Category: Seeking Common Ground

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

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

(I had before, during and after photos that I was hoping to share today, but no such luck.)

The Deck 5 Lounge has become activity central since we left South Georgia.  It is near the stern of the ship and lower than the Deck 7 prime presentation room.  The Deck 7 room is near the bow and subject to the biggest swing in ups and downs in rough seas.  Deck 5 is where the Library is and where the Bar is also located.  Now, presentations are also being made there as well.  This brings up a story about an artificial plant, but I’ll save that tale for another day.

It is also where we have done wildlife (pelagic birds and whales) watching for fun and for citizen science.   There is a covered area on the bow complete with heat lamps and deck furniture when the seas are calmer and the temperatures are warmer.  Right now, all the deck furniture is strapped down.

Hannah made the wakeup call at 0300 this morning and, despite grey overcast skies and fog, a hail and hearty group of Umbraphiles gathered in the Deck 5 Lounge area proudly exhibiting there artfully made solar filter-based eclipse viewing creations.  There were some cameras out as well.  Those of us shutterbugs came modestly equipped to photograph whatever we could.  Look below to see the best shots that I could get on this particular day.  And, everyone that came to Deck 5 this morning had on their official Wilderness Travel Eclipse T-shirts.

Here was the Eclipse Schedule:

       0316  Eclipse start

     0403:42 Totality start

     0495:17  Totally ends

       O415  Eclipse ends.

So, just before the Eclipse started several people went outside to focus energy on parting the cloud cover.  We turned to the starboard side of the ship.  Joseph shared a real time image of what was happening somewhere over the rainbow and I snapped a few additional photos of the changing light conditions pointing in the direction that the Sun and Moon were putting on their show. 

Alex was broadcasting from up on the bridge.  Despite the fact that we were missing most of the show, Alex pointed out what was happening at certain phases of the Eclipse including Totality.  A large group cheer went up when he announced this phase.  This was the most dramatic visual event of the eclipse for us.  It grew noticeably darker for the approximately 1:32 seconds that the Totality lasted.  And as the Moon began to leave the Sun, as you might expect, more light returned to the Earth’s atmosphere and the fog filed skies began to brighten up again.  Brighten for us meant a return to the low visibility, foggy conditions that were present at 0315:59.  It was the visual highlight of the morning.

The announcement came that the deck was being closed, so we retreated inside from the reported 2 degree Celsius temperatures outside. The Seaventure then  turned back to the South destined for the Antarctic Peninsula. For some reason, I didn’t feel like it was that cold.  Maybe it was an adrenaline rush, but I thought it would feel much colder than it actually was.  Some folks enjoyed an early morning beer, Corona, of course and a passing group of whales added to the festivities.

For us wannabe Umbraphiles, it could have been a big let down to not actually see all of the amazing features of the clear sky version of a full-on solar eclipse, But that simply didn’t happen today.  This group of adventurous, well-travelled people took it in stride, enjoyed the camaraderie of each other and then went on with the day whether that be on to an earlier than usual breakfast or a return to bed.

Later this afternoon Alex will host a “How Was it For You?” event in, wherelse but the Deck 5 Lounge.  This evening after dinner is scheduled an Eclipse Party.  That figures to be a festive, musical, well lubricated event.

The ride has been bumpy at times, but as I look out at the sea and the relative smoothness of the ride, I marvel at the maritime skills of Captain Tino and his crew.  They are doing a marvelous job of getting us to our designated destinations.

Cheers!

Bruce

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

Note:  Today is a rare day in which I’m sending out two posts.  This is the second of the two.

We’re cruising southwestward toward the South Orkney Islands.  A fast-moving storm system is causing us to seek out shelter in a protected bay there and likely attempting to view the eclipse from there as well.  Instead of being smack dab in the middle of the Totality path, the Captain and the Polar Latitudes staff have decided to err on the side of caution and opt for perhaps a less spectacular look at the eclipse in a place out of the path of 13-foot swells, higher than those that we experienced today.

The boat will be fine.  The decision to seek shelter is more for the safety of the passengers and crew.  The pitching and rolling ship could result in falls and broken bones while walking around the ship to meals and activities.

