Galileo is cold comfort on global warming

YOUR columnist Ryle Dwyer scraped the bottom of the barrel when he offered an alternative view of the causes of global warming (Irish Examiner, March 17).

Using the historical example of the Inquisition and popes who silenced scientists offering an alternative view about the centre of the universe is hardly credible in the context of what is happening today.

For all its importance, the argument that Galileo and others made about the centre of the universe was not crucial to mankind’s existence. Surely it was the popes and kings of the time who should have been compared with today’s energy companies, which have a minority of scientists in their pockets to defend the status quo and try to explain away global warming as having nothing to do with human activity.

Ryle Dwyer, the historian, is no Galileo. He should realise that many of the scientists who changed sides on global warming did so not to conform to the popular mood of the time, but because they were compelled to do so by the evidence staring them in the face.

Kieran McCarthy

89 Russell Heights

Cobh

Co Cork