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Australian PM: Coal Industry Defender and Climate Change Denier
In the Guardian Article Scott Morrison and the big lie about climate change: does he think we’re that stupid? Richard Flanagan argues that the Australian PM is so determined to protect the coal mining industry that he even denies the possible influence of climate change in recent devastating droughts and bushfires. In a year that has seen Australia ravaged by fire, the floods, cyclones and drought, the response of their Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, has amounted to little more than arriving late at the scene with a cuddle. This stands in sharp contrast to the conviction he has displayed in other guises, such as commander in chief of the Pacific…
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The Chorus of Denial
The rise of populism surrounding global politics, most notably the American Election of President Trump, has the potential to be harnessed in order to weaken the messages of climate science. In the leadership rhetoric of several major global powers there is a disturbingly dominant discourse of anthropogenic climate change denial. Even when climate change is acknowledged, the measures sanctioned are far from decisive. Whether dismissing global warming as a hoax, questioning humanity’s role in it, exaggerating the unknowns, playing down the urgency of action, or playing up the costs, President Donald Trump and his team have served up every flavor of climate denial. Although the arguments varied—as if they were different shades…