Cruise Director Hannah Lawson while delivering news that all lectures and presentations will be moved from Deck 7 (bow) to the Lounge on Deck 5 (stern) and the elevators will be closed tomorrow morning, was hilarious.

She encouraged everyone to walk like a penguin and shuffle slowly from side-to-side.  In encouraging us not to let gravity get us going too fast, Hannah reminded us to remember that “every downhill has an uphill.”  In other words don’t jog the downhill when the ship tilts that way, but wait for the uphill before proceeding “up the hill.”

When she suggested crawling to the bathroom on all fours, the whole room burst into laughter when she suggested that there was no need to be stuck being bi-pedal!

There is a new quote each day on the shipboard TV.  Today’s was:  “I now belong to a cult of mortals, for now I have seen the Albatross.”

Bruce

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

It takes a while to get adjusted to life on a ship.  The Seaventure is the first ship that I have been on for longer than six hours (whale watching).  I’m finding life on a ship means a change in routines.

The first change in routine is that I’ve had to devote considerably more cognitive energy to the simple act of walking. The Southern Sea is likely not the best place to learn how to walk on water although the first two days of this trip across the notoriously roiled Drake’s Passage were really quite gentle. 

Then there are days like today as we sail in a southwesterly direction toward our eclipse viewing area near the South Orkney Islands, where I am learning to walk all over again.  On land, you can be reasonably sure that when you drop your foot downward that you will encounter a solid surface that is parallel with your other foot on said solid surface.

On a ship, that is sometimes not the case.  In the case of today it is mostly not the case.  This morning we encountered three- meter (10 foot) swells over at least a couple of hours.  Who said that gravity is a law?  When a foot comes down in the form of a step on a ship, it may or may not come down in the manner expected. Sometimes the solid ground that was underneath it when the foot lifted off the ground is simply not there anymore.

When this happens, the result can be comedic and possibly a bit painful.  When the previously mentioned lifted foot comes back down to what used to be solid ground and finds that all that remains there is air, the center of gravity shifts to a point where the person attached to the foot can no longer remain standing. 

This can be magnified significantly if one is walking down a flight of stairs or leaving the Conference room on Deck 7 at the front of the Seaventure.  Gravity seems to no longer function in the way that Sir Issac Newton theorized that it should and would behave.  The end consequence is also magnified significantly.

So, as Captain Tino says, “One hand is for you and the other hand is for the ship.”  A good lesson for this “land lubber.”

Update:  The swells have gone down for now.  The cloud above has settled down to the surface of the water and the visibility has dropped to around 30 feet.  Andy says that I should post a photo, so I’ll give it a shot.

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

I didn’t exactly have a solid theme for today, but I’ve developed a routine of writing my Blog posts from he ship’s library which is right next door to the Lounge and Bar with evening entertainment. Randy just sang a song called “Simply the Best.”

That pretty well summarizes this experience.

We’re steaming in a southerly direction leaving South Georgia as I write this heading for our full solar eclipse coordinates near the South Orkney Islands. The folks on this trip are split on why they are here. For many, it is the lure of yet another full solar eclipse, for some it is Antarctica while for others it’s the wildlife of South Georgia Island. For me it’s simply the best of all three and more. The photography, the people, the challenges.

Today was another day of rolling with the punches. This morning the Katabatic winds in Royal Bay precluded a trip to see a group of Macaroon penguins. Plan B was a nearby sheltered bay with a one hour stay on land. But, that didn’t work because there was just too much kelp to make it to the beach.

From there it was on down the coast to Gold Bay after lunch. The plan was to go ashore here. But there was a problem here as well. There were just too many elephant seals and penguins at the landing beach and the landing beach went on and on and on and on. Another stunning example of the sheer biomass on this island. I think that I will need to put some distance between me and this trip to fully grasp what I have just done.

We’re back into a big lecture day tomorrow as we approach eclipse day on December 4 and have some open ocean miles to cover. Among the presentations are “The Eclipse Experience and Safety” from Alex Fillipenko and a Q&A on Eclipse photography from our trip Photographer, Will. It sounds like fun times in the Lounge. It’s a repeat of the program I went to a couple nights ago. Maybe I’ll join the fun. Maybe not. It’s all good.

