Fully un-sceptical
Having cleaned the coffee out of my computer keyboard after reading this, and the fact that John Cook has just been appointed to the University of Queensland Global Change Institute as a (wait for it) research fellow in climate change communication (see here), I sent the link to my friend Luboš Motl at The Reference Frame. Luboš has already debunked Cook’s alarmist nonsense here, and I thought he might have a few words to say about this latest story. I wasn’t disappointed:
This guy has no clue about climate science or atmospheric physics but he has gained some notoriety for his mass production of talking points meant to spread the climate panic and produce doubts about well-established scientific insights that show that there is no reason to be worried about climate change.
Enjoy it here.
UPDATE: The most ridiculous thing about sites like Skeptical Science is that the agenda dictates everything. Cook completely believes that CO2 is the culprit, and anyone who doesn’t agree is a filthy denier (he believes this so strongly he’s even written a book about it), and so every single article and rebuttal is slanted to achieve that end. Science that confirms his position is treated with respect, science that contradicts it is rubbished and dismissed. It’s pure propaganda.
Now your response may be, well ACM is the same. And to an extent that’s true, except for the fact that ACM is here to respond to the alarmism spun by sites like Skeptical Science. We didn’t start it. We’re not the ones advocating the wholesale abandonment of Western economic growth.
At least the above story explains why he does it – fellowships, and the attendant research grants, and prizes are a pretty good motivation.
Australian Climate Madness 
I just loved Lubos Motl’s response – LOL.
Is this like Al Gore getting a Nobel Peace Prize ?
J.
This arrogant Government just wont let up will they! Their idea is to flood the knowledge base of Australian society with their doctrine, totally blocking any debate or reasoning, or any chance of real facts getting known. Disgusting,dangerous, and so typical of a socialist and deceitful Government.
They know they will be kicked out of office, but are in a huge panic to get the carbon tax in as their “legacy”!
If you make a comment on his “Skeptical Science” page u get banned lol
“Mr Cook, a finalist for the NSW Government Eureka Prize for Advancement of Climate Change Knowledge is Research Fellow in Climate Change Communication at the GCI. ”
Is that in the university’s politics department, marketing department or science department?
John Cook is the grand poobah of global warming alarmists.
He regularly preaches, through his website, of how pestilence and plague will strike down all non-believers … and take heed all ye of little faith that Armageddon will beseech thee and thy family if you do not repent and seek mercy in the name of the God called the divine Gaia … blah blah blah!
A pedaling purveyor of poppy poof!
The CSIRO pays for it’s own survey on climate change in support of it’s own research!
See here: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-24/climate-fight-does-little-to-sway-public/2854224
When the terms of reference for a prize are “for work that motivates action to reduce the impacts of climate change”, the outcome is pre-judged. As well as the assumption that climate change has impacts that need reducing, there’s that operative word motivates.
The prize can hardly go to anyone but the most egregious warming propagandist.
If I understand Simon correctly this guy is not evenn a pretend scientist.You could not even call him scientific journalist as he does not even pretend to look at AGW theory with anything but complete certainty and then try convince others to do the same. That is in fact his job .I wonder if he ever has to ring up Juliar or Combet when they are feeling a little discouraged make sure they are still 100% believers and possibly give them a warmist slogan or two for the next day..I am peeved at this perveyor of poitical propergander.
I think to be fair he claims to be a solar physicist…
To be fair again “What if he doesn’t know his arse from his elbow”.I suppose we can allways laugh at him and the fools who support him.CO2 is life,Cheers
This site is in no way like Skeptical Science. I could name dozens of differences, so here’s a few to start:
1. You publish critical comments and responses.
Actually, that’s the only difference I really need, and it underlies all the important differences. This place is a two way street, not a guarded cul-de-sac. You want to debate, he wants to dictate. You want to expand your knowledge, he wants to narrow it into conformity. You want all the evidence, he wants to filter it. You try to open new lines of reasoning, he tries his hardest to end them, any way he can. One is the way of the natural philosopher, the other that of the propagandist. Skeptical Science represents nothing skeptical or scientific, and certainly is nothing at all like this site.
Keep up the good work.