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Earth Science

Scientists Call on Colleagues To Protest Climate Crisis With Civil Disobedience (theguardian.com) 146

Scientists should commit acts of civil disobedience to show the public how seriously they regard the threat posed by the climate crisis, a group of leading scientists has argued. From a report: "Civil disobedience by scientists has the potential to cut through the myriad complexities and confusion surrounding the climate crisis," the researchers wrote in an article, published in the scientific journal Nature Climate Change on Monday.

"When those with expertise and knowledge are willing to convey their concerns in a more uncompromising manner ... this affords them particular effectiveness as a communicative act. This is the insight of Greta Thunberg when she calls on us to âact as you would in a crisis.'" In recent months, scientists have shown themselves increasingly willing to take part in direct actions to bring attention to the climate crisis. A "scientists rebellion" mobilised more than 1,000 scientists in 25 countries in April, while in the UK a number of scientists were arrested for gluing scientific papers -- and their hands -- on to the glass facade of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

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Scientists Call on Colleagues To Protest Climate Crisis With Civil Disobedience

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  • by nospam007 ( 722110 ) * on Wednesday August 31, 2022 @02:39PM (#62840793)

    Not asking for grants from the civil society?

    • Maybe they'll arrange beakers randomly rather than by size.

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      Refuse to travel to far-away conferences and symposia! That'll show 'em!

      Seriously, do these guys not remember getting stuffed into lockers in high school? They're probably gonna get hurt...

    • Because shooting people and burning gunpowder, or for that matter driving or *flying in a jet* to the protest, certainly isn't a carbon source.

      Protesting does nothing other than harm the cause you claim to be protesting for, you dumb hypocrites.

    • by schwit1 ( 797399 )

      Start by sabotaging the elites private jets, yachts and Hummer sized vehicles.
      Call out elites that don't support nuclear power
      Call out elites that have multiple mansions, some on a beach that they say will be underwater in a decade.

  • Soft scientists? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by systemd-anonymousd ( 6652324 ) on Wednesday August 31, 2022 @02:42PM (#62840809)

    >Let's follow the great civil rights leader Greta Thunberg, the child who sailed around the world in a private yacht and condemned minority-share Western CO2 emitters while completely ignoring the role of developing nations like India and refusing to utter a single word against unrepentant, unregulated juggernauts like China.

    So, what degrees did these scientists get? The article is paywalled.

    • Re:Soft scientists? (Score:5, Informative)

      by allcoolnameswheretak ( 1102727 ) on Wednesday August 31, 2022 @03:09PM (#62840911)

      Greta Thunberg, the child who sailed around the world in a private yacht and condemned minority-share Western CO2 emitters while completely ignoring the role of developing nations like India and refusing to utter a single word against unrepentant, unregulated juggernauts like China.

      Western CO2 countries started the industrial revolution whereas countries like India and China only started pumping loads of CO2 into the atmosphere relatively recently. So yes, we are largely responsible for 90% of the excess CO2 in the atmosphere.
      Not only that, but large chunksof CO2 produced by China and India are a result of producing cheap plastic toys, cheap appliances, cheap everything, mostly for us in the developed world. So a considerable number of that CO2 is pollution that we have outsourced to them. So be careful where you try to shift blame.

      But the world shouldn't play a blame-shifting game. The world should come together to reduce emissions globally by any means possible. A big part of that should be technology transfer and funding renewables also in developing nations.

      • So boycott their products- boycott energy produced by fossil fuels- boycott travel on devices that use fossil fuels. Don't forget to boycott the internet while you are at it.

        • Thank you for your hyperbolic, unrealistic and therefore unfortunately useless contribution.

          I do wish people would be more mindful of what they buy and consume though. Stop buying so much cheap, plastic trash stuff, like cheaply made toys that will break after a few days. Bring your own cup to a coffee-to go or make your own coffee at home. Buy more organic food, at least a little depending on what you can afford. Stop driving a car everywhere and use more public transport. Buy an efficient vehicle instead

          • The point is, lead by example. It's certainly far more realistic to just stay home and boycott the airlines, than it is to *fly to Washington DC to protest climate change by burning down a neighborhood*.

      • Agreed, reducing carbon footprint starts with us.

        So, first off, no more beef. Stick with seasonal veggies and if you must have meat go for fish from sustainable fishing. If everyone did this the CO2 reduction would be enormous, and cancer risk would go down too. Sounds like a win all-around.

        Next up, no more driving around in private vehicles. Electric vehicles lower your carbon footprint a bit, but not nearly as much as just sticking with public transportation (or bicycles). More health benefits here t

        • These things might not be pleasant, but they are THE top four most impactful things an individual can do, and if everyone did it this crisis would be over.

          I think you will find a substantial number of people prefer the crisis, such as it is, to your solutions.

          • For what it is worth, I read these in an online list a couple of years ago. I can't find it now, but variations of these items pop up in online lists for "things you can do." So I wouldn't really call these "my solutions." They are just, objectively, some of the most impactful things that we can do. The fact that we don't like them is secondary.

