Climatologist Dr. Judith Curry on ‘Climate Hustle’: ‘Entertaining’ – ‘Morano’s interview with me was really fun’

https://judithcurry.com/2016/05/01/climate-hustle/

Let me start by discussing my take on Marc Morano, and why I agreed to be interviewed for his movie.  I first heard of Marc Morano circa 2006, from Joe Romm.  Romm’s take on Morano was basically that of the climate ‘anti-Christ.’  I then put ClimateDepot on my list of blogs to monitor, to check up on what the ‘evil’ side in the climate debate was up to.  I slowly built up an understanding of what Morano was doing, and I didn’t regard all of it as negative.

At some point (probably around the time of Climategate) I found myself on the same email list as Marc Morano, and we exchanged a few emails on issues of common interest.  Circa 2010 (if my memory serves) I referred to Marc Morano as a ‘demagogue’ (I can’t find this anywhere on the internet).  Marc was offended, we discussed this on email, and I raised my concern about his attacks on individual climate scientists that included publishing their email addresses, etc.  We declared sort of a truce on this, and we agreed to point out to each other if we spotted inappropriate behaviors.

Subsequently, I’ve met Marc several times, and I have to say I like the guy.  He’s smart and he’s funny (he pokes fun at both sides), and as far as I can tell he is honest.  When he asked to interview me for the movie, I agreed to do it.  The interview itself was really fun.  I have no complaints about how I was portrayed in the movie.

I saw an earlier version of the film in November, prior to the Paris premiere.  I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but my initial reaction was relief that there were no goofy or incredible statements about the science.  I found the movie to be pretty entertaining and even interesting, especially the narratives developed around silly alarmist statements made by scientists and politicians.

I thought the selection of featured scientists was quite good.  It included some new faces that were quite effective – Caleb Rossiter, Robert Giegengack, Richard Tol, Daniel Botkin were especially good.

The budget for this was shoestring, I think it was less than $500K (somewhere I recall seeing a $20M budget for Merchants of Doubt movie, this may not be correct).   Financials for Merchants of Doubt movie: $192K at the box office, with an additional $114K from …

‘On May 2nd Climate Hustle smashes on to the big screen’ – One-Night-Only Movie Event

Some of the craziest claims (at least the ones I have recorded)  include The Arab spring Incredible shrinking sheepInvasion of jellyfish in the MediterraneanSurge in fatal shark attacksSevere acneGlobal conflictBeer tasting differentSuicide of farmers in AustraliaBigger tuna fishFish shrinkage Longer days,Shorter daysCollapse of gingerbread houses in SwedenCow infertilityUFO sightings in the UKBear attacks in Japan Frigid Cold Winters in Great BritainDeath from heart disease,diabetes, stroke, respiratory disease and even accidents, Heavier, wetter snowstorms treacherous for travel and ambulation,  Lyme disease, swarms of allergy-inducing, stinging insects, along with mosquitoes and devastating pine bark beetle infestations and the spread of forest and crop pests 40,000 dead crabs Shorter, higher pitched frog mating calls, Unrest in the Middle EastScrewed-up love makingThe Japaneseearthquake-tsunamiHorrible rash of tornadoes in southeast United StatesExtended severe allergy seasons, Lyme disease, malaria or dengue fever, trauma, depression, high blood pressure and heart disease, Increased threat of wars, violence and military action against the UKMigration of possibly rabid Vampire bats from Mexico, Extreme weather, disappearing islands and less productive workdaysGiant SnakesArmed robbery, prostitution, and drug abuse in Ghana, will make you go nuts, The rise of terrorist group Boko HaramCaused the Seychelles snail to go extinct (its alive and well), Rock SnotIncrease anxiety, fear and depressionExpensive OlivesNo more red-haired people, women will become pear-shaped,  incontinent, impotent bald guys with extra hair growing from their toesGlobal CoolingThe Sinking of The Titanic Illegal Immigration ProstitutionISIS Walrus “Convention”,  Shrinking Goats

UK Daily Mail: ‘A pretend scientist in a bow tie’: ‘Climate denying Weather Channel founder SLAMS Bill Nye for criticizing skeptical film ‘Climate Hustle’

The film, marketed with the tagline ‘Are they trying to control the climate… or you?’ suggests that man-made global warming is a hoax.

Its website says that an ‘overheated environmental con job [is] being used to push for increased government regulations and a new “Green” energy agenda.’

Nye, a children’s TV host who has made a career out of presenting science-themed shows, is highly critical of climate change deniers.

When asked by the filmmakers whether climate-change deniers should be jailed, Nye replied, ‘Well, we’ll see what happens. Was it appropriate to jail the guys from ENRON?’

He continued: ‘Was it appropriate to jail people from the cigarette industry who insisted that this addictive product was not addictive and so on?’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3567104/Climate-change-denying-Weather-Channel-founder-SLAMS-Bill-Nye-criticizing-skeptical-film-Climate-Hustle.html#ixzz47QN8bBxe
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