iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Maria L @marial.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Speaking of defamation, I’ve been pretty quiet on this account lately, but I took the time today to write a letter to CTV News, copying my MP, about this case involving @rachelgilmore.bsky.social — and why it is so critically important. Here it is:

“In Defence of Rachel Gilmore, Fact Checking, & Democracy

Dear CTV News decision makers,
As a Canadian concerned about the growth of dis/misinformation being used as a way to undermine democracies around the world, I am writing to you about your recent capitulation to the spurious accusations (that even appear to be libellous; libel also being a kind of misinformation that is personally harmful to people subject to it) & part of an inciting hate campaign by Sebastian Skamski and others directed against Rachel Gilmore.

I was shocked to hear that the reason given for this dismissal was that the
"volume of that push back" was a
"distraction" for your network. (source:
https://pressprogress.ca/ctv-cancelled-a-fact-checking-segment-in-response-to-political-pressure-from-pierre-poilievres-conservatives/_)”

“What??? What is that even supposed to mean?

That does not sound like any kind of legitimate reason for dismissal.
What it sounds like is a capitulation to the exact thing that your show is supposed to be working for the people to address — misinformation. Aren't you supposed to be "fact checking"? Isn't your primary mandate to "uphold journalistic integrity and independence under all circumstances and at all times, without exception." https://bce.ca/responsibility/. key-documents/2020-media-ethics-program.pdf

Without exception?

I'm sorry, I might not be a professional journalist, but how is capitulating to this attack campaign in such a short time fulfilling your own stated mandate, let alone standards of journalistic integrity?”

“My own background is in Earth systems science and climate change and I have watched for decades as the media has been PLAYED by bad faith agents who have infiltrated the right with well funded digital public opinion influence campaigns and pushing false balance approaches by the press in covering the topic.

(sources:
Oresekes, Merchants of Doubt; https://. councilonstrategicrisks.org/2024/04/23/. climate-security-and-misinformation-a-baseline; https://www.carbonbrief.org/.
exclusive-bbc-issues-internal-guidance-on-how-to-report-climate-
change/.)

Decades of this has led to public opinion being so hijacked that our governments (eg. Carney & Eby) are now dropping the carbon tax, even though it was a just, fair, and effective policy. The media-outlets like yours-played a significant central role in allowing this not just mild confusion, but significant & deleterious hijacking of public opinion, to take place.”

“And so now you drop Rachel Gilmore.
Hired to do "fact checking" as a result of a this online attack campaign, without demonstrating you even did any fact checking about the allegations? This does not meet even a basic standard of practice for journalistic integrity, and certainly does not step up to meet the challenges of our times where we, the people, NEED the media to go to bat for the public good.

The bad faith actors that fund authoritarian candidates like Trump, and are trying to capture conservative parties globally, use illiberal forms of coercive control upon our citizens through media campaigns & targeted attacks against those who stand up against authoritarian forces to undermine our democracy. (Sources on how right leaning politics has been subjected to & a source of more dis/ misinformation than left leaning. https:/ www.science.org/doi/10.1126/
sciadv.abf1234 and https://phys.org/news/.
2024-10-users-misinformation-higher-suspension-platform.amp)”

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Maria L @marial.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

icymi bsky.app/profile/seth...

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Maria L @marial.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Right on Vancouver. 🎉 Happy to report we subbed out our old gas hot water tank & heater for a heat pump, as well as switched to EVs, & it’s a welcome net savings every month, as well as a relief to be free of fossil furls in those areas.

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Maria L @marial.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

That handful being on this chart. (Src by @dpcarrington.bsky.social here www.theguardian.com/environment/...)

Chart of:
Total COz emissions since 1850 from fossil fuels, deforestation, land use change and cement (billion tonnes)

1 US
2 China
3 Russia
4 Brazil
5 Indonesia
6 Germany
India
7 UK
8 Japan
9 Canada
Guardian graphic | Source: Carbon Brief

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Maria L @marial.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

This article will not age well. It’s a poorly informed hit piece. It is also a glaring example of both false balance and sensationalism (en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_b...). Oh look, a bunch of people flocked over to bluesky saying it’s better, let’s attack that to provide “balance” and clickbait.

en.m.wikipedia.org

False balance - Wikipedia

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Prof. Fred Gachon (he/him) @fgachon.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Impressive work from ABC: an article describing a new hottest year in Australia without any mention of climate changes! Of course, the Australian policy is more coal and gas! www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12...

abc.net.au

Australia sweats through hottest spring on record as temperatures soar 2.5C above pre-industrial levels

Another heatwave is predicted across Australia this week, as the weather bureau confirms the nation just sizzled through its hottest spring on record.

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Blue Community .net @blue-community.net · 30/11/2024

Recommended reading for the weekend If you have not yet started reading, we suggest you use the weekend to do so: “How the Commodification and Financialization of Nature endanger the Rights of Nature” by Maude Barlow. see here: blue-community.net/2...

