Posted by John M. on October 27, 2002 at 21:16:12:
In Reply to: Brad you really don't want to start this again with me- do you? posted by Finfan on October 26, 2002 at 09:12:17:
Most of the above isn't worthy of response, but:
"finfan" said, "...you might start to question why no one from Scripps was beating the band wagon for the Gov's cause."
If finfan actually had any idea about these issues, he'd know that quite a few people from Scripps, from Wrigley, from UCSB, from a bunch of other SoCal marine institutes are in fact involved and "beating the band wagon". It may be less obvious to people of finfan's apparent ilk, but the local marine scientists are very involved.
The problem is that, as scientists, they are generally supposed to be dispassionate and not be public advocates. Their job is provide accurate, impartial information -- a job which they cannot do if they're off giving impassioned speeches like so many of the paid local fishing lobbyists. Instead, they try to inform us of the reality of the situation in our oceans and pray that those who care will do something with this information.
That you don't see them chasing down every reporter who passes doesn't mean they're not involved. They are. In fact, many are involved beyond what they would consider to be beneficial or appropriate to their careers... but they're still involved, because they're some of the ones who actually know how grave the situation truly is...