They know Bryan Koon, the director of the Florida Division of Emergency, will be canned if he says those words. It is the worst-kept secret in Tallahassee that Rick Scott threatened anyone in his administration if they simply say the words "climate change".
This Orwellian ban has already punished several state employees. One was ordered to undergo a mental health exam for refusing to not say the forbidden term. Another was suspended. The "words that shall not be spoken" were excised from all official reports--including a report that awkwardly was about climate change impacts.
Employees cannot to use the phrases ‘climate change,’ ‘global warming,’ 'sea level rise,' or ‘sustainability,’ attorney Christopher Byrd, who worked with the department's Office of General Counsel from 2008 to 2013, confirmed to Reuters.
They are given euphemisms to use instead. For example, the term you use for "Sea Level Rise" is "Coastal Resiliency".
The fear amongst the scientists (who Scott literally despises) and officials regarding this is never more apparent than when Bryan Koon was testifying before a Senate committee.
Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, asked him about the federal requirements for planning for climate change.
Koon replied that he was aware of "language to that effect".
Even Senator Jack Latvala, the republican who chaired the committee, joined in on the fun and asked "what were those words"? v Knowing Koon couldn't say the words "climate change", Jeff chimed in suggesting the term "atmospheric redeployment".
Jeff taunted Koon one last time by asking him to say the forbidden term.
Koon responded with "the issue you mentioned earlier".
The exchange can be seen here, starting at the 89:15 mark. Hopefully, someone more tech savvy will make a youtube of just the ending portion. (Dear Lord, don't watch the whole thing, it will bore you to tears. Just jump to the 89:15 mark.)
Even given this outrageous spectacle, Rick Scott still denies he banned any words. I guess everyone in his administration got together on their own and decided they wouldn't say a scientifically accurate term.
Sadly, Miami, according to the National Climate Assessment, is the city most vulnerable to damage from rising sea levels.
I'm sorry, I meant to say "Coastal Resiliency".
You have to ask yourself...what are Scott's motives for this silliness?
ReplyDeleteDoes he think that if no one mentions "the words," perception of there being any actual problem will go away?
What does he plan to do about people in the other 49 states and around the world who still use these terms? Will TVs and radios and even computers in Florida be required to attach devices that bleep out the offending terms? A sort of wingnut-environmental net nanny?
Is this reflective of some sort of coping mechanism Rick Scott used as a child when he got caught doing something naughty?
Or maybe it's another version of, "At the advice of my attorney...."