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Rhett Ayers Butler @rhettayersbutler.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

The Rappahannock Tribe is the first in the U.S. to enshrine the rights of nature into their constitution. What sets this framework apart is its enforceability. Tribal members can bring legal cases on behalf of the river. news.mongabay.com/2024/11/rapp...

news.mongabay.com

Rappahannock Tribe first in US to enshrine rights of nature into constitution

The Rappahannock Tribe has become the first tribal nation in the United States to successfully recognize the rights of nature in their constitution, giving legal protection to the river they have liv...

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Maria L @marial.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

There are 7 million annual deaths from air pollution. I agree w David Boyd: “Air #pollution on today’s scale, clearly violates the rights to life and health, the rights of the child & the right to live in a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment” www.dailypioneer.com/2024/columni...

dailypioneer.com

The smog capital of India

As Delhi battles a toxic mix of seasonal stubble burning and local pollution sources, its residents are exposed to severe and potentially life-threatening health risks The National Capital Territory ...

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mari @amari.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

“Others, including Russia, Saudi Arabia & trade groups such as the American Chemistry Council, opposed capping plastic production & backed a voluntary, nonbinding treaty that focused on improving waste management instead.” Yeah right, as IF that’s worked for climate action. Same offenders.

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Maria L @marial.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Fascinating. Is there a similar petition for Canada I wonder.

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Maria L @marial.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

i’ve not been here much been down in a land of moss & fern #naturephotography #moss

a photo of a fern frond on a bed of mosses. the frond is turned upside down, showing little balls of ochre pollen along the leaflets

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Maria L @marial.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Now that a huge contingent on the #climatechange & #energy communities are here, does anyone know if Bluesky has published sustainability reports? They are a public benefit corp, so shouldn’t they have an energy/ghg report? LCA? If not would be great to get that going @jay.bsky.team

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Rachel Klein @racheleklein.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

Wish I didn’t have to write this (again!) but here we are (again!)

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Connor Gibson @grassrootbeer.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

NEW REPORT 🧵: Here's what Koch seemed to *know* about climate science, using documents from the 1970's, 80's and 90's vs what Koch *said* about climate science, and what Koch *did* to fight climate mitigation. From Brown University Climate Social Science Network: cssn.org/koch-and-cli...

cssn.org

Koch and Climate Obstruction

This interim report, by Connor Gibson and Robert J. Brulle, is a result of ongoing historical research into the efforts by Koch, Inc. and its orbit organizations to obstruct climate […]

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Maria L @marial.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

Interesting article by @hannahritchie.bsky.social on the potentials for #upcycling old solar panels. I agree that it’s likely too optimistic, but is this what an upwards spiral looks like? 🌀 #solar #energy #recycling

an image from the linked article illustrating material efficiency, how, starting from one older panel, materials can be taken out to make more newer panels

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MeidasTouch @meidastouch.com · 15/11/2024

Sri Lanka tried RFK Jr.'s food plan, and it was catastrophic. Productivity plummeted, causing food shortages, skyrocketing prices, lost exports, and an economic collapse. Farmers faced huge losses, forcing the government to reverse the ban and import costly emergency food.

foreignpolicy.com

In Sri Lanka, Organic Farming Went Catastrophically Wrong

A nationwide experiment is abandoned after producing only misery.

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Maria L @marial.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

and the double jeopardy answer is, What is a ruse?

screen capture of definition os ruse:

ruse | ruz noun
• an action intended to deceive someone; a trick
Oxford Dictionary of English

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Charles Ornstein @charlesornstein.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

Seems pretty clear that newsrooms are going to face more threats in the years ahead. Please support news orgs you love, hopefully including @propublica.org Trump threatens NYTs, Penguin Random House over critical coverage www.cjr.org/the_trump_re... via @columjournreview.bsky.social

cjr.org

Trump Threatens New York Times, Penguin Random House over Critical Coverage

Legal letter follows complaints aimed at CBS News, the Washington Post, and the Daily Beast.

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Machine Pun Kelly @kellyscaletta.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

It's up!!!! My Explainer video for BlueSky beginners. I cover how to find your Twitter followers, Starter Packs, Feeds, Lists, some handy-dandy tools, and BlueSky etiquette. Please watch and/or share with any newbies you know. I think it's helpful. www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_V2...

youtube.com

BlueSky for Beginners

YouTube video by Machine Pun Kelly

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Bluesky @bsky.app · 15/11/2024

A number of artists and creators have made their home on Bluesky, and we hear their concerns with other platforms training on their data. We do not use any of your content to train generative AI, and have no intention of doing so.

