Ruminations on Earth Day in the Trump era, by SomeDam Poet:
“How I plan to celebrate earth day”
For Earth Day Forty Seven
I plan to chop a tree
To honor Earthly Heaven
I’ll drill in Arctic sea
I’ll open up a pipeline
That brings the oil to you
Pollute the river lifeline
With tar and other goo
I’ll bring back dirty coal
And with it, lung disease
The things enviros stole
Through hugging of the trees
I’ll shutter EPA
And end the Species Act
Polluters shouldn’t pay
And grizzlies should be sacked
I’ll celebrate the day
For glory of the Earth
No matter what you say
I’ll smoke, for what it’s worth
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Thank you, SomeDam Poet!
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Late this morning I listened to some of the scientists, artists, architects, engineers, and others who were protesting in DC, in the rain, against the campaign to dismiss climate science and many other varieties of science. This event was part of the commemoration of Earth day. The presentations were short but pointed, and a call for the scientific community to become politically active.
Now I am listing to Heritage Foundation panelists who are hell bent on discrediting science in general and climate science in particular.They are demanding “extraordinary evidence” for any scientific inquiry that might impede economic growth.
The speakers say that science has become anti-human because so many scientists are concerned about the well-being of planet earth. Jane Goodall is being criticized for moving from scientific observation to advocacy. Now there are criticisms of the world view of American Indians as anti-human because they have reverence for the natural world.
Now there is complaining about “global alarmists” and claims that alternative views/hypotheses are not given ample attention. Someone is calling for a withdrawal of government funding of scientific research because “government basically corrupts everything it touches.” What a heritage of terrible ideas from the Heritage Foundation.
If you have time and the interest, C-Span carried both of these events.
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“Heritage”
Their Heritage is oil
And coal and gas and peat
Their Heritage is spoil
And smoke and spill and greed
Their Heritage is left
To those who rule the earth
The rest are just bereft
Of heritage of birth
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And just like rheephormsters, the anti-science/fact/logic/consistency crowd can’t and don’t and won’t argue the merits of the case but instead resort reflexively to the sneer, jeer and smear.
Thank you for your comments.
😎
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“The Alt Wrong”
Alternate science
Alternate fact
Science deniance
Science attack
Utter defiance:
“The earth is just flat!”
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“The March of Science”
As science marches on
Deniers will be gone
Cuz scientists don’t care
What “alter facts” are there
And Nature can’t be fooled
Though some are bound to try
By Nature we are ruled
From birth until we die
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Don’t worry. Science isn’t on the mandated state test. Neither is history. Probably not much poetry. And let me tell you, if a tree is felled in the woods and no one is there to hear it, it’s not going to be on the test. And only George Washington would admit to chopping it down anyway. He’s not President any more, apparently. So, narrow your curriculum and narrow your mind along with it. Just let go of your mind, let go of the tree; let the Billionaire Boys have the tree, the woods, and everything else for themselves. That’s America. (Sigh) Great. (Sigh) Again.
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As the faker in chief would say, Sad.
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much thanks
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Here is some additional bad news about reporting on climate change.
https://mediamatters.org/blog/2017/04/21/will-bret-stephens-climate-denial-threaten-integrity-nyt-opinion-section/216138
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