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Scientists were accused of having spread the bacterium delierately, or allowed to become endemic through neglect, that they have been subject to the corrupting influence of business (in particulary solar companies who might stand to profit from the clearing of olive groves), that they have a remedy but will not release it, that they are wrong about the cause of the disease which is instead a fungus that can be dealt with without having to cut down the infected trees, etc [1].

None of the above is a direct attack on "science" in general, as a process, or a concept, nor an attack on scientists in general. However, all these sound a great deal like the claims of various anti-science conspiracy theorists, like anti-vaxxers or HIV-denialists: scientists are in bed with big pharma, they spread HIV through infected needles, vaccines are what cause disease, etc.

"I'm not saying that this proves anything- I'm just stating the facts".

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[1] https://www.nature.com/news/italian-scientists-vilified-in-w...




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