Shake, Quake & Roll With The Earth’s Punches

By Theodora Filis

Our Earth is changing and not in little, insignificant ways. It is warming and cooling and quaking and shaking in ways we have never known before. 

There are more earthquakes in areas where one wouldn’t think a quake might be. Storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, and blizzards cause severe devastation and drought. 

As many as half of Republican members of Congress "deny the existence of man-made climate change" while 86 percent oppose any climate change legislation.

Scientists involved insist their goal is not to influence public policy but to present the facts when needed.

"I think it is important for scientists to assure that the public and policymakers have a clear view of what scientific findings are and what the implications of those findings are," said Princeton University scientist Michael Oppenheimer.

"To the extent that some members of the new majority in the House have exhibited a contrarianism to science, I think it is a good way to have a scientific community there to help keep its facts clear."

“One group of about 40 scientists has been mobilized as a "rapid response team" to dive into the often hostile media environment and try to correct misinformation about global warming.

We did not form this to take a stance against climate change skeptics. However, if a skeptical argument is put forward that doesn't agree with science, we will refute that," said John Abraham, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota.

John Abraham, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota, said "There was a wide gulf between what the majority of scientists accept as fact about climate change and what the American public believes."

"This is in response to a real disconnect between what is known in the scientific community and the consensus among the general public," he said.

"Ninety-seven percent of top scientists are in agreement, but the public is split about 50-50," said Abrahams