Professor Chris de Freitas, PhD, of the University of Auckland, died of cancer a few days ago, at the far too early age of 69. I mourn the passing of a respected climate scientist partly for selfish reasons: I noted last year in a filing to the sclerotic and dysfunctional dump that is the DC court system that their inability to expedite Michael E Mann's case against me (it moves into its second half-decade in a few days' time) means that key witnesses are dying off. In the case of Chris de Freitas, he was not merely a critic of the hockey stick but a victim of and witness to Mann's sleazy and vicious behavior, to which he reacted with a calm good grace few of us could muster in such circumstances.
Chris de Freitas is one of over a hundred scientists quoted in the book I edited, "A Disgrace to the Profession": The World's Scientists - in Their Own Words - on Michael E Mann, his Hockey Stick, and Their Damage to Science Volume One. He had one of those child-of-empire upbringings: born in Trinidad, educated in Toronto, a Commonwealth scholar in Queensland, and eventually the University of Auckland's Deputy Dean of Science, Head of Science and Technology and Pro Vice-Chancellor. He was also Vice-President of the Meteorological Society of New Zealand, a founding member of the Australia-New Zealand Climate Forum, and a four-time recipient of the Science Communicator Award from the New Zealand Association of Scientists.
In other words, he was a distinguished man in his field - until, in his capacity as editor of the journal Climate Research, he made the mistake of crossing Michael E Mann. "The Mann 'hockey stick' is nothing more than a mathematical construct," concluded Professor de Freitas. "Sufficient evidence exists to disprove it." That was enough to attract the ire of Mann and his cabal, and set in motion a campaign to ruin him.
The following is from "A Disgrace to the Profession":
In 2003, Professor de Freitas, then editing Climate Research, was interviewed by The New Zealand Herald. Simon Collins explained that de Freitas had once warned of "the dangers of global warming", but today he "features prominently in environmentalist demonology" :
Last week American climatologist Michael Mann told a US Senate committee: "Chris de Freitas... frequently publishes op-ed pieces in newspapers in New Zealand attacking the IPCC and attacking Kyoto... So that is a fairly unusual editor..."
IPCC's latest report in 2001, was compiled by the same Michael Mann who attacked de Freitas in the Senate last week... But the two Harvard scientists whose article got de Freitas into trouble believe Mann's hockey-stick is an oversimplification, driven by the same kind of "politics" of which they and de Freitas are accused.
The Harvard authors, Sallie Baliunas and Willie Soon, re-checked 240 studies of the same kind of evidence that Mann used, and found signs that it was warmer in most parts of Earth for at least parts of the medieval warm period than it is today... "The Mann 'hockey stick' is nothing more than a mathematical construct vigorously promoted in the IPCC's 2001 report to affirm the notion that temperature changes of the 20th century were unprecedented," de Freitas wrote. "The validity of this has been soundly challenged, and sufficient evidence exists to disprove it..."
Mann didn't care for the cut of de Freitas' jib and emailed Mike Hulme and Phil Jones to enquire how plans for payback were going - or, as he put it in the header, "Climate Research and adequate peer review":
Did anything ever come of this?
Clare Goodness was in touch w/ me indicating that she had discussed the matter w/ Von Storch, and that DeFrietas would be relieved of his position. However, I haven't heard anything...
It seems important that either Clare and Von Storch take imminent action on this, or else actions of the sort you had mentioned below should perhaps be strongly considered again. Non-action or slow action here could be extremely damaging...
Thanks very much for all your help w/ this to date, and for anything additional you may be able to do in this regard to move this forward.
best regards, mike
Mike got his way. De Freitas was removed as editor.
~The above is from my book on Mann, "A Disgrace to the Profession".
He was an honorable and principled man, who refused to subordinate the scientific method to political activism. For that reason, Michael E Mann demanded that he be punished. His early death from cancer is a tragedy, and I hope what he went through from Mann did not contribute to it. Rest in peace.
