1. SENATE TESTIMONY ON "NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT ON CLIMATE CHANGE" BY FRED SINGER (JULY 2000) demonstrates lack of current warming and inadequacy of climate models used to predict a future impact. See also testimonies by Richard Lindzen (TWTW of June 1, 2002) and Sallie Baliunas (TWTW of June 8, 2002).http://www.sepp.org/NewSEPP/testimony-singer.htm

2. OZONE DEPLETION ISN'T JUST CAUSED BY CFCS: A WELL-KEPT SECRET

3. FINLAND MOVES AHEAD WITH NUCLEAR REACTOR CONSTRUCTION

4. BRITISH PM BLAIR SLAMS ENVIRONMENTALIST PSEUDO-SCIENCE

5. CANADA IS STILL AGONIZING ABOUT KYOTO; STARTS PUBLIC DISCUSSION

6. GREENPEACE MAY COMPROMISE CHEMICAL SECURITY

7. ASSESSING THE SECURITY OF CHEMICAL PLANTS

8. BAD NEWS: "CALAMITY JANE" LUBCHENCO IS INCOMING PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC UNIONS.

9. And finally, SOLAR ENERGY SCAM FROM HOLLAND. We got this offer by e-mail but have been reluctant to sign up

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2. NASA study leads to better understanding of ozone depletion

Scientists have unraveled a mystery about hydrogen peroxide that may lead to a more accurate way of measuring a gas that contributes to depletion of Earth's protective ozone layer.

Scientists have long known that reactive hydrogen gases destroy stratospheric ozone. Too little ozone may lead to unwelcome changes in climate and to more ultraviolet radiation reaching Earth's surface. Ideally, atmospheric scientists would like to make global maps of the distribution of these gases, because there is increasing concern that their abundances may be rising due to increases in stratospheric humidity. These gases - comprising hydroxyl (OH) and hydroperoxyl (HO2) -- cannot be easily measured from space, but a product of their reaction, hydrogen peroxide, is detectable.

Dr. Ross Salawitch, an atmospheric chemist at JPL and a co-author of the study, said the research has important implications for future studies of ozone depletion. "The majority of observed ozone depletion over the past two decades was caused by the buildup of industrially-produced chlorofluorocarbons, he said. "As a result of the worldwide ban on chlorofluorocarbon production, Earth's atmosphere will cleanse itself of these gases over the next 50 to 100 years. Recently, however, scientists have become increasingly concerned that changes in Earth's climate could lead to increased levels of water in the stratosphere. This could lead to additional ozone depletion by reactive hydrogen gases, which are a byproduct of water. Our study addresses this concern, allowing scientists to monitor this process in the future."

SEPP Comment: A major source of stratospheric hydrogen is Methane produced by human activities, like cattle-raising and rice-growing. No public outcry about this--- because it's "natural," i.e., not produced by "profit-seeking Western industry,"

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3 Finland's parliament accepted Teollisuuden Voima´s petition to build new nuclear power plant. 107 representatives voted for and 92 against this decision.

This means that new nuclear reactor will be built probably at Olkiluoto, western Finland. This means also that new nuclear reactors will be built also at EU area, which is good example for other western countries that nuclear power is not out-of-date technology. Building will start within two to three years and new reactor will produce electric power about year 2010.

Meanwhile Sweden is still debating the shutting down of the remaining operating reactor at Baerseback

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4. British PM Blair Slams Environmentalist Pseudo-Science:

In a recent interview with the London newspaper The Times, Britain's Labor Prime Minister Tony Blair harshly assailed the "anti-science fashion" that could place British medical and technological innovation in serious jeopardy. Citing a recent state visit in which he toured a series of high tech facilities in India, Blair declared: "I was struck in India by the very close links between enterprise and science and the fact that the Indians were openly saying that they felt that some of the anti-science attitudes in the developed economy were giving them real opportunities they were determined to exploit."

While conceding the validity of certain ethical questions regarding some scientific research, Blair is reported to be privately furious at the actions of protesters, which have resulted in work being held up on research into genetically modified foods, and at disruption that could threaten a neurological research project in Cambridge aimed at helping sufferers of Alzheimer's disease. The Prime Minister is angry over the regular description of GM foods as "Frankenstein foods," and at the way science was blamed for the BSE emergency. "BSE was not caused by bad science but by bad practices," Blair said. "Some of these protests have been completely over the top,"

Mr. Blair went on to say. "There are huge challenges and opportunities we have to face up to. It is time to defend science, to make clear that the Government is not going to allow misguided protests against science to get in the way of confronting the challenges of making the most of our opportunities." In an upcoming speech, Mr. Blair will speak of his objective to persuade more young people to take up mathematics, physics and engineering at school and university. He will say that scientists should be applauded and admired and should not have their work denigrated. He will speak of increasing co-operation between countries on research, saying that he does not want a "little Britain approach" to science. .

