“Climate Change” vs. “Global Warming”
Damned if we do, damned if we don't. The term “Climate Change” is more accurate, since the symptoms include hurricanes, floods and blizzards as well as hotter temperatures. But the general public is more alarmed and willing to act when they hear “Global Warming.”
“Climate Change” sounds too cerebral, too detached. “Global Warming” is more alarming, more galvanizing, but it opens the door for millions of inbred dunces to recite — on cue — “It snowed last night. So much for that there 'global warming' they keep talking about, huh huh huh uh uh uh.”
However, one particular group is extremely motivated by the term “Climate Change” — the Canadian government. Stephen Harper's (no relation) administration is sooo alarmed by the term “Climate Change” that government meteorologists are not allowed to talk about it. Period. It's OK if a meteorologist mentions a specific weather event — a storm, flood, drought, etc. But they are not allowed to say or imply that there's a larger pattern involved — i.e. “Climate Change” — or that fossil fuel consumption just might could maybe have something to do with it.
In fact, all government scientists are required to get permission from the federal government before they can speak to a reporter. And they're told very clearly which answers they can and cannot give.
And for some odd reason, media coverage of climate change issues has decreased by eighty percent since Stephen Harper started muzzling Canadian scientists. Andrew Nikiforuk, an award-winning journalists who's spent twenty years reporting on Canada's oil and gas industry, said:
“We have a government of thugs in Ottawa these days who are absolutely ruthless. It’s a hostility and thuggery, is the way I would describe it. That’s exactly what it is.”
Anyone still think Canada is “better” or less corporate-owned than the U.S.?
Labels: climate change, muzzling Canadian scientists, Stephen Harper
posted by Tom Harper @ 10:47 AM
11 Comments:
This is so stupid, isn't it? I think everyone is aware just how serious this is, but money seems to be more important to certain elements than anything else.
It just kills me, because these are apparently sane, educated people. How is this possible?
I've always known that Canada is actually rather anti-environmental. They have a reputation, somehow, as being very progressive and very "green" but that is belied by the facts. They are still killing the baby seals, one of the most barbaric practices on the face of the earth. They are salmon farming so intensively they are threatening the oceans and the natural salmon fishery all over North America. They are pushing for the "tar sands" pipeline (they call them "oil sands", having learned that that is better PR). All of this is profitable, at the cost of total environmental disaster.
Why are people not listening?
I guess we need some new sound bites. :)
Climate change is more inclusive than global warming. It also includes global cooling.
It is hard to use the phrase "Global Warming" while getting some of the most extreme winters in memory.
Erik
http://newsgnome.blogspot.com/2014/04/climate-guessers.html
I am dismayed to learn how repressive the politicians can be here and in Canada and apparently get away with it. North Carolina, Canada, your average red state...just outlaw the facts you don't like and presto, problem solved. :(
SM: Canada doesn't have any counterpart to our EPA. The main reason Canada has so much unspoiled wilderness is their small population and huge land mass. They're sort of in the same position as America back in the Pioneer days, with billions of acres of forests just waiting to be cut down.
The Canadian government has also defended the salmon farming industry with the same Nazi ruthlessness as they're doing with their "oil sands" industry. I like Canada, but any illusions that it's greener or more liberal than the U.S. is just that -- an illusion.
Jerry: Climate change is definitely a more accurate term. It's too bad the term is too clinical or too cerebral to get the public alarmed.
Erik: That's why they've switched to saying "climate change," since the term is more accurate and more inclusive. It's too bad "climate change" doesn't have the visceral urgency to it that "global warming" does.
Life: It's definitely dismaying to see Canada so similar to America's red states.
"Just outlaw the facts you don't like and presto, problem solved." Hey, you stole that line from the Koch/ALEC Manifesto :)
Neil DeGrasse Tyson will be talking about this on the next episode of Cosmos. I cannot wait for the butthurt comments next day from the fright wing. I always thought Canada was the smarter child in the Americas, I see we have been importing our stupid there.
Jess: I'm afraid Canada is a huge importer of American Stupid. Stephen Harper (I think he took over in 2006) seems to be Canada's version of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher.
@ Tom add Commander cuckoo bananas and right there you have the four horsemen of the apocalypse.
Perhaps Canada's reputation came decades ago when they (rightfully) made such a big fuss over Acid Rain (remember that?)
Erik
Jess: Yup, Dumbya is definitely one of the four horsemen.
Erik: The acid rain publicity had a lot to do with it. Plus, Canada was a lot more liberal and less corporate-owned until Stephen Harper took over and did his best Ronald Reagan imitation.
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