Two Tickets to Paradise

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 were in Paradise Cove this morning, but I’d say that the whole trip has been a trip to Paradise.  I had a ticket and I was able to offer you a ticket, albeit vicariously through this Blog (unless you are reading this on the Seaventure), but a ticket to a mystical, magical, fragile and endangered place none-the-less.

We are underway towards Ushuaia, Argentina via what is known as the Drake Passage.  “The Drake” is known for rough sea conditions so Hannah has been bracing us for the challenges ahead on our voyage out of Paradise. 

There was an auction of goods and services this evening before dinner.  The beneficiaries were the South Georgia Heritage Trust and a whale conservation organization called Happy Whale.  I bid and won a chance to do announcements at some point during our return journey to Ushuaia, Argentina.  This is a charitable donation and can be written off of income tax.  I mention this because I know my wife will be reading this and I want to come clean so I don’t end up in the doghouse when she finds out that I donated $150!

Folks were VERY generous with their donations.  Items ranging from hand knitted mittens and doing an announcement from the bridge to an original art piece by Hannah, our cruise director, brought in thousands of dollars for two super causes.

Our three days of calm protected waters came to an end this evening as we entered the above-mentioned Drake Passage.  Writing this blog has become challenging as my upper torso swings forward and backward as I try to keep my fingers on the keyboard.

This last day in Antarctica included two hikes and boy did they feel good.  Nice vistas, Gentoo and Chinstrap penguins, Cormorants (Shags), Antarctic Terns and gentle snow fall made for a chance to learn more about this marvelous place and get a chance to get up close and personal with it.  Not to mention a chance to stretch out our legs and actually feel like I was burning at least as many calories as I was consuming.  It was a great way to say my “see ya’ laters” to Antarctica.

I only have a couple more of these to write as we arrive back in Ushuaia on Sunday.  It’s kind of a no brainer for me to write my experiences on this trip.  Part of it is that I want to have a record of this incredible experience for myself.  But the real reason is that I wanted to bring my friends and family along to share the journey with me.  That includes the new friends that I have made on the Seaventure and the marvelous people making sure that we arrive safe and healthy at our destinations, the folks at Wilderness Travel that but the trip together and the folks at Polar Latitudes that brought the continent and South Georgia Island to life for us.

Thanks to all of you for this marvelous journey and my undying thanks to Mother Earth for making it all possible.

Enjoy the photo!

Bruce