It’s simply the best.

Bruce

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

Yesterday is eons away after today. We cruised last night on “uneasy” seas with a good amount of rock and rolling. I was not feeling optimistic about today’s program. That was until I opened the curtains and saw blue sky. Then, I saw the snow capped peaks and glaciers at the end of Andrew’s Bay. After fumbling around trying to figure out how to get to the front of the ship, the reward of my persistence was a stunningly spectacular alpine vista. Add to that the largest King Penguin colony on South Georgia and the chance to get off the boat and walk around. It was enough to leave one giddy with joy. The sight of around 300,000 penguins is, well, astonishing. That’s only if I have to choose one word to describe it. How do use words to describe the indescribable?

I wish that I could share a photo or two. Maybe I’ll try again in a few days. Suffice to say that those of you that are expecting photos are going to get photos. And I believe that the best is still ahead of us. I’ll admit that I was concerned with getting photos with the rapidly changing weather that we have experienced while here over the past three days. Tomorrow, who knows? But today, today was something special. The conditions even surprised our Cruise Director Hannah.

The afternoon was just as good. The weather stayed magnificent for our trip to Grytviken, the administrative center for “The British Overseas Territory of South Georgia.” Not even having to pack up and change rooms due to a water leak somewhere above us was going to interfere with our collective bliss this day. Grytviken was a couple hour sail/motor away in Cumberland East Bay within King Edward Cove. That’s where we will be until 4:00 a.m. tomorrow morning when we pick up anchor and head to what Hannah calls her favorite spot on South Georgia. And, it sounds like the weather will be decent as well so there is reason for optimism tomorrow.

Tomorrow is December 1 and with the full solar eclipse set for December 4, the ship will be sailing on December 2 towards the path of the eclipse somewhere near the South Orkney islands. Alex Fillipenko has been prepping us for the event while at the same time tempering our expectations of what the weather conditions could well be at 4:00 a.m. on the 4th when the eclipse reaches totality. You may see it better somewhere on the internet than we see it here, but hope springs eternal especially after the wonders of today! Needless to say, the level of preparation for the eclipse will be ramped up over the next few days.

This has been an unforgettable experience already and we are just getting started. Tune in tomorrow for more.

Bruce

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

Today has been a day that exemplifies that we humans are not in control of natural events. We were all excited get onshore and walk a mile to a King Penguin colony starting with the first group loading onto the Zodiac at 0730. So, we got the 0600 wakeup call, had breakfast, geared up and the winds, the Katabatic winds kicked up and it made it unsafe for the Zodiacs safely operate.

So, we continued on to what was supposed to be our afternoon destination, a place called Stromness which was the site of a whaling station from 1912-1931 and a ship repair station until 1961. This is where Ernest Shackleton found help in rescuing his crew from Elephant Island after they were forced to abandon their ship, the Endeavor when it became trapped in pack ice in 1915. Shackleton and five others sailed from Elephant Island some 800 miles to South Georgia in a desperate effort to save the remaining 22 members of his crew in a small 22 foot landing craft. They survived the treacherous journey to South Georgia only to arrive on the opposite side of the island from the whaling station. They then made the trek over a snow covered mountain range in the middle of the island replete with crevasses. They did all of this in frigid cold and wet wearing period clothing and without any mountaineering equipment save ice axes.

But, the winds were too high, gusting to 70 knots (hurricane force) at the entrance of Stomness Bay so we continued on to a third option further down the southern coast of the island. When we moored in Cumberland Bay West (where we are now), we had lunch and waited for news about whether we would be able to go ashore here. The Polar Latitudes staff did a scouting journey and determined that the winds were too high once again for safe operation of the Zodiacs. Disappointing. But the cool thing is that I haven’t detected any complaining or outward disappointment among us passengers. Inside we all are disappointed, but everyone seems to be handling it really well.

