Manipulation of the Truth
"I had to learn how biases can create a totally
different world in the mind of the reader" - Professor Agnes Binagwaho -
TEDx Skoll
I read this on Twitter today and thought it should be valued
as much more than a fleeting retweet.
Over the
years, I’ve come to realise how what we hear and see can so easily be
manipulated. Many times by accident. In conversations and on the news, vital
information can be forgotton, mispronounced or withheld. On the other side, the
observer can also get it wrong through blanking information, misinterpretation
or simply not knowing the background of the topic.
As
information is passed down and down through the crowd – what minute percentage
can we actually trust? It’s the real-life game of Chinese Whispers.
These are
basic human mistakes. We have all done it on both sides; intended or
unintended, biased or elaborating, good intentions or bad intentions.
The blurry
line exists when deciding whether a bias is a lie or not. Is it?
In theory,
we are simply telling what we know to be true. However leaving out the wider
picture can dramatically alter the perceptions of the receiver of the
information. It’s always happened, throughout history. Through propaganda and
monarchy artwork; stretching the truth was a socially acceptable norm. Still
is. We constantly accuse the media, leaders & politicians of it. Sometimes
on small topics (does wine have health benefits or not?) but so much of the
time, the future of our society is at stake.
Is climate
change real?
A question
that’s been asked since the 1960’s. The answer by 99.99% of people is most
likely “yes”
Is
human-induced climate change real?
Very
different opinions you’ll read here. The media as a whole will portray both
sides with equal weight but, some portrayals will be particularly one-sided. We
may find this is because of newspaper deadlines, political motives or
unfortunately, under-the-radar business ventures.
97% of
climate scientists, worldwide, conclude that our current climate change is
human induced. I looked further into this and found that this statistic refers
to 14,000 peer-reviewed climate science papers. In conclusion, 13,950 of the
best educated on climate science, who have the motive to perform their own research
and then have it approved by other scientists, unite in the one statement; we
are causing the current global warming.
Just 3% deny
it. For sure they are allowed their point of view and more than welcome to
share it with the world. The problem comes when bias appears. Fear, complacency
and the economic future of businesses being put at stake has resulted in
unequal portrayals of climate change in society.
At first,
many claimed climate change simply did not exist. Debatably lucky for us, we
now have sufficient evidence to prove that the climate is changing. The issue
today; publicity of climate deniers is through the roof, particularly in the
US.
I recently
watched Leonardo DiCaprio’s ‘Before the Flood.’ If you’ve not seen it, I
strongly suggest you do. Eye-opening indeed and explains the threats to our
planet in a way that makes sense. It all makes sense.
In this
documentary, DiCaprio explains how the US government has previously been
deluged by a high proportion of climate deniers – fuelled by, who could have
guessed, oil companies such as ‘Shell’ and ‘BP.’ They have escalated the views
of that 3% using the power of money. That my friends, is bias. Changing opinions
in the minds of the listeners and readers.
If
politicians are unwilling to change their ways, if hugely influential companies
are unwilling to change their ways, if the public is not told of the wider
picture, how can they decide for themselves what is right and what is wrong?
This is the
last opportunity for us. We must decide for ourselves what is right. Look at
the wider picture and see for ourselves what is actually happening to our
world. This precious world and it’s immense biodiversity we depend upon. Only
now are we starting to see climate change cause suffering in many species – including
us. Only now do we have the power, resources and awareness to fight climate
change, but yet we are still failing to change our ways. What are we doing?
In just decades’
time when communities look back at their history, much like we do today in
smugness, what do we want them to say? When they ask us what we did to stop the
climate crisis, what answer will you give?
Will we even
be around then?
H _ M
:)
Bibliography:
https://www.beforetheflood.com/
https://twitter.com/emilyneil15/status/850355975630581760
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