Climate change and disinformation
14. Oct, 2009 
11 Comments
The media is treating climate change more as a political issue rather than a scientific one. The presentation of the subject is therefore “balanced”, even though there is overwhelming scientific evidence that the planet is dangerously warming up. Worse, science is losing the media war to conservative lobbies.This is clearly exemplified by a Gallup poll conducted over the past decade. This poll reported a widening gap between Democratic and Republican views on climate change.
In 1997, 52% of Democrats believed that global warming has already begun and 52% said that most scientists believe global warming is occurring. In 2008, 76% believed that global warming is occurring and 75% think that most scientists agree that global warming is really there.
This worrying trend is due to systematic disinformation by conservative think tanks funded by fossil fuel companies. Scientists are also reluctant to face the media to demystify irresponsible claims from these dark conservative lobbies.
We need to alert the public on the effects of global warming to counter the negative effect of the fossil-fuel companies. If not, we will not be able to halve the global carbon emissions by 2050 and face the daunting prospect of irreversible damages to our dear planet.
This post has been written for the Blog Action Day 2009.
Don't think it will ever become a wholly scientific issue. Politics runs through everything like a river through a forest. For example: Health, education and social welfare are all dominated by politics.
Climate change is becoming part of party politics, playing a part in many manifestos that bring a political party power. It is, however, just a form of leverage, because in politics saying one thing and actually doing it are completely different things.
For this reason, I think if the effects of climate change are to be
reduced it won't be by the great governments of the world, but by the individuals. You, me and our neighbours.
I'm not going to bet on them solving the global warming issues…we're doomed already…
@Wez could be worse..we could be all wiped out painfully in an "Independence Day" style alien invasion…are butts were saved in that film…can it happen again? :p
@Nav
Yes of course it will remain a political issue, but this is not a reason for scientists to stop publicising their findings. Yes, you are right to imply that individuals can make a difference, but it's not enough! Big companies, multinationals, industries … won't change until there is a clear policy on carbon emissions.
@Wez
Lol don't be too pessimistic O_o Let us keep faith until the day we are actually doomed.
@Nav
The Day The Earth Stood Still
Maybe the Aliens can find us a solution! They must be right now shaking their weird almond-shaped heads and saying, "Look at the Earthlings fighting a lost cause. Pathetic. Let's gear up and show them who's the boss! And teach them one thing or two about magic and bombs!"
LOL
the media makes EVERYTHING into a political issue *sigh*, it's not all bad though, because it throws politicians into the limelight and gets the politicians to make at least some effort to really tackle climate change.
Global warming (or at least the consequence of current global warming) is already irreversible – source a b!
The media makes everything into a political issue? Global Warming IS a political issue! With the change in American admistration, suddenly, global warming is in everyday headline. Why? This president wants change whereas the previous president has simply been denying that there should be change! This president seems to be more open and seems to prefer international cooperation. On the other hand, the previous president has been treating everybody as a potential enemy or terrorist! Without political will, there is no slowing down or stopping global warming.
But, unfortunately, money as always rules. Money, simply, dictates political will! Those fossil-fuel companies can easily fund strong lobby groups and can easily campaign against/ block any changes in policies that support the "green" movement. Scientists barely have any money. They depend heavily on funding from private organisation or from government. As such, they rarely have the means to 1) stand up and force their claims/views/findings down the throat of everybody 2) enact what they think/ know will make a difference in halting climate change! (source)
It's nice to go on the street and protest against global warming (without actually, giving any CONSTRUCTIVE feedback on how to actually reverse global warming). It's nice to say that one is green! But for a whole country or even a business or company to be green, that's a totally different ball game. Being green is not necessarily cost-effective (source)! To implement all those new regulations, new systems and new whatever that are tagged as "green", money again is needed. Right now, not everybody can necessarily afford the cost! Most likely, only developped countries will be able to adapt their infrastructure but even then, it will take time. Job cuts may result and not everybody will be happy with that! Those fossil-fuel companies offer thousands to millions of people with work! Will any government be happy to simply have all these people jobless and at the same time, pay the huge bills to support being green? Possibly not! Even if they do, they will face the likelihood of being kicked out of office at the next election by those very people who has been fired!
In sum, because of all these vested interests, Global warming IS a political issue! Without proper enforced policies (locally, regionally, and globally), reversing global warming won't happen!
ps: btw, some renewable energy can also cause pollution! I have lost the link on this one but some so-called green energy actually do affect our climate!
I simple love the comment above xD The current consequences of global warming are already irrevesible. All we can do is try to mitigate and adapt to the climate change so that the situation doesn't go out of control or maybe it IS already our of control.
And yeah, climate change IS a politcal issue for policies need to be enforced to stop the current trend we are following. However, the media and politicians are turning all this into a joke, using the problem we are facing as leverage to achieve what they really want. We all know that our so-called leaders are not really drawn to actually doing something for the country but what can bring them more power and status. Human nature.
And yeah, instead of thinking globally, one must start at home for the term 'global' may mean nothing to an individual as compared to something local. it starts with us.
tho i hate physics..
climate change is of a great concern for me..
‘The Earth Does Not Belong to Us, We Belong to the Earth’
do you remember this?
and watching ‘a day after tomorrow’ featuring dennis quaid is really frightening :s
Wow, thanks for this. You seem to be quite the expert in this category. I’ll stop by more often.
China, the biggest greenhouse-gas emitter, offered last week to lower its CO2 output relative to the size of its economy while the U.S., the second-worst polluter, pledged to cut its carbon emissions by 2020. Scientists have said, based on forecasts of rising sea levels Glaciers and ice sheets are melting in Antarctica and Greenland and ocean water occupies more volume the warmer it is. – Nikki