More to climate case
than meets the eye
Regarding Jim. Hinebaugh’s letter in the Wednesday’s The Dominion Post, I have to first state that, like him, I am not a climate science expert. But you know who else is not a climate science expert? Dr. Tim Ball. He’s a geologist.
Dr. Michael Mann is a climate science expert, and his hockey stick graph has long been accepted and confirmed by other climate science experts.
As to the lawsuit the letter discusses, Ball didn’t win; he got a dismissal. According to news reports, “… The court dismissed the case on the basis that it has dragged on and been delayed for so long. Ball requested a ruling based on the timing instead of merits to allow the court avoid the messiness of whether or not his attacks on Mann’s climate science were valid.” Mann can now decide if he’d like to appeal. But if you Google the case, there are numerous climate-denying sites that will tell the tale that Hinebaugh recounts.
If there is a unique “Canada truth defense,” Ball might have a hard time meeting it. In a previous libel suit launched by Canadian climate science expert Dr. Andrew Weaver regarding a 2011 article Ball wrote, that case was also dismissed. But the reasoning doesn’t make it seem like a victory for Ball: The court dismissed the case “on the basis that Ball’s writing is not sufficiently credible to inflict damage on the reputation of a professional climate scientist.”
The British Columbia Supreme Court judge continued: “… Despite Dr. Ball’s history as an academic and a scientist, the Article is rife with errors and inaccuracies, which suggests a lack of attention to detail on Dr. Ball’s part, if not an indifference to the truth.”
“The Article is poorly written and does not advance credible arguments in favor of Dr. Ball’s theory about the corruption of climate science. Simply put, a reasonably thoughtful and informed person who reads the Article is unlikely to place any stock in Dr. Ball’s views, including his views of Dr. Weaver as a supporter of conventional climate science.”
This reasonably thoughtful and informed person believes that Ball is indifferent to the truth. And he may well be handsomely compensated for it. Cynicism has its uses.
Jane R. Menear
Arthurdale
