Today, Forecast the Facts, 350.org and Progress Florida announced their support regarding a request for an investigation into media reports about an “unwritten policy” prohibiting the use of words and phrases including “climate change” and “global warming.”
Contact: Anna Zuccaro, anna@fitzgibbonmedia.com, (914) 523-9145
VIEW PETITION HERE: http://act.forecastthefacts.org/sign/censorship_florida/
Today, Forecast the Facts, 350.org and Progress Florida announced their support regarding a request for an investigation into media reports about an “unwritten policy” prohibiting the use of words and phrases including “climate change” and “global warming” in reports, emails and other communications by Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) staff.
The request was filed with the Inspector General of the Florida DEP this afternoon by Ralph Wilson, a member of Forecast the Facts based in Tallahassee.
The complaint cites reporting by the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting and the Miami Herald, describing the policy verbally conveyed by DEP managers, accusing the Governor’s office as the source of prohibition. Yesterday, Governor Scott said of the allegation, “it’s not true.” The complaint seeks an investigation into whether or not DEP managers improperly conveyed to DEP staff the existence of a policy that, according to the Governor, did not exist.
“Removing climate change from Florida’s vocabulary won’t remove the real threat it poses to coastal communities” Said Forecast the Facts Campaign Director Brant Olson. “We urge Governor Scott to support an investigation by the Inspector General into the origins of this misguided policy immediately.”
“It was an embarrassment when Rick Scott said ‘I’m not a scientist’ in response to an inquiry about his beliefs on climate change. Pretending that climate science doesn’t exist is downright scary for a state on the front lines of, dare I say, climate change,” said Mark Ferrulo, executive director of Progress Florida.
“Here’s a hard fact for Governor Scott: sticking your fingers in your ears and pretending there isn’t a problem doesn’t make it go away,” said Karthik Ganapathy, U.S. Communications Manager for 350.org. “Considering the massive threat climate change poses to communities throughout Florida, state officials owe it to the public to get to the bottom of this mess. We’re calling on them to do that immediately, and then work to enact real solutions that help Florida address the climate crisis.”
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