http://chronicle.com/blogPost/Hackers-Strike/8964/This article completely missed the point, exclusively covering the 'hacker strike' without noting the related revelation that important, though inconvenient, research data was willfully destroyed by the world's leading authority on Global Warming.
It's important to note that, since the UEA Climate Research Unit did not respond to Freedom of Information Requests, we might not ever have found out about the destroyed data if it wasn't for the leaks.
In virtually any other context the media and academic community would have praised the whistle blowers who likely put their jobs on the line.
It's interesting to see that CRU has only responded to the incident itself, but not to any of the details, which they have not denied.
The Chronicle only quotes Global Warming advocates who are appalled by the criminal act, that was 'mischievous' and part of a 'nasty smear campaign' (by an unnamed organization). Luckily the article assures us that nothing in the leaks 'discredits' the global warming findings (read: no critical examination required).
If this was a clinical trial the destruction of material study data would be criminal - the researchers would be condemned for scientific misconduct and would likely face some jail time. Why isn't the scientific community, in defense of its own cherished principles, calling for examination of the Global Warming findings, if for nothing else, to secure the confidence of the public.
The Times of London, which is far from a right wing rag, at least had the sense of balance to include a quote from an independend-minded researcher -
"Roger Pielke, professor of environmental studies at Colorado University, discovered data had been lost when he asked for original records. “The CRU is basically saying, ‘Trust us’. So much for settling questions and resolving debates with science,” he said."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6936328.eceI'm disappointed that the Chronicle missed an opportunity to inform its readers. If critical examination of facts is no longer required in academic circles, we've lost a lot more than some weather records.
