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Climate Communication - Jim Byrne radio interview scheduled for Saturday, July 27
by Douglas Craig 15 Jul '13

15 Jul '13

The next climate scientist interview on KKRN (kkrn.org) will occur on Saturday, July 27 at 9:00 a.m. PDT. Doug Bennett and Doug Craig will be joining forces on KKRN's Unspun radio program to interview Dr. James (Jim) Byrne about the current science and impacts associated with human-caused climate change. This will be the last interview for this current series but hopefully there will be more in the future. We have a tentative November recording with one more guest. Thanks to Barbara, Danny and now Jim for participating. Doug Craig's blog about the Jim Byrne interview can be found at: http://blogs.redding.com/dcraig/archives/2013/07/dr-james-byrne.html<climate2013-l(a)uleth.ca> Thank you.

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Climate Communication - Koch pledge & climate inaction in Congress - The New Yorker
by Melanie Fitzpatrick 01 Jul '13

01 Jul '13

Article in The New Yorker today covering new report on role of the Koch brothers in blocking climate action in Congress by the Investigative Reporting Workshop at American University<http://investigativereportingworkshop.org/investigations/the_koch_club/stor…>. Koch Pledge Tied to Congressional Climate Inaction http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2013/07/the-kochs-and-the-ac… Posted by Jane Mayer<http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/bios/jane_mayer/search?contributorName=Ja…> When President Obama unveiled his program to tackle climate change last month, he deliberately sidestepped Congress as a hopeless bastion of obstruction, relying completely on changes that could be imposed by regulatory agencies. A two-year study by the Investigative Reporting Workshop at American University<http://investigativereportingworkshop.org/investigations/the_koch_club/stor…>, released today, illustrates what might be one of the reasons why he had to take this circuitous route. Fossil fuel magnates Charles and David Koch have, through Americans for Prosperity, a conservative group they back, succeeded in persuading many members of Congress to sign a little-known pledge<http://www.noclimatetax.com/> in which they have promised to vote against "legislation relating to climate change unless it is accompanied by an equivalent amount of tax cuts." Since most solutions to the problem of greenhouse-gas emissions require costs to the polluters and the public, the pledge essentially commits those who sign to it to vote against nearly any meaningful bill regarding global warning, and acts as yet another roadblock to action. The investigative study tracks the political influence wielded by the billionaire Koch brothers, who have harnessed part of the fortune generated by their company, Koch Industries, the second largest private corporation in the country<http://www.forbes.com/sites/andreamurphy/2012/11/28/americas-largest-privat…>, to further their conservative libertarian activism. Charles Lewis, the Executive Editor of the Investigative Reporting Workshop explained that the I.R.W., a non-profit news organization attached to American University, spent two years focussing on Koch Industries because, "There is no other corporation in the U.S. today, in my view, that is as unabashedly, bare-knuckle aggressive across the board about its own self-interest, in the political process, in the nonprofit-policy-advocacy realm, even increasingly in academia and the broader public marketplace of ideas." Formerly head of the Center for Public Integrity in Washington, Lewis has focussed for years on the way money affects American politics. "The Kochs' influence, without a doubt, is growing," he believes. A spokeswoman for the Kochs declined to comment. In its multi-part report<http://investigativereportingworkshop.org/investigations/the_koch_club/stor…>, "The Koch Club," written by Lewis, Eric Holmberg, Alexia Campbell, and Lydia Beyoud, the Workshop found that between 2007 and 2011 the Kochs donated $41.2 million to ninety tax-exempt organizations promoting the ultra-libertarian policies that the brothers favor-policies that are often highly advantageous to their corporate interests. In addition, during this same period they gave $30.5 million to two hundred and twenty-one colleges and universities, often to fund academic programs advocating their worldview. Among the positions embraced by the Kochs are fewer government regulations on business, lower taxes, and