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UKIP Deputy Leader's scientific illiteracy dramatically exposed on video

David Campbell-Bannerman caught on tape saying that Venus has ice-caps (which are "melting"), and calling acceptance of manmade climate change "a cult"
The scientific illiteracy of UKIP, as manifested in their Deputy Leader and Eastern Region lead candidate David Campbell-Bannerman (likely to be an MEP after June 4th) has hit new lows.

In a vigorous and personal exchange with the Green Party's lead candidate for East England [that's me!] just filmed at a Union hustings (see note 1), Campbell-Bannerman denies the existence of manmade global warming, relies on the say-so of (astronomer, NOT climate-scientist) Patrick Moore in this denial (although he actually calls Moore an "astrologer"), appears to more than once call acceptance of the phenomenon of manmade climate change "a cult", and (most bizarrely of all) claims that the ice-caps of Venus are melting at the same rate as the Earth's ice-caps... Venus, whose average atmospheric temperature is approx 500 degrees C (see note 2) 

In order to slur climate campaigner Al Gore as being selfishly dedicated to becoming "the first green billionaire", Campbell-Bannerman cites having watched Fox news (at which point there is a ripple of laughter in the audience). In fact the Fox story he refers to has itself previously been exposed as having used a doctored video to omit Gore stating that "every penny that I have made, I have put right into a nonprofit". (see note 3)

Watch the video at www.youtube.com/rupertread 

Someone who fails to accept the existence of the premier threat of our time and thinks that to accept this threat is to be part of a 'cult', someone who knows so little about science that he thinks Venus has ice-caps - obviously failing to understand the devastating effects of Venus's extreme greenhouse effect - is singularly unfit to represent the British public in the European Parliament. Our East of England region is under worse threat than any other from the medium-term risk of sea-level rise; this man, speaking a stone's throw from the world's leading climate-scientists at the University of East Anglia, has flown in the face of this serious risk and is plainly failing to act in the best interests of voters. That UKIP have elected this man to be their Deputy Leader is an even greater indictment of their party as a whole.
"UKIP is chock-full of manmade-global-warming deniers and other conspiracy theorists. Their mask has slipped. They are an extreme fringe Party, who not only reject European democracy but many of the foundations on which civilised society is based. They will surely lose seats at the June 4 election, and thank heavens for that. 

Notes
(1) PCS union Eastern region European Election hustings, The Garage, Norwich, Thursday 14th May
(2) Venus has had no ice-caps for a long, long time... Of course, the reason why Venus has no ice-caps is because of the extreme greenhouse effect created by its atmosphere...


Comments

weggis said…
"They [UKIP] will surely lose seats at the June 4 election, and thank heavens for that."Only if potential UKIP voters read this blog, which they probably won't! Bless em.

Sorry for being so cynical, but Master Weggis and his Missus will be voting for you. Not sure about uncle Albert though, I'll phone him.
16 May 2009 at 22:07
bridge said…
Doesn't suprise me although with a 50/50 split in public opinion due to lobbying by vested interests the argument of Risk Management, as presented humourously by

http://www.youtube.com/user/wonderingmind42

is perhaps a useful approach...

Good luck in the elections...
17 May 2009 at 11:17
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