Climate Change & the Media @ UVic
April 8th at the University of Victoria was the scene of a dynamic panel discussion on “Scientists, Scribes and Spinmeisters” and Climate Change Facts. Jim Hoggan (desmogblog straight talker), Tom Pederson (PICS Director), Peter Calamai (Science Writer, Toronto Star) and Lucinda Chodan (Times Colonist Editor-in-Chief) panelists stated their opinions based on facts - as opposed to climate change deniers’ ”cherry picked” fictions. The good news is that scientists and journalists are learning how to talk to each other about the science behind climate change.
The audience was invited to ask question of the panel. Vicky Husband (eco activist) and Elizabeth May (Green Party) both asked incisive questions that broadened the theme. We did have to listen to the obligatory hobby horse , pontificating speakers from the audience - thankfully the moderator soon cut them short and asked them to ask the question (there’s always somebody whose ego leads them in strange directions).
The lecture hall was standing room only, which is encouraging.
There are eco warriors making a difference who don’t often make it to print. Today, at Fern Street Quaker Meeting we heard about a Quaker science teacher who painted a life sized blue whale on her school’s parking lot - the entire school fit inside…I bet those kids learned more about the wonder of nature than they could ever learn from a TV screen.