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Category: General news
Managing director of Ebono Institute and major sponsor of The Generator, Geoff Ebbs, is running against Kevin Rudd in the seat of Griffith at the next Federal election. By the expression on their faces in this candid shot it looks like a pretty dull campaign. Read on
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Thanks for speaking up Amanda Rishworth ALP
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You just got Meredith Kaesehagen to sign this petition: The Hon. Sussan Ley: Quit targeting general practice and the health of all Australians.
Click here to enable desktop notifications for Gmail. Learn more Hide1 of 33Web ClipYou got Meredith Kaesehagen to sign
Inboxx Change.org
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Hi NEVILLE GILLMORE, You just got Meredith Kaesehagen to sign this petition: The Hon. Sussan Ley: Quit targeting general practice and the health of all Australians.
Every person you add is a huge step toward winning this campaign. Each new supporter is another person who will spread the word, get their friends to sign, and bring the campaign closer to victory.
Can you find more people to join this campaign? Ask them to sign now.
– The Change.org Team
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Facts can convince conservatives about global warming – sometimes
Climate change
Climate Consensus – the 97%
Facts can convince conservatives about global warming – sometimesA new study finds that when they understand climate basics, some conservatives are more likely to accept that climate change is happening
Al Gore on Sky TG24 News TV programme in Rome, Italy in 2010. When ideological and political biases get in the way of clear thinking about climate change, many conservatives focus on Al Gore.
Al Gore on Sky TG24 News TV programme in Rome, Italy in 2010. When ideological and political biases get in the way of clear thinking about climate change, many conservatives focus on Al Gore. Photograph: EPS/REXDana Nuccitelli
Thursday 7 August 2014 23.00 AEST
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638While there’s a 97% consensus among climate science experts and their research that humans are causing climate change, only about 67% of Americans believe global warming is even happening, including 25% of Tea Party members and 61% of other Republicans. Only about half of Americans realize that humans are causing global warming.
Social scientists have been investigating this disconnect between the evidence and expert consensus, and public opinion. Is it caused by information deficit and misinformation surplus, political and ideological biases, or some combination of these factors?
There’s one school of thought among social scientists that information just doesn’t matter – in fact, it might even be polarizing. In essence, liberals feel as though they’re on Team ‘global warming is a problem caused by humans’ while conservatives identify with Team ‘no it’s not.’ Some social scientists believe this cultural identity is so strong that scientific evidence, facts, and information can’t break through it. A 2012 study led by Yale’s Dan Kahan seemed to support this idea, finding that conservatives who are more scientifically literate are less worried about global warming.
However, that study looked at general science literacy. A new paper led by Sophie Guy, published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, looks at climate-specific knowledge and ideology. The authors conducted a survey of a national sample of 335 Australians and tested their climate knowledge by asking them to correctly identify factors that are and aren’t causing the rise in atmospheric greenhouse gases (for example, deforestation, automobiles, pesticides, and ozone depletion). They also asked participants, “How much do you feel you know about climate change?,” about their climate-related beliefs, and their ideology. The authors concluded,
…[climate] knowledge dampened the negative influence of individualist ideology on belief in climate change.
Individualists favor small government and self-sufficiency, in line with the libertarian wing of the Republican Party. Individualists were less likely than communitarians (those who think interdependence is an important part of society, i.e. “it takes a village”) to believe that climate change is happening. However, individualists with high climate-specific knowledge were significantly more likely to accept the climate is changing than those with low climate knowledge.
Interaction between specific knowledge and individualism on belief that climate change is occurring. Interaction between specific knowledge and individualism on belief that climate change is occurring. Photograph: European Journal of Social Psychology, Guy et al. (2014)Communitarians were equally likely to accept that climate change is happening regardless of their level of climate-specific knowledge, because the facts mesh with their ideology.
