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"Stuff it!"—that’s what veteran weathercaster
Al Roker had to say to Rush Limbaugh’s climate-denying theories on the polar
vortex.
Weathercasters attribute this week's bitter
cold to the temporary breakdown of the polar vortex, an area of low-pressure air
and gusting wind that’s usually centered over the Arctic. Though the concept may
be new to most of us, "polar vortex" is a standard meteorological term—it’s
science.
But for climate deniers, it's politically
motivated conspiracy theories—not scientific facts—that rule the day. On Monday,
Rush Limbaugh accused the mainstream media of concocting the term "polar vortex"
to push the "leftist agenda" on climate change. Roker's response? On
Wednesday’s "Today," he demonstrated that "polar vortex" is a bonafide
scientific term and that skeptics like Limbaugh should "stuff it." He didn't
stop there—after the show, he tweeted: "It's Meteorology 101. No political
agenda."
Rush Limbaugh wasn’t the first denier to
politicize weathercasting, and he won’t be the last. Climate change will
continue to fuel severe weather in increasingly complex ways, and faux reporters
like Limbaugh will spin counterintuitive weather patterns to sow doubt on
manmade climate change—unless we push back.
What's one effective way to do
that? By empowering responsible meteorologists like Roker to keep speaking out
against the misinformation and putting science in the spotlight.
Factually yours,
Sylvie, Emily,
Brant, Heidi, and the rest of the Forecast the Facts team
MORE
INFORMATION
“Left creates ‘polar vortex’ to make you think winter is caused by global
warming,” The Rush Limbaugh Show, 1-6-14
“The polar vortex is real! Al proves it,” The Today Show, 1-8-14
“Polar vortex blamed for dangerously cold
weather,” NPR Morning Edition, 1-7-14
http://act.forecastthefacts.org/go/563?t=10&akid=313.64594.F17m9M
http://act.forecastthefacts.org/go/563?t=10&akid=313.64594.F17m9M
“What is this ‘polar vortex’ that is freezing the U.S.?,”
Scientific American, 1-6-14
http://act.forecastthefacts.org/go/564?t=12&akid=313.64594.F17m9M
http://act.forecastthefacts.org/go/564?t=12&akid=313.64594.F17m9M
Forecast the Facts is a grassroots
organization that empowers people to fight climate change denial and promote
accurate information about the climate crisis. You can follow us on Twitter,
and like us on Facebook. Help us end climate denial once and for all by
contributing here.
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