In Florida Scott officials ban use of term "climate change".

[madfloridian]

In Florida, Officials Ban Term ‘Climate Change’


Shortly after Gov. Rick Scott, pictured here walking in Miami during the annual Three Kings Parade, was elected, officials ordered a prohibition on the terms “climate change” and “global warming,” according to former employees. Low-lying Miami is among the U.S. cities most vulnerable to sea-level rise. (Photo courtesy of Gov. Rick Scott.)

The state of Florida is the region most susceptible to the effects of global warming in this country, according to scientists. Sea-level rise alone threatens 30 percent of the state’s beaches over the next 85 years.

But you would not know that by talking to officials at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the state agency on the front lines of studying and planning for these changes.

DEP officials have been ordered not to use the term “climate change” or “global warming” in any official communications, emails, or reports, according to former DEP employees, consultants, volunteers and records obtained by the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting.

The policy goes beyond semantics and has affected reports, educational efforts and public policy in a department that has about 3,200 employees and $1.4 billion budget.

“We were told not to use the terms ‘climate change,’ ‘global warming’ or ‘sustainability,’ ” said Christopher Byrd, an attorney with the DEP’s Office of General Counsel in Tallahassee from 2008 to 2013. “That message was communicated to me and my colleagues by our superiors in the Office of General Counsel.”

Guess they figure if you don't talk about it, it will go away.

[olddots]

1. is this thing a different life form ?

banning a word to make it dissapear ?

[GreatGazoo]

31. Chicago is getting sued for knowing and not acting on climate change

Perhaps this is an attempt by Scott to avoid liability in a similar suit ?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/05/19/climate-change-get-ready-or-get-sued/

[LuvNewcastle]

2. Let's ban use of the word 'death.'

While we're at it, we can ban 'old,' 'aging,' 'wrinkles,' and anything else we don't look forward to. We'll stay young forever!

[Ilsa]

3. I guess they'll have to dance around it with

"Long term weather evolution" or something. My, but censorship under fascism is nasty!

[Bugenhagen]

4. I bet he has a list of what to ban next in order to make a perfect world:

athiest(s)
gun control
scary spiders!
...

[TNNurse]

5. Banning language

Is kind of fascist isn't it?

Did anyone else think of the story of the Emperor's new clothes? They need a child to speak up and tell them what is happening.

[Vinca]

6. Guess they'll have to stick with -

"It's high tide and the water's running over my feet while I'm shopping."

[sorefeet]

7. Banning words would be something

that a dictator would do. Like little Kim Jon whatever would do. It's called propaganda. 20 years from now it would be not in the vocabulary by anyone. This is how the Republicans want to keep government out of your lives. By making more rules to control you. Fucking hypocrites.

[Romeo.lima333]

8. it's this

[heaven05]

9. well

that will make it all go away and make it right again.....right?????

[RKP5637]

10. Hmmm... maybe "Ban Scott" will work too! n/t

[barbtries]

11. that's ... incredible

and in Florida. it's also scary.

[hatrack]

12. Yes, but Floridians will always have their guns (and gay-bashing!)

You get what you vote for, and they voted for this.

[yeoman6987]

18. Well in this instant they had two idiot choices

They chose the bigger idiot but not buy much.

[Kingofalldems]

34. Couldn't resist I see.

[yeoman6987]

35. When I need to say the truth, I can't help my self.

[louis-t]

27. I hope their guns can float.

[rock]

13. How about the word "intelligence"

Is it banned in Florida? After all it appears to be denotation free in that area.

[Cal Carpenter]

14. I wonder if it's to avoid useful FOIA requests

at least in part:

"staffers were warned that using the terms in reports would bring unwanted attention to their projects."

If these key words are never used, it would be difficult for a journalist or concerned citizen to collect information on if/how the DEP is addressing the impacts of climate change. Cuz that would be 'unwanted attention', particularly for a governor who is publicly denying the existence of the problem...

[madfloridian]

19. Good point.

Could be.

