(MRC) — Scientists on a climate change expedition to Antarctica have been stranded since Christmas morning because the ice trapped their ship. Yet, the networks have nearly ignored what the mission was all about.
But the broadcast networks seem to have forgotten why the Russian ship, Akademic Shokalskiy, was on its way to Antarctica. Since the ship became stranded Dec. 25, only one story out of 23 on the network morning and evening news shows mentioned that climate change had anything to do with the expedition. So far, three rescue attempts have been thwarted by growing levels of sea ice and weather conditions.
According to ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Dec. 30, “the ice could be as thick as 13 feet.” Rather than pointing out the purpose of the scientists, the networks often referred to the stranded people as “passengers,” “trackers” and even “tourists,” with no mention of climate change. Chris Turney, the expedition’s leader, is a professor of climate change at the University of South Wales.
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