People would attempt to save themselves from Sirins by shooting cannons, ringing bells and making other loud noises to scare the bird off.

Their general approach is to exaggerate the uncertainties of climate science and to leave the impression that climate scientists are engaged in some kind of conspiracy to frighten the public.

In that day shall messengers go forth from before me in ships to make the careless Ethiopians afraid and there shall be anguish on them, as in the day of Egypt for, behold, it comes.

In that day shall messengers go forth from me in ships to make the careless Ethiopians afraid, and great pain shall come upon them, as in the day of Egypt for, lo, it cometh.

The establishment of national security and fighting terrorism as stalking horses for intimidation of journalists who are doing their jobs exposing government abuses to the light of day gives the state an even more effective tool to suppress investigative reporting.

Nobody expects it to be infallible. But neither should we tolerate its attempts to scare policy makers rather than inform them.