| Green Column: Cap-and-Trade Is Beginning to Raise Some Concerns Opponents of offsetting have likened the system to the kind of financial engineering on Wall Street that helped precipitate the recent banking crisis. feeds.nytimes.com |
Two more arrests over python theft Two more men have been arrested over the theft of a python and a lizard from a pet shop in Rosanna, north-east of Melbourne. abc.net.au |
On Our Radar: Hardball on Drilling Ban Senator Mary Landrieu, Democrat of Louisiana, threatens to block President Obama's choice for running the Office of Management and Budget unless the deepwater drilling ban is immediately lifted. feeds.nytimes.com |
Science is Vital It's not a threat, it's not whining. We're scientists and we are reporting the factsThe last time I went on a demo was more than twenty years ago. It was either poll tax or student grants (remember those?). Probably there should have been others. Oh well.This was for science. Being an evidence-based community, there is a degree of scepticism amongst scientists about the practical benefits of demonstrating. In his speech, Dr. Evan Harris was eloquent about the difference between an intellectual argument and a political one. He may not be able to sing, but he does know some politics, and I buy it. We have to tell the public and the politicians that the UK has something precious (as in valuable and vulnerable) in its scientific capability, and in fact in its research and education more generally. And it is not enough just to tell politicians behind closed doors. The public need to know and the politicians need to know that the public know. Don't keep quiet. After all, we live in a democracy. And it beats living in caves.Other countries are investing in research to get out of recession. If we don't, people will leave either Britain or science or both. Britain is a great place, and I love science, so I don't want to do either of these things. But as Ben Goldacre said at the demo, this is not a whine, it's not a threat. We are just reporting facts. It's sort of our job.PS You can hear the speeches here.Jon Butterworthguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Green: Weatherization Went Awry, Study Says Twelve of 15 homes that underwent improvements financed by stimulus funds failed final inspections. For 10 homes, contractors billed for charges that were not incurred. feeds.nytimes.com |