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Feminist scientists say to not quote white scientists, reported in Washington Post. Michael Mann is a white scientist. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/07/16/feminist-scientists-say-citing-research-by-straight-white-men-promotes-a-system-of-oppression/?tid=sm_tw&utm_term=.8e47a6ddd1e8
Cannot understand how US parents continue to meekly pay the taxes, the loans and the tuitions for these universities that openly feather their ever-enlarging nests, nearly all their time in these modern times occupied with coming up with new ways to suck money out of private pockets and the general economy. Where are the class-action suits for grossly overcharging parents and students for decades in these 'non-profits' that provide shelter to people like Mann? Yes, a rhetorical question, but really if the truth of the situation was fully comprehended by the people, the party would be over. Alas, all we have at the moment is the Rate My Professor evaluations by actual students for thin catharsis.
"I noted last year in a filing to the sclerotic and dysfunctional dump that is the DC court system that their inability to expedite Michael E Mann's case against me (it moves into its second half-decade in a few days' time) means that key witnesses are dying off. " This seems to be a feature not a bug for this court. The judge knows that Mann has the losing end and does not want the case tried at all.
As the dance macabre goes on there is still no correlation causation history that CO2 levels cause forcing of climate change. And at 0.05% of the atmosphere only a a fraction is man made the bulk occurs naturally from volcanoes, animal respiration, decay of organic material and farting bovines!
As the dance macabre goes on there is still no correlation causation history that CO2 levels cause forcing of climate change. And at 0.05% of the atmosphere only a a fraction is man made the bulk occurs naturally from volcanoes, animal respiration, decay of organic material and farting bovines!
In the absence of Chris De Freitas voice upon this subject, those who share his view should redouble efforts to challenge the dogma of climate mythos, wherever possible; adhering always to truthful scientific method, wherever that may lead.
Dr. De Freitis has haunted my mind today. I had read about him from your book.and he looked so kind. Mann will not be missed when his turn comes. We all face that day of reckoning and we can at least try to honor good people while we are here. Thank you, Mark for your goodness, too.
I noticed a Slate article via RCP that painted Mann as the "moderate" and I wondered if this wasn't part of a makeover before he hits the court with you (if they ever start discovery)
This is Mann as the supposed voice of reason that this author doesn't think is "alarmed" enough
"There is also a danger in overstating the science in a way that presents the problem as unsolvable, and feeds a sense of doom, inevitability and hopelessness. The article argues that climate change will render the Earth uninhabitable by the end of this century. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. The article fails to produce it."
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2017/07/we_are_not_alarmed_enough_about_climate_change.html
Tim Ball's evident success in recently shooting down Michal Mann over his hockey stick should bolster your own case, Mark, or at least cheer you up.
http://morningmail.org/down-goes-the-hockey-stick/
The following may simplify your law case. Delays in your case may have helped your case. Hopefully he'll still have some money.
Fatal Courtroom act ruins Michael 'hockey stick' Mann
http://principia-scientific.org/breaking-fatal-courtroom-act-ruins-michael-hockey-stick-mann/
Bad news indeed for Dr. Fraudpants. Dr. Ball's statement that Mann "belongs in the state pen, not Penn State" is classic! Unfortunately, by the time Dr. Ball's case is settled and because it is a multi-million dollar suit, there may be nothing left to offset Steyn's enormous legal costs when he eventually prevails.
Thanks, an excellent article.
Mann might have to pay back his share of the Nobel prize he won with his partners and shared with Al Gore.
If this pans out, I hope Steyn also sues relevant universities, and Mann's partners, who are a deep pocket, for a cover up.
Steyn might break the Guiness World Records for successfully winning in 2 countries in 2 lawsuits for Freedom of Speech, making him the world leader of Free Speech Warriors.
I wonder if the family of de Freitas can get in line to sue Mann and include getting an apology for de Freitas losing his position due to Mann's provable interference.
Stress certainly can hasten the destructive effects of cancer, as can loss of public support.
Mark,
I am so sorry for your loss. In this world, it seems that evil triumphs over good in ways we simply can not justify. I am always saddened when I see that phenomenon in action, especially when a really good person is forced to leave the planet as a result. We may never be able to prove that Dr. DeFrietas died as a result of Mann's aberrant behavior but WE know the Truth. And the Universe, or whatever, WILL have its payback.
Regards,
R. I. P. Dr. De Freitas.
Mark, will the July 5 developments in Mann's case against Dr. Tim Ball affect Mann's suit against you? Is it possible that Michael Mann is about to get his richly deserved comeuppance?
Amen.