UPDATE: Monckton offers apology, see below

Given the recent elevated rhetoric in Australia, the claims of death threats, and the media suggestions of skeptics getting tattooed and gassed, I was dismayed to see this in news.acom.au:

h/t to WUWT reader AdderW for the link to the above story.

Since I was invited to tour and speak in Australia last year at many of the same venues, I feel I should comment on this.

Alarmists in Australia are doing enough damage to themselves with over the top rhetoric. We don’t need to weaken our position on our interpretations of the data uncertainty and the science problems by committing rhetorical suicide.

Nobody has ever won an argument by invoking Godwins Law.

While Lord Monckton is free to speak his mind however he wishes, it is my opinion that this has no place in the debate, nor do the recent ugly calls from Australian columnists Richard Glover and Jill Singer.

I’m certainly not blameless in the issue of civility in the climate debate, as I’ve had my moments where I’ve rattled off an angry comment missive or a post that was misinterpreted that I have later regretted. There’s plenty of “heat of the moment” examples of that on both sides.

However, putting swastikas in planned public powerpoint presentations, and linking that by name to a person,  is in my opinion, way over the top and in very bad form and totally hijacks and negates the important messages elsewhere in the presentation.

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UPDATE: Lord Monckton responds in comments

Monckton of Brenchley says: