Critter Magazine - February, 2018

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Point of View New Report Reveals Trump's Year of Systemically Censoring Climate Crisis By Jessica Corbett / Common Dreams A watchdog group that monitors U.S. government websites released a new report last month detailing serious concerns about censorship and the "systemic" manner in which the Trump administration is misleading the public about the environment, energy and the climate crisis. The report, Changing the Digital Climate: How Climate Change Web Content is Being Censored Under the Trump Administration, is the third in a series by the Environmental Data & Governance Initiative (EDGI), an international network of academics and nonprofits that launched shortly after the election of President Donald Trump with the goal of archiving publicly available environmental data and ensuring its continued availability. One of Trump's first moves as president was to launch a new White House website devoid of any reference to the threats posed by the climate crisis, but since then, other agencies have also made significant revisions to websites controlled by the federal government. EDGI's report, which documents changes made to content on federal websites during the first year of the Trump presidency, emphasizes how such changes can increase public confusion, make it harder for experts and policymakers to make informed decisions, boost climate denialism and "diminish our democratic institutions." "These websites provide the public access to scientific results funded by their tax dollars, support democratic process by serving as an authoritative and easily accessible source for the public to educate themselves on key climate change issues, and provide a bulwark against efforts to obscure or cast doubt on accepted science on politically sensitive topics," the report notes. "Alterations to these federal websites can thus have very broad consequences." The report highlights five key findings: • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has notably amended its climate change website in ways that raise "strong concerns about loss of access to valuable information for state, local and tribal governments, and for educators, policymakers and the general public." • Several agencies "have removed or significantly reduced" how prominently climate change information is featured on web pages, documents and entire websites. • The EPA, State Department and Department of Energy have all removed information about the government's international commitments to addressing the climate crisis. • Agencies have revised materials to downplay the harmful impacts of using fossil fuels and the need to transition to renewable energy, while increasing an emphasis on job creation as a top priority. • "Language about climate change has been systemically changed across multiple agencies and program websites" to replace "climate change" and "greenhouse gases" with vaguer terms. PAGE 4 • CRITTER MAGAZINE • FEBRUARY <strong>2018</strong> Climate change, and the loss of sea ice habitat, is the greatest threat to polar bears. The impacts of this change are felt first and worst in the Arctic. Polar bears rely on sea ice to hunt and store energy for the summer and autumn, when food can be scarce. "While we cannot determine the reasons for these changes from monitoring websites alone," the report acknowledges, "our work reveals shifts in stated priorities and governance and an overall reduction in access to climate change information, particularly at the EPA," which has taken many notable actions to censor scientists since Trump took office. The EDGI report features a lengthy statement from Gretchen Goldman, the research director for the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, who ties the "sporadic but significant" website changes to the Trump administration's broader sentiment toward scientific research and policies that involve the global climate crisis. "The scientific community gets the message loud and clear: study of climate change is no longer welcome within the government enterprise," Goldman said. "Under the current administration, a federal scientist simply doing his or her job might be viewed as defiant or disloyal." Pointing to documented cases of researchers selfcensoring or second-guessing their work in the age of President Trump, Goldman warns, "The frightening long-term consequence of such censorship is that we may have fewer scientists working on one of the most complex and urgent scientific problems of our time." To read this report as well as the previous two in the series, visit the EDGI website at goo.gl/33A6BA. GET THE FACTS ON CHAINING. Visit UnChainBuncombe.org or email UnChainBuncombe@gmail.com.
Cappuccino Machines Coffee & Tea Brewers • Gourmet Coffee Gourmet Tea • Grinders 753 Haywood Rd. Asheville (828) 254-7766 Be kind to ALL animals. chooseveg.com People & Pets Acupuncture Dr. Andrea L. Fochios MA, DVM, L.Ac Veterinarian & Chinese Medical Practitioner By Appointment Only Visit us at our new office in W. Asheville 16 Harris Ave. Asheville, NC 828-254-2773 • Email: ALFDVM@aol.com www.peopleandpetsacupuncture.com 14 Forever Friend Lane - Off Brevard Rd. (Rte. 191) & Pond Rd. 828-761-2001 • www.ashevillehumane.org ADOPTIONS: Tues. 10 am - 7 pm • Wed.-Sat. 10 am - 6 pm Buncombe County Shelter • 16 Forever Friend Lane • 828-250-6430 SHELTER HOURS: Mon-Sat 9 am-6 pm • Closed Sun NELLIE is a 5-year old hound mix who loves to be active! This vivacious girl will do best in a home where she gets daily exercise and plenty of attention. REZNOR is a handsome 2-year old who loves to play! He can be feisty and protective over his space, but he will occasionally come curl up in your lap. Reznor would do best in a cat-savvy home where he can be independent. MIA is a sweet 7-year old Bulldog mix who loves meeting new people and especially enjoys belly rubs! Mia can be picky with her doggie friends, so if you have dogs at home, please bring them for a meet and greet. BEBE is a social and chatty 2-year old kitty. She knows no strangers and loves to make biscuits in your lap! This playful girl is waiting for a family who will provide her with plenty of attention and love! Save the Date! The 15th Annual ‘Dine to Be Kind’ Tuesday, March 20 - Visit ashevillehumane.org for more information. LESLIE E. STEVENS Attorney at Law, PLLC •Wills & Trusts •Personal Injury •Veterans •Business 19 N. Liberty Street PO Box 18356 Asheville, NC 28814 828-259-9009 sses98@msn.com ASHEVILLE PET SUPPLY “WNC’s Holistic Pet Center” Featuring Solid Gold, Wysong & Wellness · Holistic, hypo-allergenic premium foods · Healthy nutritional treats · Herbal and homeopathic remedies 1451 Merrimon Ave. Asheville (828) 252-2054 CRITTER MAGAZINE • FEBRUARY <strong>2018</strong> • PAGE 5
Page 1 and 2: TM FREE - TAKE ONE FEBRUARY 2018 VO
Page 3: IN THIS ISSUE FEBRUARY 2018 Critter
Page 7 and 8: Proudly serving the people & pets o
Page 9 and 10: February is National Pet Dental Hea
Page 11 and 12: HOPE FOR HORSES P.O. Box 1449 Leice
Page 13 and 14: HENDERSON COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES 82
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Page 17 and 18: LOBSTER is an adorable 8-year old m
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Page 21 and 22: Greyhound Friends of North Carolina
Page 23: Animal Haven of Asheville P.O. Box

Critter Magazine - February, 2018

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