This week, I have examined an article from Al Jazeera english aswell as a satirical news video from The Onion. The article from Al jazeera present issues related to extreme weather as the new global norm. The video from the Onion illustrates the ignorance and rejection of scientific evidence that runs rampant in the mainstream media. This article from Al Jazeera states that, according to a UN report “humanity is close to breaching the sustainability of Earth, and needs a technological revolution greater and faster than the industrial revolution in order to avoid a major planetary catastrophe”. This statement illustrates the dangers that the earth faces. Following on from this, The Onion’s satirical video is a reflection of how even with these sorts of statements about the desperation of the situation we are facing, there is still a refusal by many people and many in mainstream media to acknowledge this problem. This lack of recognition can be seen in this parody video as the news anchors dismiss the idea that climatologists would have anything to contribute, as they are described as getting agigated and skittish. These attitudes and the lack of action implied occur due to the world order we live in in which nothing is valued unless it contributes to economic growth. This idea of economic determinism does not equate with environmentalism. This unwillingness to change in order to prevent a major planetary catastrophe as stated earlier was echoed by George Bush Snr when he stated that “The American lifestyle is not negotiable” (Bush Snr., 1992, Earth Summit speech) This has been an attitude that has pervaded the climate change argument for many years and which still continues to frustrate climatologists worldwide.
