Coal Industry Group Organizes Campaign to Harass Top Climate Scientist

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It's pretty depressing to consider that even now, well into the 21st century, highly respected scientists are still harassed, intimidated, and attacked for their work. Ever since the far-right latched on to the hacked email event at the University of East Anglia, the well-regarded paleoclimatologist Michael Mann has been particularly victimized by conspiracy theorists and ideologues who claim global warming is a hoax.

He, his colleagues, even their families have received personal threats?just for working in a field that has produced some inconvenient findings for fossil fuel companies and, by extension, a particular political ideology.

But now, the harassment stands to accelerate. A coal industry group is now organizing an entire campaign to harass Michael Mann, who is giving a speech at the university where he works, Penn State. Brad Johnson reports:

If we've reached a point where scientists can be subjected to such organized attacks, it bodes ill for our society at large. Such campaigns could eventually have a chilling effect on good science in general. Who will want to go through all that hassle, personal discomfort, and, perhaps, danger, to collect and analyze some data?

The Common Sense Movement and Secure Energy for America should be deeply, deeply ashamed.

Seen Johnson's full report here, and read the repulsive pre-written letter here.