[LiberalElite]

15. I get it - just

don't use the words and it doesn't exist. Brilliant!

[Baitball Blogger]

16. "Guess they figure if you don't talk about it, it will go away."

That's EXACTLY how they think in Florida. From local government all the way up to Tallahassee.

[davidn3600]

17. So now we are going to ban words and phrases the government doesn't like?

[jpak]

20. Guess who hates the Constitution - and it's not Obama

1984 much Scott?

[madfloridian]

21. More...with a delightful video of many deniers saying they are not scientists.

Florida Officials Were Barred From Using The Term 'Climate Change' Once Rick Scott Took Power

Officials responsible for making sure Florida is prepared to respond to the earth's changing climate are barred from using the terms "global warming" and "climate change" in official communications, emails and reports, according to new findings from the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting.

"We were told that we were not allowed to discuss anything that was not a true fact," said Kristina Trotta, a former Florida Department of Environmental Protection employee.

Another former employee added, "We were dealing with the effects and economic impact of climate change, and yet we can't reference it."

Climate change is a major problem for Florida. Last year, the National Climate Assessment named Miami as one of the cities in the United States most vulnerable to damage from rising sea levels. A Southeast Florida Regional Climate Compact paper has also warned that water in the area could rise by as much as 2 feet by the year 2060.

....When asked by the Tampa Bay Times in 2010 whether he believed in climate change, Scott simply replied, "No."

[MrMickeysMom]

22. Right out of the pages of a George Orwell novel...

We'll call it, "climate-speak"

[madfloridian]

36. I know, right?

It sounds just like something from his novels.

[spanone]

23. what will they blame it on when miami so subterranean?

[lpbk2713]

24. Rubio is an anti-science climate change nay sayer as well.

Link: http://thehill.com/opinion/bill-press/222711-the-party-of-denial

Sadly, the other 270 Republicans follow the lead of know-nothing Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who denies any link between human activity and climate change. On May 11, Rubio told ABC’s Jonathan Karl: “I do not believe that human activity is causing these dramatic changes to our climate the way these scientists are portraying it.”

Scott and Rubio both know who lines their pockets.

[madfloridian]

32. Yes, and far too many Floridians adore him.

[hifiguy]

25. Have fun sinking into the swamp. nt

[louis-t]

26. Photo caption: Skeletor Walks Among the Little People.

Looks like there are tens of people there to greet him.

[City Lights]

28. Fools. nt

[Paper Roses]

29. THe residents of Florida should live in New England....

Not just change but incredible change. I've been here too many years to count. If the Floridians don't think things are radically different, I welcome them for a visit to this neck of the woods. Must stay for a year and review the past few years of weather reports while they are here. Change is a mild word. Things have been catastrophic.

Billions of dollars lost in wages, more billions lost for businesses just this winter alone. Nothing like this in a century. No change? Nuts!

[Politicalboi]

30. I have to admit, he's got guts

Walking the streets like that. Perhaps the sun reflecting off his bald head causes his brain to boil.

[Katashi_itto]

33. Darwin works in not so mysterious ways.

Goodbye Florida.

[Jamastiene]

37. Nothing is going to be right until we ban Republicans.

That will be the only way to stop all their idiocy. Let the right wing of the Democratic Party call themselves whatever and let the left wing of the Democratic Party call ourselves whatever. Moderates can do what moderates always do; lick their finger, stick it in the air, see what the majority is doing and follow them, as per their usual MO.

By eliminating the Republicans, we will still have conservatives, moderates, and liberals, minus all the fucking batshit crazy idiocy that needs to stop. They are making a mockery of this country and the rest of us are tired of waiting around for them to grow the fuck up and evolve already.

It's like they don't believe in evolution because have somehow managed to REFUSE to evolve. Maybe they think this will work too. I'm too fed up with them to even try to understand. It is nonsense.

That is NOT a good thing. It reminds me of the drummer in one band I was in. He was proud of the fact that he had not read a book since he quit school in 9th grade. We are surrounded by people who think that is something to brag about. See how bad it really is out here? It's awful.