The ever-prescient John Oliver talked about this back in 2014. In the clip above, the Last Week Tonighthost takes aim at climate change deniers who contest the overwhelming scientific consensus that human activity is causing the planet to warm.
“You don’t need people’s opinion on a fact,” the British comedian said. “You might as well have a poll asking: ‘Which number is bigger, 15 or 5?’ or ‘Do owls exist?’ or ‘Are there hats?’”
Well, the Trump administration is now seeking opinions.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt has launched a program to “critique” climate change science, a senior administration official told Climatewire. The government plans to recruit individuals to study the issue.
According to the report:
The program will use “red team, blue team” exercises to conduct an “at-length evaluation of U.S. climate science,” the official said, referring to a concept developed by the military to identify vulnerabilities in field operations.
“The administrator believes that we will […]
I used to live in Snohomish County, across the street from Farmer Jim a red neck organic, gun toting, grower who was firmly stuck in the past when it came to social issues tinged by compassion. Yet, he was very compassionate, tender even when it came to his plants and soil. He could fix just about anything from pieces of junk he saved and was first responder for any emergencies I had. Knowing I’m a liberal, he loved to high-tail it across the road to find out what I was thinking and rope me into an argument. A stout Climate Change denier, he asked why I believed in Climate change. After all, recorded history showed there’d been warmer years before. I happened to have a large clear glass bowl and some round stones I used to hold soil in place for potted plants. Dumping a small handful in the bowl filled with water, I said – the number of stones you see now represent the world population 20 years ago. Then I dumped in more stones, causing the water to overflow. Those stones represent the world population today. When numbers increase by X factor changes happen that aren’t in any way the same as the changes in the past. I know this was a very simplistic demonstration and of course, there other elements that exacerbate and or ease the effects of Climate Change but Jim became a believer.