Good scientific practice employs the scientific method: acquiring new knowledge or investigating observable phenomena through the use of hypotheses, data sets, repetition, analysis, conclusion, peer review, and the continuation of research. Contrary to the desires of the general public, politicians, and think-tanks, science should conduct experiments and assess data independently of public opinion or desire for certain results. What should the role of science be in the making of public policy? Scientists should present their information and allow others (politicians, the general public) to make their own conclusions, rather than allowing doubt to be used as a political tool for climate denial. It is in the conveying of information in which scientists, politicians, and journalists can obscure data to manifest doubt in the minds of the public. In dealing with our current … Read entire article »

Have public media and journalists contributed to confusion and doubt about climate change? What can/should they do to present science and scientific debate accurately on this topic? The general public relies on media and journalists to get all of their information.  This information can be relayed to the public in a number of ways.  Depending how news is presented, the public forms opinions based on what the media communicates to them.  With topics such as climate change, political variance plays a major role in the scientific debate.  Because politically focused news broadcasters present information based on the political party of which it supports, these contrasting parties create controversy when spreading accurate information to the public.  The science of climate change is not to be debated between divergent parties; the evidence behind … Read entire article »

Explain the reasons behind the creation of Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK). Do you think adopting violence as a method strengthened or weakened the anti-apartheid movement?   Umkhonto we Sizwe was created to combat, literally, apartheid and to be military support for the ANC. Nelson Mandela in his “I am prepared to die” speech states that “as a result of Government policy, violence by the African people had become inevitable, and that unless responsible leadership was given to canalize and control the feelings of our people, there would be outbreaks of terrorism which would produce an intensity of bitterness and hostility between the various races of this country which is not produced even by war”. I feel that the formation of MK was unfortunately necessary for the equal treatment of the people in … Read entire article »

Have public media and journalists contributed to confusion and doubt about climate change? What can/should they do to present science and scientific debate accurately on this topic?   Yes, Public media and journalists have contributed to the confusion about climate change. Though I would not attribute all of the confusion to the media nor would I say that they are entirely at fault. The media has an obligation to report news and facts, but when they are fed poor information they add to the confusion. Media is often feed information and those when they are told by an expert that “cigarette smoke does not cause health issues” or “climate change is not a problem” and they report that information on the word of said expert, it is hard to blame the media … Read entire article »