AdvertisementIn another interesting result, perceived climate knowledge made hierarchists (those who favor distinct socioeconomic classes – closely related to the ‘religious right’ in the USA) more likely to reject that humans are causing global warming. This may explain Kahan’s results, because those who have solid general scientific literacy may have an inflated perception of their understanding of climate science.
Thus, scientifically literate hierarchists may be more likely to let their biases influence their opinions on the causes of global warming because they have an inflated perception of their understanding the underlying science. This may also explain why we so frequently hear from engineers, geologists, and physicists who are skeptical of human-caused global warming despite lacking expertise in climate science. Because of their scientific backgrounds, they may have an inflated sense of their understanding about climate science, and thus draw incorrect conclusions that conform to their ideological biases.
There are two pieces of good news in this new study indicating that information does make a difference and climate education isn’t a lost cause. Across the participants as a whole,
People who were knowledgeable about climate change believed more strongly that it is happening, that it is being caused by human activities, and that it has negative consequences than those with less knowledge.
Second, conservatives of a libertarian flavor were more likely to accept that global warming is happening when they had a better understanding of the climate. This indicates that some conservatives are persuadable; that information, evidence, and facts can potentially break through their ideological filter.
On the other hand, the results of this study also suggest that conservatives of a more hierarchist flavor may not be persuadable by climate information and evidence. As their perceived understanding of climate change grows, their acceptance of human-caused global warming falls.
There’s no question that ideological biases play a big role in rejection of global warming. However, the results of this study indicate that for a majority of the public, including some conservatives, information that increases understanding about the climate can also increase public acceptance of global warming.
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24 hours to stand with Paris avaaz
esktop notifications for Gmail. Learn more HideMore1 of 33Web Clip24 hours to stand with Paris
Inboxx Emma Ruby-Sachs – Avaaz
5:51 AM (3 hours ago)to meDear friends,
Hundreds of thousands are taking to the streets of Paris tomorrow to support the beautiful French values of equality, fraternity and liberty. But counter protests are planned and division and fear may win out. Click below to join the virtual march to show that the world stands with Paris:
Hundreds of thousands will march through the streets of Paris tomorrow to support the beautiful French values of equality, fraternity and liberty — and we can be there with them.
The entire world will be watching what happens as people take to the streets in response to the brutal murder of twelve people on Wednesday. Counter protests are planned, Europe’s far-right are mobilising throughout France, and two Muslim places of worship have already been attacked. This is just what the gunmen wanted: division and fear.
But tomorrow we can show them that citizens everywhere also support the values the journalists, staff and policeman died for. Click below to join, and Avaaz staff in Paris will carry all our names in the march:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/march_with_paris_loc/?bhPqncb&v=51065
On Sunday, marchers will be joined by French President Hollande, Germany’s Angela Merkel, the UK’s David Cameron, Spain’s Mariano Rajoy, and many others. But this isn’t just a moment for France or even just Europe. This is one of those moments when those of us who stand for tolerance and freedom of expression everywhere can raise our hands, our pens and our voices. Because the effects of violence like this ripples out, and threaten all of our freedoms.
Many of us found the cartoons in Charlie Hebdo offensive, racist and purposely inflammatory. Along with the Prophet Mohammed, they targeted immigrants, nuns, the pope, Jews and more. But free speech is easy to support until we’re asked to stand for the speech we don’t like. We can help define the message this attack sends to the world’s reporters, editors, and publishers. And to those who would like to see them silenced.
We can’t all be in Paris on Sunday, but if we all sign our names in support, we will be able to show over one million people stand in solidarity with those in the streets, an important message of global unity at a time when it is so desperately needed. Click below to join in:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/march_with_paris_loc/?bhPqncb&v=51065
What happens after these attack will affect all of us. The world will be choosing between a crackdown and anger or unity in the face of fear. This is our chance to respond with a clear call for hope and cooperation, for liberty, equality and fraternity.
