Patrick Moore, Proud Heretic
Why did fellow Greenpeace founders shun him? He defends nuclear power, corporate forestry and other eco-bugaboos. A Trees and Us podcast.
Moore: Scientist or shill?
Trees and Us
- Trees and Us
- Why Humans and Nature Collide
- Why Rocket Science Is Easier than Forestry
- Tree Love and Murder
- Building Treeless Houses
- BC's Vanishing Timber Worker
- BC's Eco-Activist 'Rock Star'
- Green Is The New Black
- A Certified Forest Saviour
- Beyond 'Molly's Reach'
- Simpson Chops Coleman
- Velcrow Ripper's 'Fierce Light'
- Reviving Forest Protests in BC
- Leiren-Young and His 'Green Chain'
- Betty Krawczyk, Proud Fanatic
- How Adbusters Grew on Trees
- He Sees Our Hot Future
- 'Wild Foresting'
- Ken Wu Wants to Save 'the Avatar Grove'
- Patrick Moore, Proud Heretic
[Editor's note: Mark Leiren-Young's Trees and Us podcast series was inspired by Leiren-Young's award-winning feature film, The Green Chain, which he wrote, directed and produced and which opened in Vancouver last spring. New Trees and Us podcasts runs every other week in The Tyee and a book with all 22 interviews is in the works.]
Greenpeace founder, Bob Hunter, dubbed his former colleague Patrick Moore, "eco-Judas" for his work with the B.C. forest industry.
Moore, the former Greenpeace boss, cites the name as one of the reasons he's convinced environmentalism has become more of a religion than a science.
Name a current environmental orthodoxy, and Moore seems to be a proud and vocal heretic. The Tyee's Rafe Mair's favourite epithet for Moore is "shill." Another favourite is greenwasher.
Moore says he's a scientist and feels his organization, Greenspirit, cuts through fear-mongering to get to the truth of issues like GMOs, factory farming and nuclear power.
The original goal of The Green Chain podcast series was to get people talking about the issues facing our forests and spark passionate, lengthy conversations in the comments section. Sometimes that worked, sometimes... not so much. When I tried to think of which interview might attract a comment or two from Tyee readers, I knew I had to meet Moore.
This interview was conducted in the fall of 2008. The reason for the delay in posting this was technical. Moore and I spoke at his downtown Vancouver office for almost two hours, but the ideal podcast length is closer to 40 minutes (or less) and I've only recently become adept enough with my software to put this together and, hopefully, spark a line or two on the comments page. ![]()





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dirtmeister
1 year ago
Moore on Right Track
As a fellow scientist in environmental studies, I like to say that Dr. Moore is on the proper path to ensure a bright future for humanity. I am proud to be a heretic also as all progress stems from us heretics.
Frank
1 year ago
"as all progress stems from us heretics."
Which is why one day capitalism will end I guess.
soleprobe
1 year ago
"Why did fellow Greenpeace founders shun him?"
“They’re calling CO2 a pollutant now when in fact it is the most important food for plants which are the basis of all life on earth. It is a nutrient of the first order. Carbon is the currency of life… in the sense that all life contains carbon. In fact organic chemistry is the study of carbon compounds which are the basis of all life on earth.”
Patrick Moore
April 9, 2007
Hmmm…. I wonder what was in the edited portion of that interview
Frank
1 year ago
"as all progress stems from us heretics."
Which is why one day capitalism will end I guess.
Worrywart
1 year ago
Why is he shunned?
He is shunned, because he is a corporate sponsored misinformation specialist. These corporate sponsored so called scientists tell us CO2 is not a pollutant, since it is a basic compound for life. This logic would allow one to place unlimited nitrogen on the soil and expect no adverse consequences. Their logic would make waterboarding a fun pastime, since you can't get too much water, as it is a basis of life. Their reasoning is pure bafflegab and they should be continually exposed for the kooks that they are, presenting arguments that a five year old could see through.
mopled
1 year ago
Phony logic
There IS nitrogen in the soil...legumes fix it with the help of nitrogen fixing bacteria. CO2 is released from the soil as plant matter decays.
"Twenty years of field studies reveal that as the Earth has gotten warmer, plants and microbes in the soil have given off more carbon dioxide. So-called soil respiration has increased about one-tenth of 1 percent per year since 1989, according to an analysis of past studies in today’s issue of Nature."
