Denial Redux

On Friday, I posted about human denial.

Climate change denial leads to extremes too. In North Carolina, it is illegal to predict sea level rises based upon climate change models. " These rates shall only be determined using historical data, and these data shall be limited to the time period following the year 1900. Rates of seas-level rise may be extrapolated linearly.  http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/plugged-in/2012/05/30/nc-makes-sea-level-rise-illegal/

The  oddest thing about North Carolina's imitation of King Canute (or more accurately his courtiers)
is the fact that North Carolina may be at greater risk of sea level rise than - oh say British Columbia.

Sea levels are rising much faster along the  US East Coast than they are around the globe, putting one of the world's most costly coasts in danger of flooding, government researchers report. US Geological Survey scientists call the 600-mile (965-kilometer) swath a "hot spot" for climbing sea levels caused by global warming. Along the region, the Atlantic Ocean is rising at an annual rate three times to four times faster than the global average since 1990, according to the study published Sunday in the journal Nature Climate Change.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/global-warming/Sea-rise-faster-on-US-East-than-rest-of-globe/articleshow/14386447.cms

So - just so I understand this - North Carolina legislators were told by US Geological Survey scientists that their coast was at greater risk of flooding due to climate change and they responded by making it illegal to mention that risk.

According to local media, the bill was the handiwork of industry lobbyists and coastal municipalities who feared that investors and property developers would be scared off by predictions of high sea-level rises.   http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=north-carolina-sea-level-rises-desipte-senators

Jesus - Fucking - Christ! 

North Carolina does seem amenable to international pressure - legislators did  not go through with their plan in its original form.

Following international opprobrium, the state's House of Representatives rejected the bill on 19 June. However, a compromise between the house and the senate forbids state agencies from basing any laws or plans on exponential extrapolations for the next three to four years, while the state conducts a new sea-level study.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=north-carolina-sea-level-rises-desipte-senators

Keep on holding that broom boys!