CEI Daily Update

1. ENVIRONMENT

CEI releases a new video contrasting increasing carbon dioxide levels with global temperatures. 

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Senior Fellow Iain Murray on the relationship between CO2 and observed temperatures:

“Temperatures ought to be at a peak, but instead they’ve held steady for at least the last five years and by some accounts, they’ve actually dropped. The case for urgent action to restrict energy use is getting weaker, not stronger.  Given that affordable energy is the best hope of escape from poverty for billions around the globe, politicians need to ask themselves ‘where’s the beef’ before pushing their anti-energy policies.”

2. LEGAL

Falsely accused <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Duke University lacrosse players sue their school and local government officials.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Special Projects Counsel Hans Bader on the reason for the lawsuit:

“The Duke lacrosse players are now suing Duke, its president, and various government officials. They were belatedly recognized as innocent after months of being branded as gang rapists by disgraced former prosecutor Michael Nifong, who lied and attempted to conceal exculpatory evidence. Duke University’s administration treated the players as presumptively guilty based on their race, and tolerated retaliation and physical intimidation of the players, even though it knew from the very beginning that the allegations were very weak, wildly inconsistent and implausible, and contradicted by abundant evidence.”

3. FOOD

Increased demand for corn from ethanol producers causes surging food prices.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Journalism Fellow Lene Johansen on this disturbing trend:

“Food prices are going up. Since the green revolution in the 1940s-1960s food prices have been going down, but now they are on an upward trend. There are two reasons for this, the first is grain-based ethanol and the second is that prosperity is catching up with more people in India and China.Grain-based ethanol is a bad idea, combined with subsidy programs; prices of corn have soared to new heights. We should stop that insanity.”

Blog feature: For more news and analysis, updated throughout the day, visit CEI’s blog, Open Market.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

To contact a CEI expert for comment or interviews, please call the CEI communications department at 202-331-2273 or email to [email protected].