Antarctica Here We Come, December 5

https://newslit.org/

Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22 issue of Science News ran with a cover "Awash in Deception:  How science can help us avoid being duped by misinformation."  In the lead article titled: "The Battle Against Fake News," Alexandra Witze presents five suggestions on how to debunk bad information.  They come from the News Literacy Project (see the above link).

How to Debunk:

1.  Arm yourself with media literacy skills, at sites such as the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), to better understand how to spot hoax videos and stories.

2.  Don't stigmatize people for holding inaccurate beliefs.  Show empathy and respect, or you're more likely to alienate your audience than successfully share accurate information.

3.  Translate complicated but true ideas into simple messages that are easy to grasp.  Videos, graphics and other visual aids can help.

4.  When possible, once you provide a factual alternative to the misinformation, explain the underlying fallacies (such as cherry- picking information, a common tactic of climate change deniers.

5.  Mobilize when you see misinformation being shared on social media as soon as possible. If you see something, say something.

"Misinformation is any information that is incorrect, whether due to error or fake news.  

"Disinformation is deliberately intended to deceive."

"Propaganda is disinformation with a political agenda."

Sander van der Linden
Social Psychologist
University of Cambridge

Source:  Science News/May 8, 2021 & May 22, 2021

Tomorrow morning around 0600, we will do a cruise by of Elephant Island.  Elephant Island was part of the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s 1914-17 Expedition to cross the Antarctic continent from ocean to ocean.  He and his crew did not accomplish their mission, but the story of their survival and the heroic efforts of Shackleton and five other members of his crew to survive a treacherous return to South Georgia Island across 800 miles of the turbulent Southern Ocean in a 22-foot rescue boat and then cross a treacherous mountain range to reach a Whaling Station and help for the beleaguered crew is the stuff of legend.

It sounds like we will arrive on the Peninsula by tomorrow evening around 1900.  Yeah!  We are ready to touch solid ground again.  We’ve been hammered with 40 knot winds along with 10-20 foot swells and have been confined, almost, to quarters for the past three days, save for a brief opening to experience the Eclipse yesterday morning. 

We had a mandatory briefing about how to behave on the continent.  The Joint Antarctic Treaty is quite serious about keeping invasive species of plants and animals away from here.  We must have all of our external wear and gear certified seed free and get signed off before we can set foot on Antarctica.

Today’s lectures included one by our tour director Hannah Lawson on the history of women on the continent of Antarctica, a presentation called “Whaling Then and Conservation Now followed by a solid presentation on the science of Climate Change by tour physical science specialist and former high school Physics and Geology teacher, Michael Jackson.  Yes, THE Michael Jackson.

Conrad Anker showed a movie tonight called “Meru ,(2015)” an inspirational story of friendship, commitment, passion, grit, skill and humanity.  Oh, did I forget love?

Conrad is a humble introvert until he starts talking about climbing. Two weeks after we get back to Argentina, he comes down here again to lead a climb up Mt. Vinson, Antarctica’s highest peak. Then he transforms into a dynamic and inspirational public speaker.  He’s a wonderful guy.  See this film.

Bruce