From a friend in Queensland, Australia

[Heartstrings]

THE TRUTH ABOUT OUR BUSHFIRES

I've noticed a lot of misinformation around the Australian bushfires and the role of climate change. So I made this graph to help you separate fact from fiction.

I've dealt with the main myths that are being spread about the fires and climate change itself - but have I left any out? What are your thoughts on how we are talking about these fires? Or if you are doubtful about climate change yourself, what's got you questioning it?

Please spread this information far and wide. It's time to cut through the confusion with facts because in a time of crisis, everyone deserves access to the truth.

[MH1]

1. Would it be possible to give a link to this that links to a more neutral site

than DU?

[Heartstrings]

2. This is who wrote the article and all I have at the moment....

http://www.jessicabraithwaite.com/

[MH1]

4. Thanks! That site gives her post on FB

I can share there and for this, it is better than DU (I love DU but it is a red flag to the people we need to reach)

And isn't it obscene that there are a few people posting the "laugh" reaction on her post? Aaargh. (maybe some were finger slips ...)

Thanks for posting it. It's excellent!

[mdbl]

3. I never thought of DU as biased

You mean does Fux Nooze or Noozmax have this on their site?

[MH1]

5. LOL. To you and me, it is fact-based

But to the people we need to reach, many of them see "Democratic" and assume it is strictly left of center (which is where they ain't and think they don't want to be).

[mdbl]

7. Then I would have worded it this way....

Does anyone have a link to other websites that right wingers perceive as neutral? Just sayin'

[warmfeet]

25. Sadly, they cannot be reached by facts.

Reach out if you would like. In my experience, it will be to no avail.

One must be open to new experience in order to grasp facts. Unfortunately, a significant portion of our population are not open to anything new. "Facts" are what they currently think and believe. Nothing outside that realm will change their minds.

But hey, knock yourself out if you wish.

[hatrack]

10. Guardian - "Police Contradict Claims Spread Online Exaggerating Arson's Role In Bushfires

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/08/police-contradict-claims-spread-online-exaggerating-arsons-role-in-australian-bushfires

[rurallib]

6. Got to steal - excellent

[Wounded Bear]

8. Good graphic. If only the opposition was reading stuff like that...nt

[KY_EnviroGuy]

9. K&R. Thanks, that graphic is a keeper.

There's also the issue of rising sea temperature and acidity that are affecting their barrier reefs, as well as their weather and fishing industry.

KY.........

[PatSeg]

11. That was excellent

However, I could do without the snarky "Okay boomer" insult. It implies that most or all baby boomers think man made climate change is a hoax, when actually baby boomers have been warning about climate change for decades. We have over 75 million baby boomers in this country and to lump them all into one category is narrow minded, as well as absurd.

People need to stop with the generational insults. I know this is from Australia, but I'm assuming baby boomers are a sizable number of the population there as well.

[Heartstrings]

12. I was surprised at the "ok boomer" reference, being a boomer myself.

I thought that was an American “thing”....I sent a message to my friend asking if they use this phrase as well....waiting for her response.

[PatSeg]

13. Same here

I wouldn't have thought it was common in Australia.

Insulting a large group of people because of race, gender, ethnicity, religion, or generation is lazy and ignorant. As soon as someone says, "Ok boomer", I will be inclined to tune out to anything else they have to say.

[Heartstrings]

15. Same here....

Along with libtard...they lose all credibility when they use that one.

[PatSeg]

20. Good comparison

I really hate that sort of labeling. It helps no one and shuts down meaningful dialogue.

[Heartstrings]

22. Exactly...

[drmeow]

24. Yeah

It derails an otherwise reasonable and factual chart, is out of place, and is completely unnecessary.

[PatSeg]

30. And that is a shame

A clear bias shows through and this is much too important an issue for such a petty attack on an entire generation.

[Tech]

18. I am also a boomer. I know climate change is real, but I will say summers seemed hotter.

In my area, we did not have air conditioning in our home nor in our cars. So my memory is of it being very hot. So I guess my reality is that it wasn't hotter, but it felt so because we didn't have as many ways to escape it

That being said, I really get frustrated by deniers. Great chart.

[PatSeg]

21. That is a good point

I lived through many hot summers without air conditioning at home or in the car. As a result, I'm sure summers might have felt hotter. Though aside from the time I lived in Mississippi and Florida for a couple years, I recall Midwest summers as very mild when I was growing up. Every summer had one or two heat waves, but the rest of the time it was quite pleasant.

[Duppers]

28. Thank you!

I'm a boomer who's been screaming about this since the '80s & before. Been reading Michael Mann for a over a decade. Have cried over this. Have made friends annoyed with me, all about the truth of what's happening, what will happen. The denial is so strong. Reality of climate change is indeed the MOST depressing issue ever but must be acknowledged in order to force change.

Stopping use of fossil fuels should be the #1 issue. The U.S. would then lose much interest in the ME. And we should have a negative population growth - the planet cannot sustainably support 7.8 Billion people.



It would seem that all progressives would be in the same boat on this...but just a few yrs ago there was a DUer who posted she did not believe climate change is real. So

[mountain grammy]

14. From Michael Mann

Link to tweet

?s=21

[Heartstrings]

16. Thank you for adding this, mountain grammy!

[Ilsa]

17. I know someone who gave up believing in climate change because the Obamas bought

a home on Martha's Vineyard. "They must not believe in cc if the bought a house only 10 feet above sea level."

Ignorance breeds illogical excuses.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

26. HATRED and INTOLERANCE breeds illogical excuses as well.

[SCVDem]

19. Summers felt hotter

due to the higher humidity.

Now with drought conditions we can piss people off by continually saying, "It's a dry heat"!

Looking at you Arizona!

[UniteFightBack]

23. My deplorable sister and co worker let me know this is all because of arson and I said wow this

disinformation campaign is alive and well.

[Hekate]

27. Tell your friend in Queensland thanks from this Californian. Your summer is our winter, so...

...expect to read about us later this year.

PS: I didn't know Australia was a coal-exporter, much less a major one. That was a complete blank in my knowledge.

[hatrack]

33. Crazytown (below), I stand corrected - they're responsible for 38% of all exports . . .

Last edited Mon Jan 13, 2020, 08:52 AM - Edit history (1)

And are far and away the largest exporter at 382 million tons.

However, China is still the biggest producer at 3.5 billion tons. It's also the biggest importer of coal (295 million tons) AND the biggest user of coal 2.8 billion tons.

https://www.iea.org/reports/coal-information-2019

[Hekate]

34. My gods -- my ignorance is lessened tonight.

[crazytown]

36. The USA mines and burns more coal at home than Australia exports

[lunasun]

29. It was just as hot when I was young, now it's cold can't be, natural earth cycles everyone of

these excuses
Thanks for the chart

[BigmanPigman]

31. Good info, especially about the arsonists.

I heard 24 fires were started by arsonists and I wondered if they had the same reasons as the arsonists who started fires in Brazil last year. Now I get it.

[yonder]

32. KnR and thanks

[lordsummerisle]

35. k&r n/t

[calimary]

37. Bookmarking.

Good reference material. A keeper.