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2010/03/25/earth-follows-the-warming-soils-add-100-million-tons-of-co2-per-year/#more-17747
I think part of the reason the climate scam progressed as far as it did, is the deliberate dumbing down of generations. Few people know how their own bodies work, let alone how the carbon cycle does.
Chris Keam
1 year ago
small variation, big consequence
There's probably 200 degrees of difference (Farenheit) between the coldest place on Earth, and the hottest. Yet, tiny variations in temperature can affect seed germination, algae blooms, and a host of other natural processes. Those changes can mean the difference between barren desert and fertile ground. Throw in the fact that some atmospheric changes are cumulative and it becomes quite clear than minute changes can have big impacts over time.
Once again, with mopled's comment we see how a climate change denier wraps themselves in the mantle of scientific rigour while demonstrating a profound lack of understanding of the processes which make life possible.
Fiat lux
1 year ago
These "scientists" remind me
These "scientists" remind me strongly of the lot who supported Hitler and Stalin.
Some of the biggest crimes against humanity and the Earth have been developed and sold to governments by "scientists".
How about more H and bunker buster bombs, more chemical agribiz farming, more GM foods, etc. The list is endless. Are "scientists" working for Monsanto and on the Tar sands real, or bought mercenaries ?
Meanwhile the B 52s are back over our heads, here in Central BC, several times a day, once again after months of quiet.
Sent by "scientists" with all kinds of letters behind their names, to be ready to bomb Iran.
Of course, there's need and room for scientists, but many of them are brainwashed and one sided to an extent that makes them morons outside their specialties.
The public has to be careful to be able to separate science from paid off bums and hysterical religionists.
How is Moore making his living, to be able to afford an office plus, plus , plus in Vancouver? Who is paying him?
Ed Deak, Big Lake.
mopled
1 year ago
CO2 was higher in the 19th and 20th Centuries
Evidence of variability of atmospheric CO2 concentration during the 20th century
Geo-Ecological Seminar University of Bayreuth, 17th July 2008
Ernst-Georg Beck, Dipl. Biol
"Wet chemical analyses indicate three atmospheric CO2 maxima in the northern hemisphere up to approx. 400 ppm over land and sea since about 1812. The measured atmospheric CO2 concentrations since 1920 –1950 prove to be strongly correlated (more than 80 %) with the arctic sea surface temperature (SST)."
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2008/07/25/beck-on-co2-oceans-are-the-dominant-co2-store/
Since plants grow better and are more drought resistant with higher levels of CO2, carping about mankind's 3-5% addition to the atmosphere is counterproductive. It actually should be applauded.
CO2 does not need restriction or sequestration and the world does not need to be geo-engineered either.
Speaking of airplanes overhead Ed,
"VOLUMES OF DATA, LAB TESTS AND VIDEO FOOTAGE, FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE, MAKE CLEAR THE CONCLUSION THAT AEROSOL SPRAYING HAS BEEN AN ONGOING LETHAL REALITY.
Aluminum, Barium and other elements have been found in surface waters, air samples and soil tests, HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF TIMES HIGHER THAN EPA ALLOWABLE LEVELS."
"Here, David Keith tells the US House hearings that rich people could buy an ICE AGE with the stratospheric aerosol program, Here is the entire talk."
http://www.geoengineeringwatch.org/
Fiat lux
1 year ago
I never suggested that those
I never suggested that those planes are spraying anything, as some people suggest. There wouldn't be much purpose for it in these rarely populated areas, only that they're practicing and training for the killing thousands, or even millions.
Depending on the weapons developed for them by "scientists".
May they all rot in hell.
Ed Deak.
Chris Keam
1 year ago
WTF?
"The measured atmospheric CO2 concentrations since 1920 –1950 prove to be strongly correlated (more than 80 %) with the arctic sea surface temperature (SST).""
Mopled, you're consistently stating that CO2 cannot have an effect on the climate, yet now you are citing research that says there's a strong correlation between CO2 levels and water temperature? Would you care to explain this contradiction?
dorothy
1 year ago
Read it again...
The man said 'correlation'. That means the two parameters walk together up and down. It says nothing about what causes what. In the article, it appears it is the other way around than what you are jumping to conclude.
Chris Keam
1 year ago
thx dorothy
fair enough. That does address my question.
soleprobe
1 year ago
AEROSOL SPRAYING
I’m not gonna bother to post any links to this subject of aerial spraying and the rest of my rant because it’s off topic but for the diligent it can be easily researched and verified.
