Opinion by Kip Hansen — 7 July 2022
Typically I’ve so many knowledge inputs it might make my head spin – which is stunning as my tolerance could be very excessive – I usually have three or extra streams ongoing at anybody time – audio, visible and the written phrase. Whereas driving right now, I heard a phase on my native almost-always-wrong Public Radio station, which I’ve re-named for its one-sided political reporting — 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. ]
My regional public radio station produces and hosts a ‘podcast’ (actually, it’s extra of a two-minute common radio function) named EarthWise. This system is attention-grabbing and well-produced however sadly devoted to producing segments that current misinformation about our pure world and that lean closely on climate-alarmism speaking factors.
Like Columbia College’s Overlaying Local weather Now, it appears EarthWise has signed on to the concept “each story is a local weather story” – even when they must make it up.
Their newest program is Pink Pandas and Local weather Change. You may learn the transcript or hearken to the two-minute audio.
Pink Pandas, you’ll be taught, should not associated in any respect to Large Pandas (at all times oh-so-cute), however members of their very own unique genus. When you wished a recognizable analogy, you would possibly consider a pink racoon (although they don’t seem to be intently associated both).
This system is so brief that quoting any main part of it might transcend “fair-use” – it includes lower than 500 phrases together with the title.
Right here is how propaganda works:
1. EarthWise, having titled the episode “Pink Pandas and Local weather Change”, says:
“Habitat loss is the principle menace to pink panda’s survival. Human enlargement into the realm, mixed with the consequences of local weather change, has led to the fragmentation and lack of livable land. Pink pandas additionally face risks from looking and poaching.”
2. This system accurately studies that the IUCN lists the Pink Panda as Endangered (checking the main points reveals they couldn’t make certain so that they admit “the proof of exact decline price being insufficient for sure discrimination between Weak and Endangered, the precautionary course is taken of categorisation as Endangered, pending extra exact info.”)
3. This system is predicated on a examine final 12 months, Bista et al. (2021) revealed within the journal Panorama Ecology titled: Impact of disturbances and habitat fragmentation on an arboreal habitat specialist mammal utilizing GPS telemetry: a case of the pink panda. The examine concludes:
“Conclusions: Pink pandas appear to make a trade-off to co-exist in human-dominated landscapes which can have opposed long-term results on their survival. This means that present patterns of habitat fragmentation and forest exploitation could also be adversely affecting pink panda conservation efforts and that landscape-scale results ought to be thought of when planning conservation actions.”
Notice: The examine doesn’t point out local weather change, not even as soon as.
4. The IUCN (once more, right here – see “Evaluation Info intimately”) studies the best causes of decline in inhabitants to be 1) Weight loss program restricted to bamboo, 2) Menace from canine distemper (from home or feral canines), 3) Conflicts with herders for particular habitat and 4) Trying to find commerce. There’s no point out of any present menace from local weather change within the evaluation particulars.
Backside Line: It is a excellent instance of how local weather change propaganda works in right now’s media:
1. EarthWise’s authors merely make up and add-in Local weather Change as a explanation for decline and menace to the endangered Pink Pandas, unsupported by any of their referenced sources.
2. As a result of: The propagandists know that nobody goes to test the main points – nobody will take the time to go looking out and skim the Pink Panda examine – nobody will learn the evaluation particulars on the IUCN Pink Checklist web site. Actually, no ‘journalist’ wishing to cowl the story will do something greater than copy-and-paste reference citations and parrot the misinformation offered.
3. Untold numbers of people that hearken to Pubic Radio and their youngsters will probably be satisfied that “Local weather Change is killing the actually cute Pink Pandas!” – which is a lie.
# # # # #
Creator’s Remark:
Why do EarthWise’s journalist make issues up? Why do they unfold this sort of apparent misinformation? I don’t know, I’ve submitted a remark asking them…I’ll test again under in the event that they publish my remark or reply.
As in lots of different circumstances, the Pink Panda’s inhabitants numbers are finest categorized as “Unknown” – which doesn’t deter the IUCN from itemizing them as Endangered (simply in case they may be….).
Watch out what you imagine when it comes from the mass media – their journalists have typically been corrupted by pernicious, usually intentional, mis-education. If it is very important you, test the info your self (don’t trouble checking opinions – they at all times differ). References to educational research are now not reliable – as we see on this case, you will need to test that the cited work your self to see if it really studies what’s implied.
Learn Extra – Learn Broadly – Learn Critically
# # # # #
