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  | Scared to Death: From BSE to Global Warming: Why Scares are Costing us the Earth£13.49 Free DeliveryRRP: £17.99 | You save: £4.50 (25%) In stock | Usually dispatched within 24 hours |
This book provides the first proper analysis of what in the past two decades has become an astronomic hidden drain on the economies of the western world: the 'scare'. From salmonella and BSE to asbestos, we have seen bogus science, compounded with ignorance, being exploited by interested parties to whip up media and political hysteria. This is then used to justify an absurdly disproportionate and costly regulatory response until, by the time the flaws in the original 'science' have been exposed, the damage is done. The book shows how, behind all these scares, there is a remarkably consistent pattern. It provides a set of individual case studies, analysing the historical course of a series of different 'scares', beginning with the great 'salmonella in eggs' scare of 1988/9, in which one of the authors played a central part.In each case the book shows: how and why the scare was launched on its way, on the basis of flawed science; how it then developed, according to the pattern, with the media and interested scientists wildly exaggerating the dangers to public health; how the political machine was then cranked up to produce a wholly inappropriate response; how the flaws in the science were eventually exposed; the shocking scale of the cost.
Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd. (UK) | |
2006 | |
9780826486141 | |
hardback - 256 Pages |
Average rating (2 reviews)
Lied to and conned
EyeSee | 03/06/2009 | See all EyeSee's reviews (7) »
Here, stated baldly and concisely is the truth about some of the scares politicians stir up to achieve results they desire. Naturally, the terror scare the government are still milking (despite the years of IRA terror being much worse) is designed merely to get laws passed that a democracy would never otherwise allow. It would be nice to think that books such as this led people to think about how they are routinely abused and misled by politicians, but we are some way off that I think. Very readable and recommeded. If only to put Man Made Global Warming into perspective. I mean, why do you think you are not 'allowed' to criticise it? Why do only those who disbelieve it happily use science to support their case, whilst the supporters just try to discredit the naysayers. Go on. Read the book. Then try thinking. In next to no time politicians may have to do their job properly!
A must read! Timely and well researched!
MickyValentine | 15/06/2008 | See all MickyValentine's reviews (31) »
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