Climate Action
Burying The Lead
June 6, 2016
Freshest among the myriad of intellectuals who have publicly come out in opposition to Donald Trump is renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking. Like many other rational thinkers who have the foresight to understand the possible catastrophe of a Trump Presidency, Hawking holds back no thoughts when pointing out the idiocy of the Trump train. In an interview with ITV, the astrophysicist called Trump a demagogue, who panders to the “lowest common denominator” for support. Though spending a large portion of his interview proclaiming the dangers of Trump, Hawking warned of an even more grave, and imminent threat than the rise of the “pro-war crypto-nazi”. Climate change, Hawking noted “Is a more immediate danger.” He furthered “A rise in ocean temperature would melt the ice-caps, and cause a release of large amounts of carbon dioxide from the ocean floor. Both effects could make our climate like that of Venus, with a temperature of 250 degrees.”
Above all other factors that could alter our livelihood, Hawking proclaimed that climate change is the most flagrant and threatening to all of humanity. Though especially highlighting the irreversible catastrophic damage that climate change will bring, his warning calls were ignored by most major media outlets. Instead, organizations like CNN, NBC, and USA Today opted to use the most seemingly controversial aspect of the interview, a rant on Donald Trump, and blow it out of proportion as though it was a main point for Hawking. How is it that the subject of utmost importance and consequences for humanity was completely ignored? It doesn’t make any sense.
Sadly, such is the reality for much of the scientific community, especially when it comes to environmental topics. Their calls for conservation, and policies to mitigate climate change often go ignored by the media, and thus the average person never hears about the frightening reality that worsens day by day. It is interesting that media organizations who derive most of their ratings through fear mongering fail to cover the most frightening and realistic danger the world currently faces. Through turning a blind eye to scientific fact, especially in regards to climate change, the media is directly facilitating irreversible damage to the planet by keeping the masses uninformed.