Laureates say Bush is twisting science - SpecialsScience - www.smh.com.au

Laureates say Bush is twisting science - SpecialsScience - www.smh.com.au: "More than 60 influential scientists, including 20 Nobel laureates, have issued a statement asserting the Bush Administration has systematically distorted scientific fact in the service of policy goals on the environment, health, biomedical research and nuclear weapons.

The sweeping accusations were discussed in a conference call on Wednesday organised by the Union of Concerned Scientists, an independent organisation that focuses on technical issues and has often stood at odds with Administration policy. The organisation also issued a 38-page report detailing its accusations.

The documents accuse the Administration of repeatedly censoring and suppressing its own scientists' reports, stacking advisory committees with unqualified political appointees, disbanding government panels that provide unwanted advice, and refusing to seek independent scientific expertise in some cases.

'Other administrations have, on occasion, engaged in such practices, but not so systematically nor on so wide a front,' the statement from the scientists said."