A surprising turnout of thousands at Museum Park for a march to County Hall yesterday. The crowd, congenial, excited and unafraid to turn up and speak their minds about the decline of science in Florida and in the United States.
Science isn't political, but yesterday's marches around the world were very political.
Although they focused on the existential threats of climate change, galvanized against President Trump's Swamp, in a broader sense the marches were standing up for fact against myth, for reason against fancy, and for intelligence against stupidity.
The question remains: do enough voters care enough to reverse the tide of fear and reactionism against science?
For instance, Gov. Rick Scott was returned by voters to the executive office, despite his careless disregard for science. Moreover, the mainstream media scarcely brushed the issue of Florida science-related issues in Scott's campaigns.
One of Scott's first acts as governor was to axe the science capacity of the state's Everglades agency. He put the agency -- the water management district -- , then, under management by political hacks where it remains today. President Trump, his new friend, is doing the same at the federal level.
Scott intends to run against US Senator Bill Nelson, a Democrat. It is up to every person who marched in Florida yesterday to get involved -- especially in the red counties of this purple state -- to make Scott's campaign a referendum on Trump and Scott's policies that put science in the broom closet.
Yesterday, the crowd listened attentively to some local heroes: Caroline Lewis, founder of the climate change action group, the CLEO Institute. (We've written a lot about Ms. Lewis. Never forget!) South Miami Mayor Philip Stoddard, a scientist himself and leader on climate change related issues. State Senator Jose Javier Rodriguez, virtually a lone Democratic voice in Tallahassee pushing for common sense, science-based solutions to Florida's water crisis.
More, later, but for the time being a few favorite images from yesterday's march.
Science isn't political, but yesterday's marches around the world were very political.
Although they focused on the existential threats of climate change, galvanized against President Trump's Swamp, in a broader sense the marches were standing up for fact against myth, for reason against fancy, and for intelligence against stupidity.
The question remains: do enough voters care enough to reverse the tide of fear and reactionism against science?
For instance, Gov. Rick Scott was returned by voters to the executive office, despite his careless disregard for science. Moreover, the mainstream media scarcely brushed the issue of Florida science-related issues in Scott's campaigns.
One of Scott's first acts as governor was to axe the science capacity of the state's Everglades agency. He put the agency -- the water management district -- , then, under management by political hacks where it remains today. President Trump, his new friend, is doing the same at the federal level.
Scott intends to run against US Senator Bill Nelson, a Democrat. It is up to every person who marched in Florida yesterday to get involved -- especially in the red counties of this purple state -- to make Scott's campaign a referendum on Trump and Scott's policies that put science in the broom closet.
Yesterday, the crowd listened attentively to some local heroes: Caroline Lewis, founder of the climate change action group, the CLEO Institute. (We've written a lot about Ms. Lewis. Never forget!) South Miami Mayor Philip Stoddard, a scientist himself and leader on climate change related issues. State Senator Jose Javier Rodriguez, virtually a lone Democratic voice in Tallahassee pushing for common sense, science-based solutions to Florida's water crisis.
More, later, but for the time being a few favorite images from yesterday's march.
5 comments:
Herald said "hundreds" at march. There were thousands. I estimated the crowd size at around 2500.
Stop marching. Form a lobbyist group instead. Ask for specific legislation.
I agree with you thousand or two...
Which lobbying groups influence the Miami Herald to publish alternative statistics?
Lazy reporters? Their guess was off, that is all. How many of these rallies have they been to? You must be a lobbyist being such a cynic on our estimates.
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