documentary time and very contemporary too - climate change
opening with a close-up of a man putting on cufflinks and a tie
then people seen filing into some sort of small theatre for a show
the man appears - he is a magician - me thinking oops wrong film
but no as he then appears as a talking head explaining his craft
it's all about deceit - but in his case it is done with honour
unlike that we are about to see i suspect so an good contrast
the first part of the film deals with the debate over cigarettes
back to the days when you were an outsider if you didn't smoke
any kind of negativity easily stifled by a cashed up tobacco industry
at first - cigarettes are good for you - then - cigarettes are not bad for you
then - there's no proof cigarettes are bad for you - and then it's about freedom
people should be free to choose to smoke or not - this is a free country, etc
all the while employ whatever tactics necessary to discredit the opposition
the number of lobbyists and 'public interest' groups increases dramatically
all doing the bidding of the tobacco industry - despite the health facts
an interesting side effect was that more and more fires broke out
cigarette butts - so there's pressure to make less flammable cigarettes
but instead the industry shifts responsibility onto furniture manufacturers
scenes of a doctor regaling stories in hearings of attending to burnt babies
laws passed requiring sofas, etc to be stuffed with flame retardant material
even though it is highly carcinogenic, expensive and largely ineffective
the 'doctor' subsequently found to be a liar - he - 'i wasn't under oath'
this all lays the groundwork for the fight on climate change alarmists
the film now shifts focus with james hansen testifying to congress in 1988
he a professor who switched from space to earthbound atmosphere studies
that hearing was the first high-level discussion about possible climate change
and for a while it seemed all were on board with the seriousness of the situation
even as late as 2008 when nancy pelosi and newt gingrich made a joint statement
but then it all started unravelling with the same tactics previously used now at play
even - more co2 is a good thing - and the oft heard - there is no scientific proof
this despite one researcher - naomi oreskes - finding 100% scientific consensus
which then just leads the naysayers to announcing an opposite fictitious poll
the merchants of doubt are in overdrive - with links to the fossil fuel industry
shameless individuals earning squillions no doubt to maintain the status quo
one shining light in the republican party - bob inglis - sided with science
but then routinely discredited and then losing his party nomination
to this day still railing against the scarily ignorant radio jocks, etc
and articulating exactly what seems to be the truth of the matter
people are scared of any threat or change to their way of life
we are happy to go with anybody offering any kind of doubt
and there's any amount of that coming from vested interests
the merchants of doubt - what a stunningly scary film this is
me - anger - have to do something - mission accomplished then