With sadness, but also so much hope and determination,
Emma, Nell, Mais, Ricken, Mélanie and the whole Avaaz team
Sources:
The Attack on Charlie Hebdo (The New Yorker)
http://www.newyorker.com/news/amy-davidson/attack-charlie-hebdoCharlie Hebdo Editor Killed in Paris (TIME)
http://time.com/3657402/charlie-hebdo-stephane-charbonnier-paris-attack/People Around the World Are Pouring Into the Streets to Support Charlie Hebdo After the Paris Massacre (Mother Jones)
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/01/je-suis-charlie-demonstrations-paris-massacreNo, we are NOT all Charlie (and that’s a problem) (openDemocracy)
https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/cas-mudde/no-we-are-not-all-charlie-and-that%E2%80%…
Support the Avaaz Community! We’re entirely funded by donations and receive no money from governments or corporations. Our dedicated team ensures even the smallest contributions go a long way. Donate Now -
The John James Newsletter 40
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The John James Newsletter 40
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7:16 AM (5 minutes ago) to John The John James Newsletter 40
10 January 2015If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.
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2014 was the hottest year on record globally by far
Why do we do nothing when the world is disintegrating around us?
Here is one answer I found fascinating! It is played out through organisations funded by the unnamed and dedicated to denying any evidence for anything. How do we deal with moral and ethical uncertainty when the very facts are in doubt? It is the modern day version of Orwell’s world, of power through propaganda and confusion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wcy8uLjRHPM
Tropical forests a key
Tropical forests are a crucial factor as they are absorbing CO2 at a far higher rate than previously thought. As atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases have continued to rise, tropical forests have been absorbing roughly 1.4 billion metric tons of CO2 out of a total global absorption of 2.5 billion, while the uptake in the vast boreal forests in northern regions like Canada and Siberia is diminishing
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/01/04/nasa-tropical-forests-key-fighting-greenhouse-gases
Injustice of US and Israeli Policies
The Palestinian Authority’s formal application to join the International Criminal Court has been met with a flood of retaliation and threats from Israel and the United States. The PA seeks “justice for all the victims that have been killed by Israel,” including during the latest 50-day military assault on Gaza, which killed at least 2,194 Palestinians, over 75 percent of them civilians and more than 500 of them children.
Ebola: ‘nothing prepares you for the sheer brutality,’ says Australian nurse
“I was unprepared for the grace that patients accepted their state; their lack of panic. I was unprepared for the full extent of the distance created between the patients, population and us as caregivers as a result of the disease and the necessary precautions. I was unprepared for how overwhelmed we were and how truly horrible it was to feel so inadequate, to work so hard and for it to feel, ultimately, so little. As a nurse I can only hope to never face such barriers to care again. Seeing the continued failure of the world to respond fast enough to the current situation I can only assume I will see worse. And this I truly dread.
Attempt to Assassinate Iranian N. Scientist Foiled by IRGC
“In the last two years, the Zionist enemy (Israel) was trying hard to assassinate an Iranian nuclear scientist, but the timely presence of the IRGC security forces thwarted the terrorist operation,”
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13931013001240
Wobbles in US-EU Axis Against Russia
French President Francois Hollande this week called for an end to Western sanctions on Russia. He is the latest senior European political figure to express misgivings about the hostile policy that Washington and Brussels have embarked on against Russia over the year-old Ukrainian crisis.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article40640.htm
2015 Will Be All About Iran, China and Russia
The EU’s declaration of economic war against Russia makes no sense whatsoever. Russia controls, directly or indirectly, most of the oil and natural gas between Russia and China: roughly 25% of the world’s supply. The EU is doing everything it can to cut itself off from its most stable supply of hydrocarbons, prompting Moscow to redirect energy to China and the rest of Asia.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article40612.htm
Ten Reasons Why the Trans-Pacific Partnership Must Be Defeated
The disastrous trade agreement is designed to protect the interests of the largest multi-national corporations at the expense of workers, consumers, the environment and the foundations of democracy. The treaty has been written behind closed doors by the corporate world. While Wall Street, the pharmaceutical industry and major media companies have full knowledge of the treaty, the people and members of parliament have been locked out of the process.
http://www.commondreams.org/views/2014/12/31/ten-reasons-why-tpp-must-be-defeated
and
Start planning for climate change migrants now
Natural disasters displace three to 10 times more people than all conflicts and war in the world combined. 22 million people were displaced by extreme events in 2013, led by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.Many more in a growing population live more exposed to more extreme weather. Governments should step up planning for migrants.
