,
20 tweets,
5 min read
Read on Twitter
Hundreds of letters are received each day by national newspapers, but only a handful are ever published.
On the issue of climate change and energy, one letter-writer in particular has had a lot of success over the past decade.
As such, he warrants a closer look...
++THREAD++
On the issue of climate change and energy, one letter-writer in particular has had a lot of success over the past decade.
As such, he warrants a closer look...
++THREAD++
In today's edition of The Times, there is a letter on fracking by someone called "James Allan", who describes himself as a "Fellow, Energy Institute, Hartlepool" 
...this is just the latest in dozens of letters by James Allan published across various newspapers. Invariably, they make very similar points, which can largely be summarised as pro-fossil fuels, anti-renewables, anti-climate policy and, at times, explicitly climate sceptic
Here are a selection...
(Note how they are in "establishment" papers, namely, The Times and the Daily Telegraph.)
The Times, 8 July 2017
(Note how they are in "establishment" papers, namely, The Times and the Daily Telegraph.)
The Times, 8 July 2017
The Times, 3 June 2017
Daily Telegraph, 6 May 2017
Daily Telegraph, 10 March 2016
The Times, 26 December 2015
Daily Telegraph, 14 September 2015
The Times, 18 August 2015
Daily Telegraph, 18 September 2012
The Times, 29 March 2011
The Times, 12 November 2008
...you get the idea.
Search around a bit wider, though, and you can see just how extreme his climate scepticism is (something he seems to intentionally temper for the nationals). For example, here's a letter he wrote to the Northern Echo in December 2011...
Search around a bit wider, though, and you can see just how extreme his climate scepticism is (something he seems to intentionally temper for the nationals). For example, here's a letter he wrote to the Northern Echo in December 2011...
It's not clear who he is. LinkedIn has a match in his hometown, saying the person is "retired" & worked for British Gas, but that could be someone else.
However, how many of these letters do you think would have been published if he'd signed them just "James Allan, Hartlepool"?
However, how many of these letters do you think would have been published if he'd signed them just "James Allan, Hartlepool"?
His all-important inclusion that he's a "fellow" of the "Energy Institute" clearly acts to boost his credentials with the editors of the various letters pages he writes to.
It's fair to say that some readers - many even - might think his views represent the Energy Institute.
It's fair to say that some readers - many even - might think his views represent the Energy Institute.
That would be a big mistake, though, as a spokesperson for the @EnergyInstitute - a chartered professional membership body for people working in the energy sector from oil&gas through to renewables - has told me today...
As it happens, the Energy Institute recently issued a press release in which its chief executive Louise Kingham said "there’ll be no dodging carbon, methane or climate change"
energyinst.org/exploring-ener…
energyinst.org/exploring-ener…
Of course, James Allan of Hartlepool is entitled to fire off letters to newspapers, as much as the next person.
But might it not be more wise (and transparent) for the editors of those letters pages to scrutinise more closely the credentials and affiliations provided?
But might it not be more wise (and transparent) for the editors of those letters pages to scrutinise more closely the credentials and affiliations provided?
UPDATE:
I've now received this further statement from the Energy Institute...
I've now received this further statement from the Energy Institute...
