Update: This latest attack on Al Gore is at the hands of the “Scientific Alliance” – a group well-known to DeSmogBlog.
Busted? Looks like something fishy is going on with the funding behind the UK high court challenge against The Inconvenient Truth being viewed in schools.
The court case was brought forward by a “concerned parent” and “New Party” member Stewart Dimmock.
In a BBC Radio interview last night, Dimmock refused to divulge who fronted the 60,000 quid in court costs.
Here’s a partial transcript:
Host: Some people might wonder why you felt so strongly about this, that yu were prepared to take it all the way to the high courts, whether you have an agenda or sorts. Do you?
Dimmock: Well I have two young children and in my mind its wrong that we push politics into the classroom.
Host: Can I ask you one more question Mr. Dimmock. It’s not cheap taking a case to the high court.
Dimmock: No it’s not.
Host: Were you helped financially to do this?
Dimmock: The government have been ordered to pay my costs, I got 60,000 pounds up for payment.
Host: Ya, but you didn’t know that that was going to be the order until today did you?
Dimmock: No I didn’t.
Host: Who took the risk?
Dimmock: [long, long pause] uuummmmmm….. I’ve had pledges of support [another weird pause].
Host: May I ask you from whom?
Dimmock: You can ask from whom, but I’m sorry I can’t tell you. I haven’t got the names of the people that have pledged me support, it’s still a website.
Here’s the entire BBC radio spot, Dimmock starts squirming at about the 5 minute mark.
And most importantly, here’s the email address for Dimmock’s “New Party.” I would urge everyone to send an email demanding to know who paid for this effort.
Here’s what I sent:
Attn: Stewart Dimmock,
It was brought to my attention in a recent BBC Radio 4 interview that you have refused to divulge the funding sources for you court action to ban The Inconvenient Truth in UK schools.
As there has been a long history of attacks against the science of climate change sponsored by the fossil fuel industry, I am wondering if this is such a case. As someone with an obvious interest in participating in the public conversation on climate change, it would be imperative that you divulge any funding that you have received from the fossil fuel industry. This would absolve you of any criticism that your held views may constitute a conflict of interest.
I look forward to hearing back from you,