But all one had to do today if they were in Vancouver was to look up, something the hunched over devolving western Neanderthals rarely do these days.
Almost every clear day here in Vancouver they start spraying in the morning ending at sunset. At about $10,000 an hour for each military tanker jet (many of these planes are foreign) they certainly believe it’s a worthwhile investment for the taxpayer. Last summer there was almost non stop insane spraying causing an off-white haze constantly over the sky and mountains on what would otherwise be a clear blue sky, something I rarely see anymore here in Vancouver.
Could this be why asthma is up 400%, allergies all year round?
Also for those who want to get some vitamin D3 from sunlight, the aerial spraying filters out some of the UVB rays that form the precursor to vitamin D in the skin while allowing the UVA rays to pass through. UVA radiation actually destroys vitamin D and provides nearly no benefits except a tan, wrinkled and leathery skin and over time can also lead to melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer.
Whereas on a clear day the UVB/UVA ratio in natural sunlight helps keep your body in balance and limits vitamin D levels to optimum.
Why should people care about this? Because new research has shown that those in the northern hemisphere are deficient in vitamin D via lack of sunlight. And this deficiency is now believed to be linked to many of today’s diseases including various cancers. We’re probably worse off here in BC with all the cloudy and rainy days. .
There are a lot of real and serious environmental concerns but what do the bankster funded phony greenies spend all their time on? Promoting the evils of life-giving CO2 while they and their children are getting sprayed like a bunch of dumb insects like everyone else.
happy
1 year ago
Oh my lord
Military tanker aircraft? Spraying? That would be a first. I thought they did air to air refueling. I think you better post a link then soleprobe since its so easily researched and verified or I have to call bull.
Ten thousand an hour doesn't even pay the fuel for a Canadian Forces A310 tanker. Try about five times ten thousand an hour and your getting closer.
Your friendly neighborhood Neanderthal
Fiat lux
1 year ago
I timed once these idiotic
I timed once these idiotic 50 years old, B 52 murder machines flying over our heads hundreds of times a year.
They use enough fuel while I can see them, to last my 30 year old truck, 2 tractors and whatever small engines, for 10 years.
I survived enough terror bombing raids in Europe during WW2 to hate the guts of the jerks to fly and send them. Regardless of nation, colour, creed, or flag they use for excuse.
Ed Deak.
soleprobe
1 year ago
Try about five times ten thousand an hour
thanks for the correction
happy
1 year ago
Self correction
I made a dumb error when I calculated the fuel cost. I transposed kilos and litres in my head when I was doing the numbers (Gimli Glider! Idiot!)
The actual cost for fuel would be around seven thousand an hour.
But fifty K an hour to rent an aircraft that size is not unrealistic
Norman Farrell
1 year ago
Aerial spraying
I suspect the sprayers could use a respected scientific expert such as Patrick Moore. They need to revise the aerial spraying program. It's apparently been going on for years and still hasn't achieved its purposes. Daily respraying seems inefficient. Can't they get stronger ingredients for better chemtrails? It seems the North American military forces have been so ineffective, they are now being supplemented by foreigners.
If the fees are appropriate, I'm sure Dr. Moore could help shape a program for better chemtrails perhaps by mixing in nuclear wastes.
soleprobe
1 year ago
North American military forces supplemented by foreigners.
NATO
freebear
1 year ago
Ask Temporary Berman about greenwashers!
Paid greenspeakers and washers!
Norman Farrell
1 year ago
Tzemporary Berman, an open letter
Don't miss Valhalla Wilderness Society's Anne Sherrod's letter to TzB here.
http://northerninsights.blogspot.com/2010/03/dear-greenpeace-retzeporah-berman.html
carfreecity
1 year ago
the scientist?
seems to my reacall that he put down Alexandre Morton's science year after year.
Saysme
1 year ago
Give it a rest with the Greenpeace cover
Patrick, the Greenpeace-founder thing is getting very old and tired.
Everyone knows you're an industry shill. Who else would be dishonest enough to say that CO2 isn't a pollutant?
Why don't you get into a room filled with CO2 and try telling us that one a few hours later?
soleprobe
1 year ago
Saysme
[OFFENSIVE COMMENT REMOVED. -MODERATOR.]
These phony greenies talk to people like their stupid.