How state funded climate hysteria works

One of the lest commented on items from the UEA CRU file leaks was a government document that gives "the line" on how to run your Climate change propaganda. Its called "The Rules of the Game" - a title that betrays more that it perhaps intends to.

Remember there are public funded "neutral" civil servants producing this stuff. Here's how they suggest a Warmist organisation or individual proceed:

1. Challenging habits of climate change communication Don’t rely on concern about children’s future or human survival instincts Recent surveys show that people without children may care more about climate change than those with children. “Fight or flight” human survival instincts have a time limit measured in minutes – they are of little use for a change in climate measured in years. Don’t create fear without agency. Fear can create apathy if individuals have no ‘agency’ to act upon the threat. Use fear with great caution. Don’t attack or criticise home or family. It is unproductive to attack that which people hold dear. 2. Forget the climate change detractors Those who deny climate change science are irritating, but unimportant. The argument is not about if we should deal with climate change, but how we should deal with climate change. 3. There is no ‘rational man’ The evidence discredits the ‘rational man’ theory – we rarely weigh objectively the value of different decisions and then take the clear self-interested choice. 4. Information can’t work alone Providing information is not wrong; relying on information alone to change attitudes is wrong. Remember also that messages about saving money are important, but not that important. ...... 16. Create a trusted, credible, recognised voice on climate change We need trusted organisations and individuals that the media can call upon to explain the implications of climate change to the UK public. 17. Use emotions and visuals Another classic marketing rule: changing behaviour by disseminating information doesn’t always work, but emotions and visuals usually do.

What the document contains is effectively a marketing brief for how to change peoples views without them being aware they are being persuaded. It marks out the issues to avoid and where people are vulnerable to the use of emotive images and supposedly independent experts.

But this propaganda effort goes further and is interpreted by each subsequent layer of government. Take for example the "Climate Change Communication Strategy" West Sussex Case study by the Department of Communities and local government and funded by the EU.

It repeats "The Rules", but goes on to give examples.

Seasonality Climate change issues are most likely to be raised in people’s minds at times of extreme weather – winter storms/floods - summer droughts/ water shortages – hurricanes/ heat waves/etc. It is important to be in a position to exploit these times to maximum benefit. Recommendation: Identify and promote 4 seasonal events in 2007/8. July – Water Festival October – 20 years since the “big storm” Jan – Floods and sea front flooding March – Spring Watch Events for 2008/9 could also include Sussex Day. Pre-prepare press releases that put climate change perspective on extreme weather events to enable quick response times

Well now you know. That annoying person who pops up every time the rain rains too much or the sun shines too long has been primed and waiting for their chance to use the disaster / drought / gale to brain wash you with the governments scientifically accepted and beyond all question truth.

But of course there even more sinister stuff in there, for example using children:

"Moving out of the Toilets" is an annual event for all secondary school councils in West Sussex. It is popular with students as a way to meet and learn from the experiences of young people from all over the county. The idea is to help move school council members away from issues like the state of the toilets, and towards more decision making and real results. The conference held in December 2005 was based around the topic of climate change. The event was a successful engagement project that changed attitudes of young people attending a schools’ conference on climate change. Using unconventional language and mediums familiar to the audience, enabled participants to become more confident in discussing a wide range of environmental topics. (“Big Brother” style diary room).

It even turns up in schools as I reported a few weeks ago.

How is all this propaganda justified ? Because they say "The Science is settled". And they have been told to keep saying it until they are blue in the face.

And then there is the approach to brain washing the children, see this photo (left) from a secondary school wall I took this year. Just look at the UK's science museum on the subject as it tries to imply that Man made climate change has been proven here.

But the science isn't settled, not at all. So what this amounts to is state funded political propaganda and it must stop.