Attempts to Hush Climate Change
Over the past couple of weeks, I have followed Trump’s administration and their recent changes. There has been several, but I have particularly been interested in the decisions regarding climate change. Among these are the shutdown of the USAID, withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, and appointing new leadership who get to make further decisions on the environment. A new change to add to this list is the “Trump Effect”. This is an overarching term that describes President Trump’s attempts to breakdown the previously established climate protocols.
Websites Wiped of Climate Change Mentions
The most recent attempt at this “Trump Effect” was seen online where the mere mention of climate change has been pulled from several sites. Trump has been working on ridding federal websites of climate data because such ideals do not align with his plan and brand, so to speak. This brand of his has been known to deny climate facts and not prioritize the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The first websites impacted by this were the Forest Service and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). First, the Forest Service is a site that details land management, wildfire relief, and jobs related to the US’ forests. We have learned from our readings that forests are a huge part of climate change because when they are protected, they are great carbon sinks but when engulfed in flames they are a force to be reckoned with. Forests deserve our respect so disabling an informational website like this is not beneficial. Secondly, the USDA details food, sustainability, and farming practices. I ask the same question, why isolate such an informational site?
Restoration of the Websites
When this first went through, these websites were inaccessible and simply said, “You are not authorized to access this page”. Now, access has been restored after a court ordered it just two days ago. Checks and balances of the government have been helpful through some of these radical changes Trump has tried. Still, the temporarily successfully attempt to just wipe an entire website containing information about sustainability and climate change is scary. Within weeks of a presidency, one can just manipulate the nation’s access to certain information.
Call to Action
It is surprising to see how much national things can be changed or shut down as the result of one administration. The courts have been reviewing so much of Trump’s choices, and many have been denied and restored, while some have stood and gone through. The citizens must keep an eye on the news and not let these drastic changes slip under their nose. Have trust in the courts to review these decisions, even if it takes a couple days or week to be realigned with the Constitution and what a president is truly allowed to change.
Trump removing websites is incredibly scary also the way that he literally posted himself as king. It’s incredibly evident that something is wrong, but nobody is doing anything about it.
ReplyDeleteLimiting the access to information and government website is scary to me. It is good to hear the courts are doing their job on restricting his power through checks and balances.
ReplyDeleteThis is terrifying. Every time I open my phone I see something else like this. It seems so wrong to just take away a person’s right to information just because you disagree with it. It makes me feels like I need to do something. But what can I really do?
ReplyDeleteTransparent scientific and climate-related information is very important to public safety and awareness. I don't like feeling like this information is removed and manipulated for political gain. It is stressful to think very rich and powerful people could withhold information from those of us who could solve major issues if only they knew. Being in the dark is a good way to keep us from speaking out and having issues with the administration, so it is important to look beyond the surface level and call out when they are doing something heinous.
ReplyDeleteI’m shocked to see how fast climate change information can be so easily erased from public resources. This is a powerful reminder of the importance of civic engagement in protecting vital environmental data.
ReplyDeleteI have been shocked by the amount of information, especially climate information, that is/was being removed. Climate change affects so many aspects of our lives and is even more terrifying when you can't access the valuable information that helps digest and understand what is going on.
ReplyDeleteLindsay, your post raises an important issue about government control over climate information. The fact that websites were temporarily removed is concerning—do you think this sets a precedent for future administrations to manipulate public access to environmental data? Also, while the courts restored access, what can citizens do to ensure transparency and accountability in the long run?
ReplyDeleteI have come across the Trump Effect on climate websites myself, and it is unbelievable that this is what he is using his power for. It enrages me that this individual has such an agenda in his standing as President that deters others from using data to provide solutions to the climate crisis.
ReplyDeleteAlas, as you say these court decisions may be "temporary." Do you think that shutting down these informational websites is the contemporary equivalent of burning books?
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