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Why @why.bsky.world · 15/11/2024

Working on a feed of trending links, its not personalized yet (working on that!). But if you wanna see the most popular links people are sharing for now, you can check this out:

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Jennifer Ashby @jenniferashby.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

"My thesis supervisor Jürgen Habermas has told me recently he would not have succeeded in today's academia. He has never applied for a grant in his life and he writes long books" - Patrizia Nanz, President of the European University Institute, in a speech today

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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

Has BlueSky reached critical mass for a hive mind exercise in international law? Let's try. I love the fact that most treaties are equally binding in several languages. Particularly when the language versions diverge. What is your favorite example of such a divergence? I'll give you an example /1

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Maria L @marial.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

The scale of China’s EV revolution is a fascinating backdrop to the recent regressive turn in US politics that has promoting fossil fuels as a core principle… 🧐 (graph source: evboosters.com/ev-charging-...)

A graph showing “Share of EVs in total new car registrations. The graph shows China way ahead in 2024 at 40%, with Eu at 24%, Global total at 20%, but US at only 10%

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Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 12/11/2024

As cozy as it can feel here now compared to Twitter/X, everything we post is all still public. With the surveillance and cracking down on dissidents expected by the Trump admin, it’s important to remember that. Keep certain conversations private on Signal and other end-to-end encrypted apps.

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Maria L @marial.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

This echoes what @sarahkendzior.bsky.social said and even though I’m not in the US rn, Canada’s a few months away fm likely repeating a similar drama. And already, I can feel it, the twisting in the lower stomach, the effect that the fascist turn has when your state pivots that way decisively.

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Fred Wellman @fpwellman.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

The hate is a virus.

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Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

Word of the day: KAKISTOCRACY

kakistocracy noun
kakis-tocracy kaköstäkrosē
plural kakistocracies
: government by the worst people

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Shablo Pleye @shablopligh.bsky.social · 12/11/2024

“The long arc of history is not something that moves on its own volition, but is a force bent and shaped by real people, for better and for worse. “And it is our job, our ethical obligation, to move it for the better.” — Sarah Kendzior substack.com/home/post/p-... @sarahkendzior.bsky.social

substack.com

The Rise of Global Authoritarianism

How we got here and where we are going

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Lindsay P Cohn @lindsaypcohn.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

Ok, some thoughts: 1) this will be one of the biggest civil-military crises this country has ever seen. 2) it will have drastic negative effects on our military readiness and effectiveness I’ll expand a little on each point below. 1/

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Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

The least shocking turn of events is the rapidity of the shift from "I've got nothing to do with Project 2025" to "every appointee wrote two chapters of Project 2025"

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Adam Serwer @adamserwer.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

Free speech is when they can say what they want and when you can say what they want. bsky.app/profile/timk...

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Tim Karr @timkarr.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

Welcome to Bluesky! Reupping this starter pack for those wanting to join efforts to build a media system that actually serves democracy. bsky.app/starter-pack...

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🎃Autopsy of Ashley Lynch 🔪🎞️ @ashleylynch.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

If you have any artwork still up on the other site, get it the hell off there.

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Maria L @marial.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

they are trying to make it a likely outcome

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Kelly Hereid @kellyhereid.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

For more, check out starter packs @amywestervelt.bsky.social's is killer: go.bsky.app/1ivUnG @highcountrynews.bsky.social staff: go.bsky.app/GwJ1Crh @katharinehayhoe.com recs: go.bsky.app/8nWce1T @alleenbrown.bsky.social freelancers: bsky.app/profile/alle... Vox staff: bsky.app/profile/cons...

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Alleen Brown @alleenbrown.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

This new social media thing is extra painful for freelance journalists who don’t have a built-in promo team. Here’s a starter pack of freelance environmental reporters. Follow us — then hire us? (And lmk who I’m missing!) go.bsky.app/LEwiBCr

go.bsky.app

Freelance Environmental Journalists

Join the conversation

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Alleen Brown @alleenbrown.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

Also this list came together via my organizing with Freelance Solidarity Project. If you're a freelancer, please consider joining, and feel free to DM me with questions about it. freelancesolidarity.org

freelancesolidarity.org

Home - Freelance Solidarity Project

We are a union of digital media workers raising labor standards across our industry.

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mari @amari.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

This 👇 Also, climate action is a direct threat to petrostates like Russia. This is the smoking gun. It’s the motive. It’s occam’s razor. The GUT of the crazy geopolitics unfolding. It’s, if not THE reason, a major reason they have been at war w the west. That they have sought to

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sadvil 😎 @sadvil.bsky.social · 12/11/2024

2012: “join Twitter? just so I can learn what some moron had for lunch?” 2024: “I’ve joined Bluesky to follow the ‘Good Lunch’ Feed. People post their lunch and others reply good lunch when it’s a good lunch”

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Tom Ashbyトムアシュビー @tomaashby.bsky.social · 08/11/2024

I have created a "starter pack" for intellectual history, broadly construed, composed of historians, philosophers, political theorists, literary scholars, & more! Sorry for those I missed & cannot add (limit 150), but do reply, like, & share this post so that people can find you! go.bsky.app/77uSk3m

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