            My main point is that it is easy to stomp our feet and point at big businesses and say "you aren't doing enough!" while there are significantly impactful things

        • I have a different idea on how to get CO2 emissions to near zero. Replace all electricity production with hydro, onshore wind, geothermal, and nuclear fission. These electricity sources are low cost, safe, low in CO2 emissions, low in environmental impact, and can be domestically sourced in most any part of the world.

          Replace petroleum based fuels with carbon neutral synthesized hydrocarbons. This is a very old technology, a process we can power with the energy sources listed above. This means we can fly

          • Go to hell. We got work to do and you are not helping.

            Relax It's just a chat forum. We aren't "doing work" here, we are just tossing opinions around. Having a discussion.

            I am well aware that people will reject these solutions. That doesn't change the impact they would have, which is what I pointed out. Though I disagree with your insistence that this would cause misery and poverty. Switching to a beef-free diet, for example, would not cause poverty at all. People would have no problem finding an abu

      • by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

        Not only that, but naturally developing nations like China and India want the same lifestyles that we have. So it's up to us to show that you can have the same or better quality of life while emitting less CO2, because if the whole world ends up emitting as much as the average American or European we are all screwed.

        By developing and adopting that technology, creating demand for it, we reduce the cost both for ourselves and for developing nations. It's working too. Look at the various options for generating

        • Not only that, but naturally developing nations like China and India want the same lifestyles that we have. So it's up to us to show that you can have the same or better quality of life while emitting less CO2

          No, it really is not up to us. What's up to us is decreasing our emissions, then we can look around and see if anyone else needs to be convinced by any means necessary to decrease theirs. This is an existential threat, remember? Now if only our fearless leaders would act accordingly.

    • by znrt ( 2424692 )

      So, what degrees did these scientists get? The article is paywalled.

      the article is paywalled but the authors' resumes are not. click on the authors, then "View ORCID ID profile"

  • by Kernel Kurtz ( 182424 ) on Wednesday August 31, 2022 @02:48PM (#62840837)
    Scientists who are also activists lose credibility. Same as if they act as salespeople.
    • would you count Richard Stallman in that?

      Seems like this only comes up when it's scientists advocating for something you (and fossil fuel companies) don't like. Pretty convenient if I may say so (and I may).
    • by Nugoo ( 1794744 )
      Scientists are human, and they live on planet Earth. Therefore, you will never see perfect objectivity on this topic.
      • by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

        Perfect objectivity says we should be doing much more about climate change than we are. At best we may get lucky and it's not as bad as the models suggest, but it could also be much worse. The future cost of doing little will be greater than the cost today of fixing it.

        And even if it's all a huge mistake, cleaning up the world and reducing pollution has its own benefits.

  • by real_nickname ( 6922224 ) on Wednesday August 31, 2022 @03:03PM (#62840883)
    Well, we have seen scientists advocating gloryhole in order to reduce covid infection so I'm not sure it's a good idea to have too many scientists trying to manage a world crisis.
    • did you mean the CDC guys saying you should practice safe sex to avoid monkey pox? Because they said do cybersex, not a glory hole.

      Scientists might have told you to wear a mask during sex if you're going to do it anyway. I haven't seen that, but I wouldn't be surprised to find one of them said it as a harm reduction and the media cut out the "don't do this but if you're gonna do it anyway..." part like they always do for headlines.
  • ...because this is how you get scientists who feel justified wiping out civilization, like in 12 Monkeys.

  • by k9iua ( 1022399 ) on Wednesday August 31, 2022 @03:07PM (#62840897)
    What climate scientists need to do is not civil disobedience, but actually live according to what they are preach. No more jetting to climate conferences, or being themselves excessive energy users or climate-gas generators with their SUVs and the like. But actually demonstrate to everyone how to live themselves in the same ways we are being asked to live. Be the example.
  • by Arzaboa ( 2804779 ) on Wednesday August 31, 2022 @03:07PM (#62840899)

    I think these types of things totally miss the point. All I hear is, "Jump up and down for attention."

    I don't know anyone that denies climate change, and I have many friends standing around the circle of political thought.

    What I hear the most is, "Great, what do you want to do about it. Our politicians can't even pass basic things we need, and when we take our eyes off getting our trash picked up, that stops happening too."

    I think the majority, as in 95% of us get it and understand its happening. The big question is, "What do you want me, as a mere mortal, with a government that pays little mind to me and my issues, to do about it? I need to drive to work because our bus system sucks and they won't do anything about it. Riding a bike where possible is so dangerous because they won't change how the bike system works on and off roads. They hardly pick up the trash because of budget issues, much less recycle and compost."

    People need tangible solutions that are available to them, that make a difference. More scientists jumping up and down screaming about how the world is going to end, isn't going to help anyone, and likely will hurt the entire argument. You'll burn people out.