There is an Australian Film crew onboard filming for an IMAX project on the Shackleton story and on another longer documentary project. They gave a cool presentation on what they were doing on the ship and went on to explain their equipment which included a very high end drone and a new IMAX-capable digital video camera. They also discussed the realities of funding film projects and the costs of transporting some very sensitive film gear all over the world.

So, even though the day was one of some disappointment, it finishes up with high energy and enthusiasm for the possibilities that tomorrow brings. As miserable as the weather conditions were today, tomorrow could be fair and mostly clear once again. That’s life in the Southern Ocean.

Bruce

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

Happy Hanukkah!

You might get what I say that it is sometimes difficult to appreciate the significance of a place or event when you are in the midst of experiencing it. Such has been the case for me before today. Following what is becoming a morning routine, I have been joining Laura and Paul for a 35-40 minute core/cardio workout up on the Helipad. Today after the workout I had a chance to chat with Conrad Anker, accomplished mountaineer and climate change activist.

I asked him if he thought that the plight of the world’s glaciers, including those that we will encounter on the Antarctic continent, would turn the tide of public opinion to acknowledge climate change and help to bring about changes in government and private sector policies around the world.

He started by pointing out that the westerly wind driven currents that circle the South Pole drive the ocean currents all over the globe. As soon as he said that, the proverbial lightbulb went on in my head and I began to think about South Georgia Island and Antarctica in a global context. Sure, the ocean is a beautiful azure blue, almost tropical in appearance when the angle of the Sun is right. Sure, this remote Island with its steep spine of snow covered mountains and alpine glaciers is visually spectacular. Sure the penguins, fur seals, elephant seals, Albatrosses and other polar birds are cool to see.

I’ll continue to enjoy seeing them, but now they are more than just another photo op. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not going to stop taking photos of the magnificent places that we are privileged to visit on this trip. But every photo that I take, every awe inspiring vista that I see and every conversation that I have with my companions on this journey is now driven by a mission to help people understand this place and it’s fragile magnificence. The explorers past and present that have come down here have come for different reasons. Some came out of their countries quest for national pride, some to attain personal goals, some for the thrill of adventure and the challenge to the human mind, body and soul and some for Science.

I thank all of them for bringing this place to my attention. Now, my job is to bring it to the attention of you and hope that you too will be inspired to make a difference in the quest to reverse global climate change .

Bruce

P.S. The photos that I am currently unable to share at this time for technical and geographical reasons are going to be worth the wait. Not because of my photographic skills, but because this place is now in my soul and these photos come from my soul as much as my camera equipment. I can’t wait to share them!

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

We reached our mooring place at King Haaken Bay on the south side of the island this morning. This is the place where Ernest Shackleton landed during his attempt to rescue the crew of his ship, the Endurance in 1916 after the ship was crushed by pack ice in Antarctica.

Shackleton is the stuff of much lore in the history of Antarctic exploration during the so called “Heroic Age ” of Antarctic exploration from the late 19th Century to just before WW 1. After he and his crew were forced to abandon the Endurance on October 27, 1915 after nine months of being trapped in the sea ice, Shackleton and five of his crew embarked on a desperate and heroic effort to save the other 22 crew members of the Endurance.

The weather and water conditions here in the bay were a dramatic improvement over the turbulent waters of the Southern Sea yesterday and last night. After watching the second of a two part Discovery Channel documentary on the Expedition of 1914-16, it was a stagger back down two decks of stairs to Room 533. We were rocking and rolling. If our chairs hadn’t been chained to the floor in the Dining Room, we’d have been slip sliding away.

The seas calmed down, but our first Zodiac trip to the solid ground of South Georgia was cold and wet. It was good to get this first trip under our belts as it taught me that:

1. My camera can get wet and still function
2. I need to wear my waterproof gloves and not my non-waterproof mittens.
3. My light weight rain pants didn’t keep the water away from my Fleece pants
4. Keep your distance from angry fur seals (elephant seals too).
5. I will take my entire camera bag with rain covering on our next trip to the island

I did get in a few shots today, nothing of note, but I look to improve on that as the trip goes on! Sharing photos will come when I get home and have the available bandwidth.

Bruce