special-interest org or group doing this like all sorts of other >> >> > political actions, but is it something for scientists to do as >> >>individuals? >> >> > >> >> > Just seems strange, and for that reason I'd advise against doing >> >> > anything with out real thought, and certainly a strong majority of >> >> > co-authors in support. >> >> > >> >> > Cheers, Peck >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> >> Dear fellow Eos co-authors, >> >> >> >> >> >> Given the continued assault on the science of climate change by some > > >> >> on Capitol Hill, Michael and I thought it would be >worthwhile to send >> >> >> this letter to various members of the U.S. Senate, accompanied by a >> > > >> copy of our Eos article. >> > > >> >> > > >> Can we ask you to consider signing on with Michael and me (providing >> > > >> your preferred title and affiliation). We would like to get >> >this out ASAP. >> >> >> >> >> >> Thanks in advance, >> >> >> >> >> >> Michael M and Michael O >> >> > >> >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> >> >> Professor Michael E. Mann >> >> >> Department of Environmental Sciences, Clark Hall >> >> >> University of Virginia >> >> >> Charlottesville, VA 22903 >> >> >> >>_______________________________________________________________________ >> >> >> e-mail: mann@virginia.edu Phone: (434) 924-7770 FAX: >>(434) 982-2137 >> >> >> http://www.evsc.virginia.edu/faculty/people/mann.shtml >> >> > >> >> >> >> > > >> Attachment converted: Macintosh HD:EOS.senate letter-final.doc >> >> >> (WDBN/MSWD) (00055FCF) >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > -- >> >> > >> >> > Jonathan T. Overpeck >> >> > Director, Institute for the Study of Planet Earth >> >> > Professor, Department of Geosciences >> >> > >> >> > Mail and Fedex Address: >> >> > >> >> > Institute for the Study of Planet Earth >> >> > 715 N. Park Ave. 2nd Floor >> >> > University of Arizona >> >> > Tucson, AZ 85721 >> >> > direct tel: +1 520 622-9065 >> >> > fax: +1 520 792-8795 >> >> > http://www.geo.arizona.edu/Faculty_Pages/Overpeck.J.html >> >> > http://www.ispe.arizona.edu/ >> > >> >Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=us-ascii; >> > name="omichael.vcf" >> >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit >> >Content-Description: Card for Michael Oppenheimer >> >Content-Disposition: attachment; >> > filename="omichael.vcf" >> > >> >Attachment converted: Macintosh HD:omichael 2.vcf (TEXT/ttxt) (0001BAD6) >> >> -- >> Thomas J. Crowley >> Nicholas Professor of Earth Systems Science >> Dept. of Earth and Ocean Sciences >> Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences >> Box 90227 >> 103 Old Chem Building Duke University >> Durham, NC 27708 >> >> tcrowley@duke.edu >> 919-681-8228 >> 919-684-5833 fax > >Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=us-ascii; > name="omichael.vcf" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit >Content-Description: Card for Michael Oppenheimer >Content-Disposition: attachment; > filename="omichael.vcf" > >Attachment converted: Macintosh HD:omichael 2.vcf (TEXT/ttxt) (00056944) -- Jonathan T. Overpeck Director, Institute for the Study of Planet Earth Professor, Department of Geosciences Mail and Fedex Address: Institute for the Study of Planet Earth 715 N. Park Ave. 2nd Floor University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85721 direct tel: +1 520 622-9065 fax: +1 520 792-8795 http://www.geo.arizona.edu/Faculty_Pages/Overpeck.J.html http://www.ispe.arizona.edu/