    --
    The sky isn't falling. - Thomas Leonard

    • by 93 Escort Wagon ( 326346 ) on Wednesday August 31, 2022 @03:15PM (#62840927)

      I don't know anyone that denies climate change, and I have many friends standing around the circle of political thought.

      I take it you haven't been reading Slashdot for long?

    • I don't know anyone that denies climate change,

      I am frequently called a denier. So now you've met one.

      • Nice to meet you.

        --
        I ignore Hallmark Holidays. - Berkeley Breathed

      • There's a lot of ground away from the stereotype of the yokel who believes it's a government hoax. What in particular are you denying?

        1. * That the climate is changing?
        2. * That the change is primarily caused by humans?
        3. * That the consequences for humans are severe and we cannot smoothly adapt as it changes?
        4. * Something else?
        • Personally I don't think I deny anything.
          I don't see strong evidence supporting that the consequences for human are severe and we cannot smoothly adapt as it changes.
          I also see things attributed to AGW without a proper investigation.
          I also have little respect for computer climate models.

          At a more detailed level, it is fairly well supported that doubling CO2 in the atmosphere will increase the temperature by ~0.8 degrees. No one thinks that much warming is serious, though. In order for AGW to be an actual pr

          • I'm probably of much the same opinion as you, and similarly don't classify myself as a climate change denier. It seems to me there is a large gap between hard science, with it's logical deductions and reproducible experiments, and broad multi-disciplinary science trying to predict chaotic systems. There's a larger gap between hard science and human behaviour, and we can't seamlessly flow from one into the other, we're in the realm of politics.

            What tempers my scepticism is that I'm not a scientist and the va

  • Block the entrances to all the libraries!! That'll show em1
  • by magzteel ( 5013587 ) on Wednesday August 31, 2022 @03:24PM (#62840985)

    So now scientists should take their lead from a kid with anxiety and nothing of value to offer?

    Come on guys, this is nonsense. I've seen her in interviews, she has nothing to say unless it's scripted. That whole "sailing across the ocean" thing was a joke, the crew had to be flown in on both ends of the trip. It's just theater that people pretend to take seriously.

  • color me scared that the climate scientists will rise up in anger and attack us all with charts and "keynote" presentations

    Mind you I wouldn't want to piss off a chemist or a nuclear scientist

  • ...a political activist that wants to take credit for advances actually developed by engineers, entrepreneurs and lay inventors.

  • Gonna make it hot? Fine, we'll just go on strike and turn the world over to mystics, who can then pray to gods for both revelatory insight and whatever atmospheric cleanup the gods say probably isn't necessary anywa-- wait, why does everyone look relieved? No, wait, guys! You need us!!

  • by MacMann ( 7518492 ) on Wednesday August 31, 2022 @05:57PM (#62841511)

    Scientists are supposed to be the people with solutions, not the people bringing attention to the problem. If they want people to listen about the problem then bring solutions that people will be standing in line to give you their money to have.

    I've seen people that brought solutions but for some reason people are not listening. My guess is because the solutions sound too easy. There's also the problem of politicians "not letting a crisis go to waste" and using the threat of global warming to get their unrelated pet projects through the system. One example is adding people to the IRS in a "climate bill". This was passed by a political party that "follows the science" but are afraid to define what is means to be a woman.

    We have the solutions to global warming. This is a solved problem. What we have now are politicians that can't allow the problem to be solved because then that means they'd have nothing to scare the voters into voting for them any more.

    Has anyone actually read the "Green New Deal"? There's nothing "green" about it. It is all about diverting government money into union jobs, subsidies for women and minority businesses, and next to nothing said about actually lowering CO2 emissions. It appears to me that the politicians that scream the loudest about global warming are going to do the least about it. The people that will do the most about global warming are those that talk about the solutions, not the problem.

    Scientists that are screaming about global warming to the point that they glue their hands to windows are those that are most ignorant on the problem. If they understood the problem then they'd be working on solutions instead of wasting their time, and the time of everyone round them, with publicity stunts.

    The louder they scream about global warming the more confident I become in that we solved the problem. If there was really a problem then they'd be screaming about the solutions. They don't want solutions, they want people to be concerned about the problem. But concern doesn't solve the problem, solutions solve the problem. And people truly concerned about the problem, concerned to the point of educating themselves, aren't wasting their time with publicity stunts like this.

    • by jemmyw ( 624065 )

      Scientists are supposed to be the people with solutions, not the people bringing attention to the problem. If they want people to listen about the problem then bring solutions that people will be standing in line to give you their money to have.

      What? no they aren't. That's never been the definition of a scientists. Scientists research the state of the universe. Engineers use that research to change the universe. Politicians and the rest of us misunderstand, disbelieve, and bugger up policy.

      If they understood the problem then they'd be working on solutions instead of wasting their time

      They've given us the solutions, we just don't like them.

  • Gluing scientific papers to the side of a building is scientific art, not civil disobedience.

    Maybe the scientists were performing an experiment to test a theory?

  • As long as money is given precedence over the environment, we're doomed.

  • Sure, go ahead. People will realize you "scientists" are just petulant children.

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