Thread by @goddek

🧵THREAD: The future of our planet is at stake. Misleading information is all over the media. I am raising my voice based on my understanding from Michael Crichton's "State of Fear." In his book, he sheds light on the hazards of politicizing science. It's more topical than ever.

2/ Picture a brand new scientific idea that alerts us to an impending crisis and offers a solution. This theory quickly gains the support of media outlets, top scientists, politicians, and prominent figures across the globe.

3/ Research is supported by well-known philanthropists and conducted at esteemed universities and research centres. The crisis is frequently covered by the media and is included in the curricula of colleges and high schools.

4/ I am not talking about #COVID here. I’m talking about another theory, which rose to prominence a century ago. Its supporters included Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Winston Churchill. It was also approved by US Supreme Court justices, who ruled in its favour.

5/ And it wasn't just politicians who were on board, it had some of the biggest names in history supporting it too! Think of Alexander Bell or Leland Stanford, the founder of @Stanford. And that's just the tip of the iceberg, there were countless others who believed in this idea.

@Stanford 6/ Nobel Prize winners gave support. The research was backed by the @CarnegieFdn and @RockefellerFdn. Important work on this topic was done at @Harvard, @Yale, @Princeton, @Stanford, and @JohnsHopkins (all protagonists of the current crisis).

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins 7/ Legislation to address the crisis was passed in states from New York to California. These efforts had the support of the National Academy of Sciences (@theNASciences), the American Medical Association (@AmerMedicalAssn), and the National Research Council (@NResearchCoun).

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun 8/ It was said that if Jesus were alive, he would have supported this effort.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun 9/ The research, legislation, and moulding of public opinion surrounding the theory went on for almost 50 years. Those who opposed the theory were called reactionary, blind to reality, or just plain ignorant. But in hindsight, what is surprising is that so few people objected.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun 10/ Today, we know that this famous theory that gained so much support was actually #pseudoscience. The crisis it claimed was nonexistent. And the actions taken in the name of this theory were morally and criminally wrong. Tragically, it resulted in the loss of millions of lives.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun 11/ This theory was called #eugenics and it has such a terrible history, it's so embarrassing to those who supported it that it's often swept under the rug. However, it's a story that every person should know about because its horrors are happening all over again.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun 12/ Eugenics was built on the belief that the human race was in trouble because the best people weren't having as many babies as the supposed "inferiors" like immigrants, Jews, those considered degenerate or unfit, and even those labelled as "feeble-minded."

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun 13/ The idea was that this would lead to a crisis in the gene pool & the overall deterioration of humanity. Galton, a well-respected British scientist, was the first who brought it up. Both scientific-minded Americans and people with no scientific background embraced his concept.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun 14/ People were worried about "inferior races" coming in through immigration during the early 1900s. They saw these groups as "dangerous pests" who would ruin the best of humanity by being a "flood of foolish people."

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun 15/ Eugenicists and those who were against immigration teamed up to put a stop to this supposed crisis. They aimed to identify those they deemed feeble-minded, including Jews & people of colour, and prevent them from having children either by locking them up or sterilizing them.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun 16/ Theodore Roosevelt believed that society shouldn't allow degenerates to have babies. Luther Burbank stated that we should put a stop to letting criminals and the weak have children. George Bernard Shaw felt that only through eugenics could humanity be saved.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun 17/ The eugenics movement was openly racist, but back then, racism was seen as a normal part of the quest for a better future for humanity. This theory caught the attention of the most progressive and liberal thinkers of the time (does this sound familiar to you?).

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun 18/ California was one of 29 American states to pass laws that permitted sterilization. However, California was the most eager and ahead of the game, performing more sterilizations than any other state in the @CarnegieFdn and later the @RockefellerFdn funded eugenics research.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun 19/ The @RockefellerFdn was so passionate about eugenics that even when the focus shifted to Germany and included the extermination of people from mental institutions through gas, it still heavily funded German researchers. historynewsnetwork.org/article/1796

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun 20/ Since the 1920s, American eugenicists felt envy because the Germans overtook them and became the leaders of the movement. The Germans were seen as admirably progressive.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun 21/ In Germany, they established seemingly normal houses where individuals deemed "mentally defective" were taken for evaluation. They were then taken to a hidden gas chamber where they were killed with carbon monoxide and their bodies were cremated. 🔞💀

