The Culture of Censorship and Cancellation in Western Democracies

Do you live in a country where you are free to express an opinion, however politely, that deviates from the prevailing view promoted by society, media or government? Present reality however points to that freedom being only a perception. 

We often think that wide-scale censorship, which can include punishment, is only the preserve of dictatorships or nations ruled by oppressive regimes. Today renown experts in their field are being humiliated and cancelled if they do not accept popular activist opinion, even if that opinion is wrong.

It seems that in our present Western society, certain notions, ideas or lifestyles that are diametrically opposite to beliefs held by the society only a few years ago, are being forced  on whole populations. These range from ideas on national history and patriotism, to radical new notions on gender, and even extreme interpretations of what is environmentally appropriate, with no consideration for the potential  havoc on personal or national economy.  

When it comes to matters of history or science, such forced dogma can serve to severely distort reality. Some famous experts are ignored or “cancelled” if they speak out in opposition to newly promoted ideas. A good example is that renown scientists who have questioned the present climate theory, that manmade CO2 is causing global warming, are being “cancelled” without regard for their expertise or scholarship.

Consider Dr. Jon Clauser, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics (2022), and considered one of the top theoretical physicists in the world today. He is also a noted expert in mathematical modelling.  Clauser, in June 2023, stated “I don’t believe there is a climate crisis.”  His belief is based upon analytics showing the mathematical modelling used by the climate crisis community is deeply flawed.  He stated:  

The popular narrative about climate change reflects a dangerous corruption of science that threatens the world’s economy and the well-being of billions of people. (Brussels Signal, July 25, 2023 Nobel prize-winning physicist’s IMF speech cancelled due to his questioning of the climate crisis - Brussels Signal)

The result? In July 2023 Clauser was scheduled to present a seminar on climatic models to a meeting of the International Monetary Fund. With knowledge of his position on climate change, his speech was abruptly cancelled without notice or reason.  Nobel Prize winner in physics CANCELLED!

Consider Dr. Ivar Giaever, Nobel Prize in Physics, 1973, received for discoveries regarding semiconductors and superconductors. He also is another noted expert in mathematical modelling.  The World Climate Declaration, of which Giaever is lead signatory, stated that climate models were “not remotely plausible as global policy tools.”  WORLD’S LEADING PHYSICIST DISMISSES CLIMATE EMERGENCY “PSEUDOSCIENCE” - (linkedin.com)  

On July 1, 2015, Dr. Giaever spoke to a group of Nobel Laureates and demonstrated how the mathematical model used to support human-caused climate change was faulty. He asserted the effect of CO2 was being exaggerated and that activists ignored the known benefits of additional CO2  in the ecosystem. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCy_UOjEir0)

He referred to climate change as a new religion, driven by a dogma that could not be challenged.  

Giaever was accused of not being a climate scientist and therefore not capable of speaking on the topic, but they ignored his expertise in mathematical modelling; neither his vast knowledge nor his reputation would be accepted. He was cancelled, and subjected to name calling and ridicule.  

Italian physicist Antonino Zichichi holds Italy’s highest honor, the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. In 2019 he led a group of 48 Italian science professors who stated that human responsibility for climate change is “unjustifiably exaggerated and catastrophic predictions are not realistic.…natural variation explains a substantial part of global warming observed since 1850.”

Zichichi was also one of the signatories to a Jan 27, 2012 Wall Street Journal article which stated:

“There’s no compelling scientific argument for drastic action to ‘decarbonize’ the world’s economy.” Antonino Zichichi - DeSmog

Again this highly awarded scientist and his colleagues became the subject of abuse and attempts were made to discredit and humiliate them. Cancelled!

Professor Dr. Richard Lindzen, MIT, is a climate scientist and holder of many positions and honors in the field of climate science.  He, with a large group of 1100 climate scientists and related professionals, signed a declaration in 2022 called “The World Climate Declaration” which stated:

There is no climate emergency. Therefore, there is no cause for panic and alarm. We strongly oppose the harmful and unrealistic net-zero CO2 policy proposed for 2050.

Jerry Shenk: Relax, there is no ‘climate emergency’ – The Mercury (pottsmerc.com)

The Mercury (Jan 23, 2023) reports:

Lindzen rejects “climate change” as “a quasi-religious movement predicated on an absurd ‘scientific’ narrative.” (ibid.)

This presented the climate crisis folks with a problem. These were climate scientists of renown and they could not be dismissed as just ignorant Nobel Prize-winning physicists. It could not be tolerated. The much-published Lindzen was then “fact-checked by MIT staff,” by those with less expertise, who were to lead a process of censure against the learned professor. Despite the fact that hundreds of climate experts signed a letter defending Lindzen, he was cancelled. (http://climate-science.mit.edu/mit/paoc-faculty-fact-check-mit-colleague-on-climate-science)

Regardless of what one’s opinion may be on the whole climate issue, any reasonable person should be concerned that dissenting views from experts are being willfully suppressed and the dissenters are often humiliated and cancelled. At the same time non-experts, politicians, celebrities and high school activists are providing advice on global policies that will impact every person on earth. This is behaviour one might have associated with the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, or the anti-intellectual purges of Red Guard mobs during the Maoist Cultural Revolution.

How did this suppression of opinion arise? What’s next?  Perhaps they will come after you because of your political or maybe even your religious beliefs. Will you be silenced?

Check out our video: Inquisition and Activism