{"id":27828,"date":"2023-08-09T12:09:32","date_gmt":"2023-08-09T19:09:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=27828"},"modified":"2023-08-09T12:09:33","modified_gmt":"2023-08-09T19:09:33","slug":"sanders-aims-to-convince-fox-news-readers-climate-action-is-a-moral-responsibility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2023\/08\/09\/sanders-aims-to-convince-fox-news-readers-climate-action-is-a-moral-responsibility\/","title":{"rendered":"Sanders Aims to Convince Fox News Readers Climate Action ‘Is a Moral Responsibility’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"U.S.<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaks to the media outside of the White House in Washington, D.C. on July 17, 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0(Photo: Kevin Dietsch\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Either we maintain the status quo and continue to see more heatwaves, drought, floods, and extreme weather disturbances or we move away from fossil fuels and do our best to make sure that the planet we leave our kids and future generations is healthy and habitable.”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

JESSICA CORBETT<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aug 08, 2023 (CommonDreams.org)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders<\/a>, a Vermont Independent who caucuses with the Democrats and even sought the party’s presidential nomination twice, on Tuesday tried to convince Fox News<\/em>‘ predominantly Republican<\/a> audience that not only are scientists right about fossil fuels dangerously warming the planet, but swift and sweeping climate action “is a moral responsibility.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sanders is no stranger to Fox<\/em>‘s opinion page, having previously authored<\/a> articles on everything from Big Pharma<\/a> and corporate greed<\/a> to Medicare for All<\/a> and Social Security<\/a>. However, his latest piece\u2014”Climate Change Is a Threat to the Planet: We Must Address It”\u2014takes on a topic readers of the right-wing network’s website aren’t necessarily eager to tackle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The results of an NPR<\/em>\/PBS NewsHour<\/em>\/Marist poll published<\/a> last week showed that 53% of Americans\u2014including 80% of Democrats and 54% of Independents\u2014believed that addressing climate change should be given priority, even at the risk of slowing economic growth. However, 72% of Republicans said the economy should be given priority, even at the risk of ignoring climate change, a 13-point increase from 2018, despite more frequent and devastating extreme weather events in recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Survey results released<\/a> in November by Climate Action Against Disinformation revealed that among U.S. respondents, belief in climate misinformation “was consistently highest among regular Fox News<\/em> consumers,” with majorities of the network’s audience accepting lies about electric vehicles, fossil fuels, renewable energy, and whether scientists largely agree<\/a> or disagree on what causes climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sanders, in his new piece, spent several paragraphs addressing claims that “climate change is not real. Or, if it is, it has nothing to do with carbon emissions\u2014and there is nothing we can do about it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, he wrote: “If this is what you believe I would respectfully disagree and I would urge you to get on the phone and call friends and family around the country to hear about what their communities are experiencing. I would also suggest that you check out (reliable) websites and take a look at what’s going on in virtually every part of the world.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right now, we are experiencing rising temperatures, more flooding, extreme weather, droughts, wildfires, and disease.\u00a0This means more human suffering, death, mass migrations, and international instability. It's time to address this crisis – together.https:\/\/t.co\/CyoGJ6XEHs<\/a><\/p>— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) August 8, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>