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5. Canada¹s Not-So-Public Consultations on Kyoto

by David Wojick (dwojick@climatechangedebate.org)
From: Electricity Daily <http://www.electricity-online.com>
Volume 18, Number 104, Thursday, May 30, 2002

The federal government of Canada has kicked off the first wave of what it calls "public consultations" on whether or not to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. A series of 14 "Canadian national stakeholder workshop sessions" will be held in major Canadian cities and in the Northern territories June 7-24. These workshops are not open to the public, or press, and the attendee lists are a state secret. Even the locations are secret.

The workshops revolve around a new Discussion Paper on Canada¹s Contribution to Addressing Climate Change. This 58-page paper, plus various background documents, supplant the 2000 Plan of Action. The discussion paper presents four basic options for meeting the Kyoto targets, which mostly differ in terms of the role of domestic emissions trading. In addition, a new report from the federal-provincial Modeling and Analysis Group indicates that Canada¹s "business as usual" emissions will grow faster than previously projected, making its reduction target larger that previously thought.

According to the Canadian government, workshop participants may submit written views, but only if they respond to specific "focus questions." These responses will be posted on the web in their language of composition, and "reflected in the final workshop report." Shortly after each workshop has taken place, a workshop summary will be made available, presumably revealing the attendees. A final workshop report is promised following the completion of all the workshops.

The government says that the public will finally get its chance this fall. According to the Climate Change Secretariat, "Broader public consultations will provide Canadians with the opportunity to express their views on Canada¹s response to climate change via the Internet or by mail. While the main target audience for the fall 2002 consultations is the general public, a special effort is being made to engage youth. For example, a moderator will facilitate a series of on-line discussions for young Canadians." A series of extended focus group sessions will also be held in the fall to "gain more in-depth feedback from randomly selected members of the general public."

The secretariat says "the document and questionnaire for the fall public consultations will provide general information on climate change, the Kyoto Protocol, Canada¹s plan to reach its target and a balanced explanation of the possible implications of ratifying the protocol." It is not clear that not ratifying the protocol is an option for public discussion.

The federal discussion paper is at
<http://www.climatechange.gc.ca/discussionpaper/>.

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6. WSJ Looks at Chemical Security, Information Debate:

In a front-page story, The Wall Street Journal looks at the current debate between "right to know" and "need to know." The article highlights plans by Greenpeace to publicize worst-case scenarios for a terrorist attack on a bleach plant just outside of New York City. While federal agencies have stripped government Web sites and reading rooms of such sensitive information, activist groups such as Greenpeace and OMB Watch continue to make the data available. In the right to know debate, the Journal says that "Sept. 11 left many people unclear about which should worry them more: recalcitrant chemical companies or loose-lipped environmentalists." "Environmentalists conclude that what they're doing could make it easier for terrorists to pick their targets." The bleach plant's COO says environmentalists "might as well paint a giant bull's-eye on his facility and pass out sniper rifles to terrorists." As the article reports, the debate is set to heat up further this summer as Sen. "Kit" Bond is expected to introduce a bill supported by the Department of Justice that would limit the public's right to view complete chemical-accident scenarios, and make it a crime for anyone with access to uncensored versions to disclose details. In the opposing camp, Democratic Sen. Jon Corzine will soon submit a revised version of a previous bill that would put strict new regulations in place for chemical manufacturers and users and mandate conversions to "inherently safer technologies."

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7. Justice Department To Release Assessment of Chemical Plant Security:

The Department of Justice is soon expected to send Congress a report on chemical security that has been long-awaited by both industry and environmentalists. The study, prepared by DOJ under contract with the Department of Energy's Sandia National Laboratories, will include observations on the state of security in the chemical industry and offer a methodology for chemical facilities to assess their vulnerabilities to terrorist attacks. The American Chemistry Council is planning to use the methodology as a component of a new industry-wide security code that is being developed as part of the association's voluntary Responsible Care® program. According to Chemical Policy Alert, the report is being released after environmentalists filed a lawsuit accusing DOJ of failing to meet its statutory obligations on assessing the chemical industry's security preparedness.

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8. "Calamity Jane" Lubchenco is incoming president of the International Council of Scientific Unions

As Oregon State Univ enviro-ideologist Lubchenco takes over, we wonder: Will she paint ICSU green? Will she politicize ICSU (as she tried to do with the AAAS)? Will ICSU become even less relevant?

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9. World Wide Green cuts consumer prices for solar : What an offer!

Zaandam, The Netherlands - June 2002 - Prices for consumption of solar electricity offered by World Wide Green (http://www.worldwidegreen.com) have been reduced by more than 50%. Currently the price of the product World Wide Green Solar is available to customers world-wide for 30 €cents per kWh. [or 27 cents US: a current price is about 8 cents per kWh]. For this price customers get the guarantee that the amount equivalent to a chosen share of the electricity they purchase from their regular electricity supplier is produced by new solar energy plants somewhere in the world.

For more information click http://www.worldwidegreen.com/news/pressrelease2.htm

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NOTE TO OUR READERS

There will be no TWTW for June 22 and 29.

We will be involved in Global Warming briefings in Rome and Munich
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