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun 22/ Eventually, this program was expanded into a vast network of concentration camps located near railroad lines, enabling efficient transport and killing of ten million undesirables.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun 23/ But the truth remains that eugenics was once widely accepted and even celebrated by some of the most influential people and institutions of the time. Today, it's a dark chapter in history that must be remembered so that we can prevent it from ever happening again.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun 24/ But in retrospect, three points stand out: First, despite the construction of @CSHL, despite the efforts at universities and the lawyers' pleadings, there was no scientific basis for eugenics. In fact, nobody at that time knew what a gene really was.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun @CSHL 25/ Second, the eugenics movement was really a socio-political program masquerading as a scientific one. This means that the eugenics movement was driven more by political and social motives rather than actual science and evidence. The goal was to control and manipulate society.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun @CSHL 26/ Third, and most disturbing, top scientists in both the US and Germany not only failed to speak out against the eugenics movement but actively supported it. In Germany, scientists eagerly joined forces with the deadly program.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun @CSHL 27/ In the words of Ute Deichman, "Scientists, including those who were not members of the [Nazi] party, helped to get funding for their work through their modified behaviour and direct cooperation with the state." goodreads.com/book/show/4989…

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun @CSHL 28/ German scientists aligned their work with the government's goals. And any who didn't, vanished. Another example of science being manipulated by politics highlights the dangers of government ideologies directing science and media blindly promoting false ideas.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun @CSHL 29/ Since the beginning of 2020, the world has been captivated by a new theory that's gained the support of politicians, scientists, and celebrities alike. Major foundations have been promoting it, and some scientists have even changed their minds about it completely.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun @CSHL 30/ Once again, prestigious universities and wealthy philanthropists are supporting research in line with the latest theory.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun @CSHL 31/ Once again, legislation is passed, and social programs are urged in its name.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun @CSHL 32/ Once again, groups with other agendas are hiding behind a movement that appears high-minded.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun @CSHL 33/ Once again, claims of moral superiority are used to justify extreme actions. mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/i…

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun @CSHL 34/ Once again, the fact that some people are hurt is shrugged off because an abstract cause is said to be greater than any human consequence.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun @CSHL 35/ The appendix in Michael's book highlights the similarities to the current global warming crisis. And it's all happening - just as predicted.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun @CSHL 36/ One of the main drivers behind these crises is @BillGates. It is highly concerning that almost all scientists that signed the “John Snow Memorandum” are financed by him. This does not involve the principles of scientific integrity and impartiality.

https://twitter.com/Kevin_McKernan/status/1367539956969832452

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun @CSHL @BillGates 37/ And that's not all - many journalists from top media outlets are publicly expressing their support for #VaccineMandates, #ZeroCovid, and #ClimateCrisis on Twitter, even though they're supposed to be neutral in their reporting.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun @CSHL @BillGates 38/ This is a cause for concern, especially with a powerful group of activists being backed by the media, a majority of slanted scientists, big pharma companies, and wealthy non-government organizations. They surely get aroused when thinking of the CCP's possibilities.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun @CSHL @BillGates 39/ As a friend of real talk, I never hesitate to speak my truth. Sure, some folks may have a smoother way with words, but what really matters is standing up for what you believe in and keeping an open mind to new information.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun @CSHL @BillGates 40/ Looking back at our history, it's a scary reminder of how wrong we can be. In the past, people believed in witches and as a result, thousands of innocent lives were taken. This should serve as a wake-up call for us all to be more open-minded and understanding.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun @CSHL @BillGates 41/ There's only one hope for humankind to emerge from what is called “the demon-haunted world” of our past. That hope is science. But as A. Chase put it, "when the search for truth is confused with political advocacy, the pursuit of knowledge is reduced to the quest for power."

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun @CSHL @BillGates 42/ That's the danger we now face. And that's why the intermixing of science and politics is a bad combination, with a bad history. We must remember history and be certain that what we present to the world as knowledge is disinterested & honest. Resist the #NewNormal! Thank you.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun @CSHL @BillGates 43/ Last but not least, follow me on Twitter by hitting the follow button and the notification bell on my profile. This way, you'll never miss any of my insightful tweets that value truth and transparency. Don't let the Twitter algorithm keep you from staying informed!

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun @CSHL @BillGates 44/ @ThreadReaderApp unroll, please.

@Stanford @CarnegieFdn @RockefellerFdn @Harvard @Yale @Princeton @JohnsHopkins @theNASciences @AmerMedicalAssn @NResearchCoun @CSHL @BillGates @threadreaderapp 45/

https://twitter.com/threadreaderapp/status/1625273144423469057