Science, and the principle that public policy should be informed by evidence based on observable fact, is under attack – not just in Donald Trump’s America, but in New Zealand as well. Two recent local examples:
- When the Prime Minister’s own science adviser produced a report highlighting the serious degradation in New Zealand’s fresh water quality, Environment Minister Nick Smith called its conclusion “simplistic” in Parliament (see his second answer to Question 4).
- The Prime Minister refuses to acknowledge the scientifically proven link between climate change and the greater frequency of extreme weather events such as cyclones.
And so it’s high time for people who support science – including climate science – to speak up in its defence. On Saturday 22 April, you can do just that. Here is the information you need to take part.
NZ Marches for Science
Website: https://www.marchforsciencenz.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marchforscienceNZ/
On Saturday 22 April (Earth Day) Marches will be held in the following centres – click on your nearest centre’s link for event details:
- Auckland
- Palmerston North
- Wellington
- Christchurch
- Dunedin
- Queenstown (we don’t have any details for this one yet, sorry)
There is info about each of the marches on the website and Facebook page.
The New Zealand marches will be the first in the world.
The aims of the NZ marches are:
- To highlight that science is international
- To acknowledge that good scientists can be political
- To promote greater inclusion in science
Science includes social as well as physical sciences.
In a world of “alternative facts”, science is under attack. Spend a little of your time next Saturday helping to defend it.
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