Land Concentration, Land Grabbing And People’s Struggles In Europe
This report, involving 25 authors from 11 countries, reveals the hidden scandal of how a few big private business entities have gained control of ever-greater areas of European land. It exposes how these land elites have been actively supported by a huge injection of public funds –at a time when all other public funding is being subjected to massive cuts
http://www.countercurrents.org/cit060115.htm
See the Most Beautiful Space Photos of 2014
NASA’s Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array’s first picture of the sun taken in high-energy X-rays released on Dec. 22, 2014.
http://time.com/3652639/international-space-station-timelapse/
Was the Mayan civilisation wiped out by an extreme drought?
Study of Great Blue Hole suggests 100-year dry spell caused collapseThe Classic Period from 300 to 900 AD. In 514 they were building around ten monuments per year, rising to about 40 in 750. The numbers began to decline quickly so by 900 no monuments were being built. This theory of the Classic Maya Collapse argues that climate change was the reason.
The Euro Crisis Is Entering A New, Highly Dangerous Phase
Although Mr Tsipras says he wants to keep Greece in the euro, he also wants to dump most of the conditions attached to its bail-outs: he would end austerity, reverse cuts in the minimum wage and in public spending, scrap asset sales and seek to repudiate much of the country’s debt. Such a programme seems, to put it mildly, to sit uncomfortably with Greece’s continuing membership of the single currency. It is hard to believe that a Greek crisis will not unleash fresh ructions elsewhere in the euro zone – not least because some of Mrs Merkel’s medicine is patently doing more harm than good.
Iran’s leader talks of nationwide referendums
Iran’s president said Sunday that he might invoke a powerful but neglected tool in his fight with hard-liners, suggesting the possibility of organizing direct referendums that would bypass the institutions the conservatives control and give more of a voice to Iranian voters. In the largely opaque world of Iranian politics, Rouhani’s remarks are a clear warning.
Israel to ask US Congress to halt aid to Palestinian Authority
Move follows freeze on millions in tax revenues after ICC bid; Palestinians looking to resubmit statehood bid Israel was weighing its options Sunday for further punishing the Palestinians after freezing millions in tax revenues as a first response to their bid to join the International Criminal Court. A senior Israeli said Jerusalem would lobby pro-Israel members of the US Congress to enforce a law that would halt $400 million in annual American aid to the Palestinian Authority, Israeli daily Haaretz reported.
Western idealism is cruelled in the Middle East
The Islamic State is confined to largely poor Sunni areas of eastern Syria and northern and central Iraq. It is no match for the Iranian-backed Shia south. And any threat to Australia and the US is better handled with tough anti-terror laws and homeland security than endless wars in the Persian Gulf.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/western-idealism-is-cruelled-in-the-middle-east-20150105-12hxpv.html
The Boko Haram crisis
A few guides to this insurgency and its hatred of western education.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-30728158
Lnk to a profile on their leader.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-18020349
Worse Than the Dictators
Egypt is enacting authoritarian laws at a rate unmatched for 60 years. Since the overthrow of Mohamed Morsi in July 2013, Morsi’s successors have used the absence of an elected parliament to issue a series of draconian decrees that severely restrict freedom of expression, association and assembly.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/26/sp-egypt-pillars-of-freedom-crashing-down
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.@GregHuntMP demanded we ‘explain’ some things about the Reef for him. So we did. http://getup.to/mMC1C4wjFJ via @GetUp
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@GregHuntMP demanded we ‘explain’ some things about the Reef for him. So we did. http://getup.to/mMC1C4wjFJ via@GetUp