skepticism about the causes and impact of climate change. Climate-change policy directly affects Koch Industries's bottom line. Koch Industries, according to Environmental Protection Agency statistics cited in the study, is a major source of carbon-dioxide emissions, the kind of pollution that most scientists believe causes global warming. In 2011, according to the E.P.A.'s greenhouse-gas-reporting database, the company, which has oil refineries in three states, emitted over twenty-four million tons of carbon dioxide, as much as is typically emitted by five million cars. Starting in 2008, a year after the Supreme Court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency could regulate greenhouse gasses as a form of pollution, accelerating possible Congressional action on climate change, the Koch-funded nonprofit group, Americans for Prosperity, devised the "No Climate Tax" pledge. It has been, according to the study, a component of a remarkably successful campaign to prevent lawmakers from addressing climate change. Two successive efforts to control greenhouse-gas emissions by implementing cap-and-trade energy bills died in the Senate, the latter of which was specifically targeted by A.F.P.'s pledge. By now, four hundred and eleven current office holders nationwide have signed the pledge. Signatories include the entire Republican leadership in the House of Representatives, a third of the members of the House of Representatives as a whole, and a quarter of U.S. senators. The 2010 mid-term elections were a high watermark for the pledge. The Kochs, like many other conservative benefactors, gave generously to efforts to help shift the majority in the House of Representatives from Democratic to Republican. Koch Industries's political action committee spent $1.3 million on congressional campaigns that year. When Republicans did take control of the House, a huge block of climate-change opponents was empowered. Fully one hundred and fifty-six members of the House of Representatives that year had signed the "No Climate Tax Pledge." Of the eighty-five freshmen Republican congressmen elected to the House of Representatives in 2010, seventy-six had signed the No Climate Tax pledge. Fifty-seven of those received campaign contributions from Koch Industries's political action committee. The study notes that more than half of the House members who signed the pledge in the 112th Congress made statements doubting climate-change science, despite the fact that there is overwhelming scientific consensus on the subject. The study recounts that the Kochs have influenced the congressional climate-change debate in other ways, too, which include funding an array of nonprofit groups whose experts have testified in Congress questioning the cause, the severity, and the necessity of, acting on climate change. Since 2007, "Senior staff at more than a dozen Koch-funded nonprofit groups have made frequent trips to testify on Capitol Hill in favor of deregulation," of the environment and energy sector, the study says. The No Climate Tax pledge has made inroads at the state level, as well. In just the three states of Missouri, Michigan, and Kansas, where Koch Industries has its headquarters, forty-eight office holders have now signed the pledge. Nationwide, it has penetrated even the most local levels. Signatories now include the Oklahoma superintendent of schools, the Idaho Treasurer, and three justices of the peace in Arkansas. Lewis concludes that "One of the overarching themes from what we have found is that," when it comes to blocking action on climate change, "things obviously go better with Koch!" Photograph by Carlo Allegri/AP. Read more: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2013/07/the-kochs-and-the-ac… Melanie Fitzpatrick, Ph.D. Climate Scientist Union of Concerned Scientists | Berkeley CA USA | 510-809-1566 mfitzpatrick(a)ucsusa.org<mailto:mfitzpatrick@ucsusa.org> Subscribe to my blog<http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheEquationMelanieFitzpatrick> The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future. www.ucsusa.org<http://www.ucsusa.org/> Take action with our citizen network<http://ucs.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=sign_up> or expert network<http://www.ucsusa.org/forms/sign-up-for-ucs-science-network.html>. Support our work<https://secure3.convio.net/ucs/site/Donation2?df_id=1420&1420.donation=form…>. Join the conversation on our blog<blog.ucsusa.org> or follow us on Facebook<facebook.com/unionofconcernedscientists> and Twitter<twitter.com/ucsusa>.

