After viewing the following video clips, answer the following questions
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/climate-of-doubt/
Watch from start to around 7:20 – background
Watch from 15:20 to 21:50 – manipulation of data “going down the up escalator” and the Oregon Petition
Watch from around 36:55 to about 44:45 – NC climate change legislation on sea level rise and discussion of use of tactics used by the tobacco industry in claiming second-hand smoke is not harmful; oil industry ties
- Give some examples from the video that illustrates how the media may help promote or help refute pseudoscience. (4 points)
- How do the skeptics “diminish the credibility of the scientific consensus” and “spread the message of doubt?” Include an analysis of “going down the up escalator” and the Oregon Petition as pseudoscience. (6 points)
- What do you think are the motivations behind climate denial, based on the video? Who are the key players seen in the video and what are their credentials? Discuss the failed North Carolina legislation to “legislate climate change out of existence.” How did the skeptics win, even though the legislation was not passed (what is the next step)? (5 points)
- From the examples given in the video, what do you think are the motivations behind climate denial? What industries are cited as being heavily involved, and who are some of the key players with ties to industries? (5 points)
- More recently, what is the Web of Denial, and why are US Senators taking action by supporting the Senate Web of Denial Resolution? (5 points)
http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/download/?id=14B7203D-50FE-4BA9-82FC-B76756B70503&download=1
https://twitter.com/SenBrianSchatz/status/755492348407058432
Sample Solution
