How is weather communicated?

Gavin's article this week talked about the link between climate change and different weather events, specifically floods. He addresses the way weather is covered in the media, and the way that media coverage may mislead and misinform public opinion concerning the weather and things like global warming, climate changes etc. 

He talked about the way that many journalists although sometimes inaccurate, cant resist the temptation to attribute specific weather events to things like global warming and climate change, in order to create a clearer understanding to the general public who may not understand the actual complexities of the real causes- when this is actually really hard to pin point.

The obvious question that Gavin gets to is whether media are helping to encourage people to think certain ways about the weather and climate change, and whether this encouragement is a positive thing. He admits that climate change press coverage CAN influence public perceptions of the issue - and that this can be both positive and negative.

In one way it gets people thinking about their actions, and thus making an effort to reduce harmful behavior... on the other...

he explains that different pressure groups, politicians and journalists need to report on these issues honestly, otherwise they may offer an unintended skew of public opinion - so when things like flooding at points end up not being attributed to climate change - they may slow the progress towards effective and positive action. 

Reading this article made me think about all the news coverage that hear, read and see on a daily basis, and how a lot of it, like much other journalism on the news, is presented as a scare tactic. Most of the unfortunate weather we encounter, is almost always attributed to global warming, and although i do think it is very important to cut back on gas emissions, waste, pollution, etc. at the same time i can see where the author is coming from - if we always attribute unfortunate weather to these things, and then the unfortunate weather stops... will people think that the planet is no longer at such a great risk - when in fact the risk and harm is increasing rapidly.  

Below is an article i found that really exemplifies the messages being put out to the public, that Gavin is talking about.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/climatechange/unreport-2007-pt2.html

Appreciating Niagara

Some pictures of gorgeous environmental areas of Niagara that often go unappreciated by many of the locals. Many of these environments are not completely natural as they have been tampered with, as tourist attractions or for the convenience of the people living around or near them, but are still good examples of area's that should be noticed and appreciated - and hopefully will not be changed in the near future.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Vineyards

Decew Falls 

Lake Ontario

The Port Dalhousie Pier

Relationship with "The Environment"

After completing my "Environmental Autobiography", sharing it with the class and hearing everyone else's description of their personal relationship with the natural environment, I came home and went back over "Overcoming Ideology" by Ron Arnold - one of the assigned readings for this week.

I feel like this reading really corresponded with what a lot of people were talking about today. It began by talking about Marx's idea of the "Pastoral Ideal" - a middle ground between the opposing forces of civilization and nature. 

Alot of the stories being shared today related to this idea of the opposing forces between human civilization and the effect it has on the natural environment and thus all of our personal relationships with it. 

Personally, my relationship has grown from one based on urban environmental, tampered with settings, to one that has grown an appreciation for a more natural environment and interacting with this natural environment. Writing the autobiography really forced me to not only take notice of my new found appreciation of the environment, but gain a realization of where this appreciation has come from. 

New Retirement Center going up in Port Dalhousie where
the old parking lot and beach currently are. Example of
tampering with an already tampered with location - that was fine
the way it was. Most Port natives are saddened and angry
with the Port Tower said to be going up next summer.

After today's class I found myself thinking of how upset I would be if places like Wainfleet, which is a city that embraces the natural environment, and has really main be gain an appreciation for it, were to become urbanized, covered with shopping malls, apartment buildings and so on. However it is depressing because I know that it is impossible and unrealistic to think that places like Wainfleet will remain forever untouched. This discouraging attitude comes from lived experience as I watch my own town of Port Dalhousie currently become overly developed and changed, for the worse in my opinion, with new retirement homes being put up. Empty natural fields surrounding my neighbourhood and city have been becoming populated with different economic settings more and more over the past 10 years, and i honestly don't see this slowing down any time soon.

In saying this, I feel that Arnold's description of the "Wise Use Movement" is important as he explains, the "wise users" were not perfect, but down to earth, real and necessary, recognizing our necessary use of the earth, promoting responsible citizens who do use the environment for their needs, like food, shelter, clothing, etc. but do so responsibly. - This seems like such a simple concept and such an easy way of life to conform and adapt to, but I feel it is largely ignored in modern society, and I can see it in my everyday life in the city of St.Catharines. 

I am starting to feel a lot stronger about the issue, as a result of being asked to reflect on my relationship with the natural environment, and wish more of the world would spend time reflecting as well and learn from things like the Wise Use movement.