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Climate Communication - UCS Resources on Obama's Climate Speech
by Melanie Fitzpatrick 01 Jul '13

01 Jul '13

For the Union of Concerned Scientists' response to Obama's climate speech, check out this URL: www.ucsusa.org/obamaclimatespeech<http://www.ucsusa.org/obamaclimatespeech> Angela Anderson, Director of UCS Climate and Energy Program: "The president is taking up the mantle of educator-in-chief on climate change. His speech was striking because it revealed a deep understanding of the consequences of climate change we're already seeing. He recognizes our responsibility to protect future generations and he made the case that our prosperity and our climate are intrinsically linked." Melanie Fitzpatrick, Ph.D. Climate Scientist Union of Concerned Scientists | Berkeley CA USA | 510-809-1566 mfitzpatrick(a)ucsusa.org<mailto:mfitzpatrick@ucsusa.org> Subscribe to my blog<http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheEquationMelanieFitzpatrick> The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future. www.ucsusa.org<http://www.ucsusa.org/> Take action with our citizen network<http://ucs.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=sign_up> or expert network<http://www.ucsusa.org/forms/sign-up-for-ucs-science-network.html>. Support our work<https://secure3.convio.net/ucs/site/Donation2?df_id=1420&1420.donation=form…>. Join the conversation on our blog<blog.ucsusa.org> or follow us on Facebook<facebook.com/unionofconcernedscientists> and Twitter<twitter.com/ucsusa>.

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Climate Communication - Climate radio show live streamed this Saturday http://kkrn.org/
by Byrne, James 27 Jun '13

27 Jun '13

Climate Communication Colleagues, I will be interviewing Barbara Mayes Boustead this Saturday, June 29 from 9-10 a.m. PDT on KKRN FM which will be live-streamed at kkrn.org<http://kkrn.org/>. We will be accepting phone calls at 530-337-1885. Here is my blog on the interview. http://blogs.redding.com/dcraig/archives/2013/06/climate-scienti-2.html Doug Craig

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Climate Communication - Fwd: Everyone has a role.
by Byrne, James 26 Jun '13

26 Jun '13

Global Power Shift - please add your support? best, Jim James Byrne, Professor University of Lethbridge Begin forwarded message: From: Samantha Bailey - 350.org<http://350.org> <organizers(a)350.org<mailto:organizers@350.org>> Date: 26 June, 2013 7:27:23 AM MDT To: James Byrne <byrne(a)uleth.ca<mailto:byrne@uleth.ca>> Subject: Everyone has a role. Reply-To: <organizers(a)350.org<mailto:organizers@350.org>> Friends, I want to give you an update from Istanbul, where we are a bit low on sleep but quite high on energy. After months of hard work to prepare, climate organisers from 134 countries on every continent are in Istanbul for Phase 1 of Global Power Shift, spending every waking hour building new relationships, skills, and power. The days are divided between intensive skills trainings, regional collaborations, global visioning, and meals over the reddest tomatoes you'll ever see. The skills that we're sharing will give us the tools we need to prepare for a wave of national and regional Power Shift actions in coming months, and the connections to people across the world will give us the vision to translate that energy into international action. I'm writing you now to ask you to join what comes next. After we wrap up here in Istanbul, there will be a wave of regional and national Power Shifts across the planet. We're making those plans now, and we need to know if you will be there with us to continue our amazing growth. You can join phase 2 of Global Power Shift by signing up here -- will you join us? act.350.org/signup/global_power_shift/<http://act.350.org/go/3360?t=1&akid=3289.279509.lQtD4G> Phase 2 of Global Power Shift will put pressure directly on national governments across the world. Tomorrow, Christiana Figueres the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change will be coming to GPS here in Istanbul to discuss the path forward to international climate action, and we want her to leave here with the strongest mandate possible to push leaders to take action. We want to be able to show her messages from tens of thousands of people who have pledged to create a bold wave of climate activism in countries around the world. If you sign on today, we'll be able to do that -- and will be that much closer to strong international action on climate. In a fight this big, everyone has a role to play. Can you step into yours by pledging to ramp up the climate movement in your home countries for Phase 2 of Global Power Shift? act.350.org/signup/global_power_shift/<http://act.350.org/go/3360?t=2&akid=3289.279509.lQtD4G> I also want to let you know a bit more about who you'll be fighting alongside during Phase 2. You'll be shoulder-to-shoulder with the warriors of the Pacific, who told everyone here about their Warrior Day of Action, sending the message that as the ocean waters rise about their island homes, they are not drowning -- they are fighting. You'll also be standing with youth here from Eastern Europe who are winning hearts and minds to shut down gigantic coal plants and end a generations-long legacy of industrial pollution. And you'll be joining the fight alongside our friends here from central Africa who are defending climate-critical forests while also adapting their communities to the early impacts of climate change. There are many more stories to come that you will only be able discover by joining in. I'm amazed by the hard work and joyful solidarity on display here in Turkey -- but the most amazing thing about what's happening now in Istanbul is that it's just the beginning. I hope you'll join us for what's next<http://act.350.org/go/3360?t=3&akid=3289.279509.lQtD4G>. -Samantha P.S. Get a look at the amazing Southern Africa crew on stage at the opening plenary -- this is the kind of energy in this movement: [https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.350.org/images/Plenary_GPS.jpg] (photo: Shadia Fayne Wood) [http://act.350.org/o.gif?akid=3289.279509.lQtD4G] ________________________________ 350.org<http://350.org> is building a global movement to solve the climate crisis. Connect with us on Facebook<http://facebook.com/350.org> and Twitter<http://twitter.com/350>, and sign up for email alerts<http://350.org/signup?akid=3289.279509.lQtD4G>. You can help power our work by getting involved locally, sharing your story<http://local.350.org/stories/?akid=3289.279509.lQtD4G>, and donating here.<http://350.org/donate?akid=3289.279509.lQtD4G> To stop receiving emails from 350.org<http://350.org>, click here.<http://act.350.org/cms/unsubscribe/unsubscribe/?t=4&akid=3289.279509.lQtD4G>

