Category: Uncategorized

COST-BENEFIT BURDEN. "Given the starting presumption, it is up to the public (or their government) to show that costs exceed benefits. If they fail to meet that burden, an economic activity can continue ... scientific uncertainty, doubt and ignorance allow economic activity to continue, even when it is acknowledged to be causing substantial harm." http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2009/032009/interview-montague.html View in LinkedIn

US COST-BENEFIT BIAS. "Therefore, faced with uncertainty, ignorance or doubt, the law presumes that economic growth should continue - until an explicit cost-benefit analysis can show conclusively that the costs to society outweigh any benefits." http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2009/032009/interview-montague.html View in LinkedIn

FUNDING DOUBT. "Conservative billionaires used a secretive funding route to channel nearly $120m (£77m) to more than 100 groups casting doubt about the science behind climate change. They are attempting to create doubt in order to protect oil company revenues." One example out of many. http://lnkd.in/ds33c8g View in LinkedIn

US COST-BENEFIT BIAS. "Even when considerable harm is acknowledged, the starting presumption is that economic growth provides more benefits than costs." http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2009/032009/interview-montague.html View in LinkedIn

MANUFACTURED UNCERTAINTY. "Uncertainty is an inherent problem of science, but manufactured uncertainty is another matter entirely. Over the past three decades, industry groups have frequently become involved in the investigative process when their interests are threatened." http://lnkd.in/dNgQcXG View in LinkedIn

CLIMATE CHANGE could be characterized as an untestable experiment, and proponents of change adopt the Precautionary Principle, and opponents some kind of Risk Management driven by expanding economic growth. This is basis for understanding the contrary argument, unfathomable on the face of it, from the other viewpoint. View in LinkedIn

EXCESSIVE SKEPTICISM. "Skepticism is good, but dogmatic skepticism may not be. Skepticism helps us discover the truth; excessive skepticism may obscure the truth." Understatement can be so refreshing. http://lnkd.in/drM44hZ View in LinkedIn

GREAT EXAMPLE OF PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE Nov 2, 2014. "Climate change is happening, it's almost entirely man's fault and limiting its impacts may require reducing greenhouse gas emissions to zero this century, the U.N.'s panel on climate science said Sunday." http://lnkd.in/dNiUzMW View in LinkedIn

RESPONSIBLE SKEPTICISM. "The scientific method is central to skepticism. The scientific method requires evidence, preferably derived from validated testing. Anecdotal evidence and personal testimonies generally don't meet the qualifications for scientific evidence, and thus won't often be accepted by a responsible skeptic." http://skeptoid.com/skeptic.php View in LinkedIn

JOSEPH GUTH on the cost-benefit analysis, which enjoys a special status in U.S. law and policy. "U.S. law was designed to promote economic growth ... faced with uncertainty, ignorance or doubt, the law presumes that economic growth should continue - until an explicit cost-benefit analysis can show conclusively that the costs to society outweigh any benefits." http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2009/032009/interview-montague.html View in LinkedIn