Scepticism regarding the need for immediate and massive action
against carbon emissions is a sickness of societies and individuals
which needs to be "treated", according to an Oregon-based professor of
"sociology and environmental studies". Professor Kari Norgaard compares
the struggle against climate scepticism to that against racism and
slavery in the US South.
Prof Norgaard holds a B.S. in biology and a master's and PhD in sociology.
"Over the past ten years I have published and taught in the areas of
environmental sociology, gender and environment, race and environment,
climate change, sociology of culture, social movements and sociology of
emotions," she says.
The good prof is in London at the moment for the "Planet Under
Pressure" conference, where she presented a paper on Wednesday dealing
with how best to do away with the evil of scepticism and get the human
race to focus all its efforts on saving the planet.
According to an Oregon uni statement announcing the paper:
At least some climate physicists and such might reasonably consider this to be just the sort of help they really don't need in convincing ordinary folk that their recommendations ought to be taken seriously. ®
Prof Norgaard holds a B.S. in biology and a master's and PhD in sociology.
According to an Oregon uni statement announcing the paper:
Resistance at individual and societal levels must be recognized and treated ...Professor Norgaard considers that fuzzy-studies academics such as herself must stand shoulder to shoulder with the actual real climate scientists who know some maths in an effort to change society and individuals for their own good. It's not a new idea: trick-cyclists in Blighty and the US have lately called for a "science of communicating science" rather reminiscent of Isaac Asimov's science-fictional "Psychohistory" discipline, able to predict and alter the behaviour of large populations*.
"This kind of cultural resistance to very significant social threat is something that we would expect in any society facing a massive threat," [Norgaard] said.
The discussion, she said, is comparable to what happened with challenges to racism or slavery in the U.S. South.
At least some climate physicists and such might reasonably consider this to be just the sort of help they really don't need in convincing ordinary folk that their recommendations ought to be taken seriously. ®
Asimov would split his sides at the thought of the world squandering trillions of dollars on this hokey theory.
ReplyDelete