Kip Hansen’s opinion – July 7, 2022
Sometimes I have so much input it can make my head spin – surprisingly my tolerance is very high – I usually have three or more continuous streams at the same time – audio, video pictures and text. While driving today, I overheard a piece on my local Public Radio station that was almost always false, which I renamed its one-sided political article – WDNC.
[ Note: I am not a fan of American-style two-party politics – which I consider to be what is wrong with this country’s political system. I do have strong social views and moral values. ]
The public radio station in my area produces and hosts a ‘podcast’ (actually, it’s a regular radio feature over two minutes long) called EarthWise. This show is fun and well-produced but unfortunately is dedicated to producing segments that give out misinformation about our natural world and are based primarily on theses of journalism. climate dynamics.
Like Columbia University Including climate right nowsound EarthWise signed off on the idea that “every story is a climate story” – even if they had to make it up.
Their latest show is Red pandas and climate change. You can read the recording or listen to the two-minute audio clip.
You’ll learn that the Red Pandas are not related at all to the (always very cute) Giant Pandas, but rather members of their own exclusive genus. If you want a recognizable analogy, you can think of a red panda (although they’re also not closely related).
This program is so short that quoting any major part of it would go beyond “fair use” – it includes less than 500 words including the title.
Here’s how propaganda works:
first. EarthWisetitled the episode “Red pandas and climate change“, speak:
“Habitat loss is the main threat to the survival of red pandas. Human expansion into this area, combined with the effects of climate change, has led to fragmentation and loss of habitable land. Red pandas also face danger from poaching.”
2. The program correctly reports that the IUCN lists the Red Panda as Endangered (check the details revealed that they couldn’t be sure so they admitted “Evidence of exact decline rates is not sufficient for a definite distinction between Vulnerable and Endangered, the precautionary process is classified as Endangered, pending more precise information.”)
3. The program is based on a study last year, Bista et al. (2021) published in the magazine Landscape ecology titled: Effects of habitat disturbance and fragmentation on arboreal mammals using GPS telemetry: the case of the red panda. The study concluded:
“Conclusion: Red pandas appear to have trade-offs for coexistence in human-dominated landscapes, which could have adverse long-term effects on their survival. This indicates that current patterns of habitat fragmentation and forest exploitation can negatively impact red panda conservation efforts and that landscape-scale impacts should be considered when planning. planning conservation actions”.
Note: The study did not address climate change, even once.
4. IUCN (again, here – see “Detailed Assessment Information”) reporting the biggest causes of population decline are 1) Bamboo-restricted diet, 2) The threat of pet dogs (from domestic dogs or dogs) wild), 3) Conflicts with breeders over specific habitats and 4) Hunting and trading. Have not to mention about any current threats posed by climate change in the assessment details.
Conclusion: Here’s a perfect example of how climate change propaganda works in the media today:
first. EarthWise’s authors Just make up and replenish Climate change is responsible for the decline and threat to the endangered Red Panda, not supported by any of their sources.
2. Because: The propagandists know that no one will examine the details – no one will take the time to research and read the Red Pandas research – no one will read the detailed assessment at the IUCN Red Book site. Certainly, no ‘journalist’ who wants to cover a story will do anything more than copy and paste the reference citations and misrepresent the presented information.
3. Not to mention Pubic Radio listeners and their children will believe “Climate change is killing the really cute Red Pandas!” – it’s a lie.
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Author’s comment:
Why EarthWisejournalists make up stories? Why are they spreading this kind of obvious misinformation? I don’t know, I sent a comment asking them… I’ll check back below if they post my comment or reply.
As in many other cases, the population number of Red Pandas is best classification as “Unknown” – this does not prevent the IUCN from listing them as Endangered (in case they could be….).
Be careful what you believe when it comes from the mass media – their journalists in general have been corrupted by false, often intentional, malicious upbringing. If that’s important to you, test the facts yourself (don’t bother checking the opinions – they’re always different). References to academic studies are no longer reliable – as we saw in this case, you must check for yourself that the work cited actually reports what is implied.
Read more – Read widely – Read critically
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