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Climate Communication - Science Communication muzzled in Canada
by Byrne, James 24 Jun '13

24 Jun '13

Many of you may have heard about this discussion on the harper govt muzzling science. Here is a good audio file. http://www.cbc.ca/thesundayedition/popupaudio.html?clipIds=2339726468 Jim

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Climate Communication - climate2013 email problems
by Byrne, James 24 Jun '13

24 Jun '13

dear colleagues, Please let me know if you are having problems receiving emails from the list. A few people have had delivery problems and we've made some adjustments to try to address that. But please keep me informed of any problems - write to me directly byrne(a)uleth.ca. Thanks. Best, Jim

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Climate Communication - content for 8-12 yr olds?
by Schmidt, Gavin A. (GISS-6110) 24 Jun '13

24 Jun '13

Does anyone know of any good content/programming aimed at 8-12 yr olds on climate change? TV/radio/interactive/lesson plans etc.... Thanks gavin ========== Gavin Schmidt Deputy Chief, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies 2880 Broadway New York, NY 10025 Tel: 212 678 5627 Email: Gavin.A.Schmidt(a)nasa.gov URL: http://www.giss.nasa.gov/staff/gschmidt.html

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Climate Communication - weather extremes
by Byrne, James 21 Jun '13

21 Jun '13

Good day colleagues, While colorado gains control over the most destructive fire in state history, http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/20/us/colorado-fires/index.html Calgary Alberta is flooded to unprecedented depths https://twitter.com/IrishEagle/status/348099591373205505 The attached google earth a screen shot shows the marker at the location for this picture. Maybe they will listen? Best, Jim

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Climate Communication - Climate Change Radio Interview Opportunities
by Douglas Craig 20 Jun '13

20 Jun '13

Hi Jim, I wondered if you wanted to send this out to the mailing list. I have another opportunity for climate scientists and attendees of the communicating climate science conference to get their message out via radio interviews. An associate of mine who has a weekly radio show wants to do a series of interviews over the next few weeks and wants to focus on climate change. The show is on KKRN in Northern California. It is a non-commercial community radio station. The website is at *http://kkrn.org/* The host of the show *Unspun is Doug Bennett* and he has asked me to co-host with him. Archives of his show can be found here: * http://kkrn.org/index.php/shows/unspun* This is a fairly liberal station with a fairly well-informed, supportive and liberal audience. All shows would be live-streamed and archived in podcast format. The show is broadcast live at 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. PDT every Saturday. Interviews could be an hour or a half hour in length. Anyone interested can contact me at douglascraig2.0(a)gmail.org or contact Doug Bennett at unspun(a)kkrn.org My cell phone is 530-209-1408. Thanks Jim! Doug

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