Where are the sinking PI evacuees, Mr Gore?

29 October 2006

Whereabouts in New Zealand are the sinking Pacific Island evacuees, Mr Gore?

The New Zealand Super Fund has been challenged to ask Al Gore, when he visits the country next month, for the whereabouts of the Pacific Islanders that Gore says in his film have been evacuated to New Zealand because their islands are drowning.

This challenge has been issued by the New Zealand Climate Science Coalition, through Owen McShane, chairman of its policy panel. The coalition also wants to know who is paying for the visit. The challenge follows the announcement at the Labour Party conference that Al Gore is to visit New Zealand on 14 November for a private meeting with the Super Fund board, invited MPs and business leaders – but no media.

“In view of the announcement at the Labour Party conference and the linkage with the Super Fund, New Zealanders are entitled to know just who is meeting the cost of bringing to New Zealand a rabble rouser who has admitted to being liberal with the truth,” said Mr McShane. The Super Fund should be asked to explain how it can have faith in a man like Gore who made the following admission in an interview in the United States with David Roberts of Grist magazine (9 May 2006):

“Nobody is interested in solutions if they don't think there's a problem. Given that starting point, I believe it is appropriate to have an over-representation of factual presentations on how dangerous (global warming) is, as a predicate for opening up the audience to listen to what the solutions are, and how hopeful it is that we are going to solve this crisis."

“How much ‘over-representation’ can we expect from Mr Gore in New Zealand? He has been liberal with the truth about Pacific Islanders being evacuated to New Zealand because their islands are sinking; he has ignored the fact that Antartica is accumulating ice; and he still promotes the “hockey stick” curve that has been unmasked as scientific fraud; just how much else of his film and claims on global warming can we believe?” asked Mr McShane.

“It’s a pity that the Super Fund, and the Labour Party leaders who are promoting the Gore film, did not first check out the critical comments that appear on our coalition’s website (www.climatescience.org.nz) where they will find scientists and other commentators challenging the accuracy and validity of the claims in the Gore film.

“There are many in the U.S. and elsewhere who interpret the Gore film as an opening shot in a campaign to revive his presidential ambitions. When you place this alongside the comment from UK that the paper on the economics of global warming by Sir Nicholas Stern due for release next week has been timed to influence the forthcoming U.S. congressional elections, we have to ask why our New Zealand Super Fund is getting itself involved in global politics?

“If the Super Fund wants to promote better understanding of the still uncertain science about climate change, let them also invite to New Zealand someone like Professor David Bellamy to debate the issue publicly with Mr Gore. I’m sure one or other of our television channels would jump at the chance to screen such a debate,” said Mr McShane.

ENDS

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