Climate crisis and epistemic crisis, two interconnected global threats that are crippling our ability to address the most pressing issue of our time. The problem isn't just the science; it's what we know and how we know it.
For centuries, power has shaped public knowledge, perpetuating false narratives and promoting the interests of those in control. Monarchs once believed they embodied all the nation's interests, while women were deemed unsuited to public life. These blatant falsehoods have been sustained by a vast infrastructure of persuasion built around them.
Fast-forward to today, where the rich own or influence most of our means of communication. They use their platforms to spread propaganda, boosting right-wing and far-right movements that defend wealth and power against redistribution. This has led to an unprecedented hardening of positions in the US, with Trump's allies taking over legacy media platforms.
The ultra-rich have also invested heavily in new media outlets, such as online shows that now outrank traditional television news. A study found that eight out of ten most popular online shows spread climate science denial. Even Elon Musk's X platform, where reporters were fed a glut of right-wing content, suggests an algorithmic bias designed to promote specific ideologies.
This isn't just about the media; it's about who gets to decide what knowledge is credible and what's not. A new study found that politicians on the radical right are most likely to spread misinformation on X. The rich have even managed to infiltrate the BBC, where journalists are often pressured to avoid discussing certain topics or to present a balanced view that favors the interests of those who fund them.
The result is a media climate where governments are retreating from climate action. The International Panel on the Information Environment found that "inaccurate or misleading narratives" in the media about climate breakdown create a feedback loop between scientific denialism and political inaction. This didn't happen by accident; it's the product of a deliberate and systematic assault on knowledge by some of the richest people on Earth.
We need to recognize that public knowledge has always been shaped by power, and that we've never had a "golden age" of unbiased information. We can no longer afford to rely on the generosity of the media or the kindness of governments. Instead, we must create our own sources of credible knowledge, free from the influence of those who seek to manipulate us.
The fight against climate change requires a fundamental transformation in how we understand and share knowledge. It's time for us to take back control of our information landscape and build a world that values truth, science, and human life above all else.
For centuries, power has shaped public knowledge, perpetuating false narratives and promoting the interests of those in control. Monarchs once believed they embodied all the nation's interests, while women were deemed unsuited to public life. These blatant falsehoods have been sustained by a vast infrastructure of persuasion built around them.
Fast-forward to today, where the rich own or influence most of our means of communication. They use their platforms to spread propaganda, boosting right-wing and far-right movements that defend wealth and power against redistribution. This has led to an unprecedented hardening of positions in the US, with Trump's allies taking over legacy media platforms.
The ultra-rich have also invested heavily in new media outlets, such as online shows that now outrank traditional television news. A study found that eight out of ten most popular online shows spread climate science denial. Even Elon Musk's X platform, where reporters were fed a glut of right-wing content, suggests an algorithmic bias designed to promote specific ideologies.
This isn't just about the media; it's about who gets to decide what knowledge is credible and what's not. A new study found that politicians on the radical right are most likely to spread misinformation on X. The rich have even managed to infiltrate the BBC, where journalists are often pressured to avoid discussing certain topics or to present a balanced view that favors the interests of those who fund them.
The result is a media climate where governments are retreating from climate action. The International Panel on the Information Environment found that "inaccurate or misleading narratives" in the media about climate breakdown create a feedback loop between scientific denialism and political inaction. This didn't happen by accident; it's the product of a deliberate and systematic assault on knowledge by some of the richest people on Earth.
We need to recognize that public knowledge has always been shaped by power, and that we've never had a "golden age" of unbiased information. We can no longer afford to rely on the generosity of the media or the kindness of governments. Instead, we must create our own sources of credible knowledge, free from the influence of those who seek to manipulate us.
The fight against climate change requires a fundamental transformation in how we understand and share knowledge. It's time for us to take back control of our information landscape and build a world that values truth, science, and human life above all else.
. I mean, it feels like we're living in a world where people are more concerned with spreading propaganda than actually understanding what's going on. It's crazy how much power and influence some rich people have over what we see and hear in the media 
. And it's not just about climate change; it's about all sorts of issues that affect our lives, like healthcare and social justice.
. We can't rely on governments or corporations to provide us with accurate information. Instead, we need to create our own sources of credible knowledge, where people who are passionate about sharing truth and science can really make a difference 
. It's not going to be easy, but I think it's worth it if we want to build a better future for ourselves and the planet 
. We need to start valuing truth and science above all else 
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it's like they're deliberately trying to make us think there's no such thing as climate change 
meanwhile, governments are just sitting back and doing nothing about it 
we need to wake up and realize that our knowledge is being controlled by those in power 
. Think about it - if you're not willing to watch something on X or YouTube because it doesn't align with your worldview, does that really say anything about the platform's integrity? And don't even get me started on how algorithms are rigged to show us what we want to see (or in this case, what they think we want to see). We're living in a world where misinformation is spreading like wildfire 
and people are actually buying into it. 
. Have you seen the numbers? Eight out of ten popular shows just spewing climate science denial. It's no wonder governments are backing off from taking action - they can't compete with the propaganda machine 
. And it's not like this is a new thing, either - we've been living in a world where public knowledge has always been shaped by power 
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. Can't just rely on what our favorite news channels are telling us anymore 
. We have to create our own sources of credible information, ones that aren't beholden to the whims of billionaires 
this is wild, the more i think about it, the more i realize that the media being controlled by the rich isn't just a problem of propaganda, its like we're living in a real-life video game where the players are pulling the strings from behind the scenes... 
and yeah its not just about media, its also about who gets to decide whats credible and whats not. like if politicians are spreading misinformation then thats a big problem 
.
. So, what's the solution? Create our own sources of credible info, free from corporate interference 
. We can do this, but it's gonna require some serious effort and solidarity 
Like, who's in charge here? Can't we just accept that there are multiple perspectives on climate change and not have some one-size-fits-all solution 
It's like, what if all this information is true...and it's actually a lot more complicated than we're being told? 
. The idea that billionaires are manipulating the media and governments to spread misinformation about climate change is just mind-blowing 
. It's like, I remember when Al Gore was this crazy important figure for talking about climate change back in the early 2000s... now it feels like we're taking two steps forward and three steps back with each passing year 
. We need to wake up and realize that the only way we're going to save ourselves from climate change is by taking control of our own knowledge and creating our own sources of credible information 
. We need to hold ourselves accountable for consuming what we read online and support those who are working tirelessly to bring us accurate information 
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. it's like they're above the law or something.
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like what can we do when the people who have the most power are using it to distort reality? 
But how do we even start that journey when it feels like everything is stacked against us? 
is just mind-blowing. And let's not forget about the BBC, which has become a joke 
. It's like they're just parroting what their funders want to hear.
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. We just need to be aware of who's behind the scenes pulling the strings 
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. It's like they think they're above the law or something. And it's not just them, but also the way they've infiltrated traditional news outlets and social media platforms.
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- who's funding them again? The same people who fund the right-wing propaganda machine 