truthout--2020-09-07--How Do You Teach Younger Students With an Antiracism Lens?

Ankita Ajith can recall learning about slavery , Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks at her Katy , Texas , elementary school in the Houston area .
But looking back , Ajith , now a student at Northwestern University , also vividly remembers how superficial those conversations were , and how much she wishes that her predominantly white , suburban school district had given her the tools from a young age to understand America ’ s racist past and its connection with the present .
“ They taught us things that were easily digestible and sounded good , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ definitely painted in the light that ‘ these problems are in the past , ’ and ‘ America is the land of the free ’ and ‘ everyone is equal here.
’ ” In July , Ajith and three of her friends testified before the Texas State Board of Education , demanding changes to the way students are taught .
They are advocating for core curriculum changes in social studies — specifically American history — classes .
The college students pressed the board to acknowledge the state ’ s “ deeply anti-Black , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that continues today.
” To them , educators should teach significant topics like the 1950s and 1960s civil rights movement with more depth and breadth .
They believe that kids , no matter what grade they are in , should learn history through an antiracist lens , not only learning about the role of white supremacy and racism in history , but doing so in a way that empowers them to pursue social justice .
And they aren ’ t the only ones advocating the adoption of such curricula .
Ever since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in late May spurred what may be the largest social movement in U.S. history , education leaders have started to reckon with how to comprehensively teach history with an antiracism lens .
Colleges are holding professional development online events for educators on how to reimagine education with racial justice in mind .
And school districts are working to expand their curricula on race .
As education organizations and initiatives such as Teaching Tolerance , the Zinn Education Project , Black Lives Matter at School , the Pulitzer Center ’ s 1619 Project Curriculum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tools to teach anti-bias and antiracism , educators are grappling with how to implement these resources in early grades .
For Katie Cryan Leary , the principal of the newly opened Magnolia Elementary in Seattle Public Schools , creating an antiracist , anti-bias school can be a messy , uncomfortable journey .
That ’ s especially true in a district that , in the 19 years she ’ s been working there , has committed to racial equity but still struggles to serve the needs of a wide range of students .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our walk is not matching the talk , ” said Leary , who is white and leads a school where , she says , 62 percent of students are white .
To her , antiracism education in elementary school starts with students ’ awareness of themselves , of others and of how those interactions play out .
She believes that social emotional learning — giving kids the tools to manage and express their feelings — is the heart of race and equity work .
Developmental psychologists have called attention to the notion that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four can start showing racial biases .
And by the time students are in kindergarten , research shows that they show some of the same attitudes about race as the adults in their lives .
Children also grow acclimated to favoring whiteness and privileged groups .
Leary uses resources from Black Lives Matter at Schools , a national movement started by thousands of educators in Seattle in 2016 that has spread to other large school districts nationwide .
For the past four years , district leaders have strongly encouraged Seattle Public School educators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement ’ s 13 guiding principles — such as collective value , restorative justice and the empowerment of Black families — for one week in February .
Some school leaders have welcomed that opportunity , and others have not , Leary said .
Additionally , throughout the year , students are exposed to a different concept every month through daily read alouds , project-based learning and classroom meetings .
To help spur conversations with students about differences , race and unfairness , kindergarten to fifth grade teachers read books by writers that touch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as “ The Day You Begin , ” “ Ron ’ s Big Mission ” and “ New Shoes.
” “ It ’ s a way that we can access information and have conversations without making the white teachers the experts… , ” Leary said .
However , she and her teachers have found it challenging , especially since the pandemic forced teaching online , to teach students about the police brutality and other racist violence they may see in the media .
The teachers are unsure how families will respond to students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have received little to no pushback about the social justice curriculum they ’ ve been using since last year .
“ In our classrooms , it ’ s a safe space where kids know and trust and are connected to their teachers , ” Leary said .
But that ’ s not always the case with online discussions , “ so we ’ ve struggled with that and have had conversations about it as a staff , and we need to keep having conversations.
” She said that as educators , creating a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something they must take seriously .
“ When kids come to school , we have the opportunity to create a culture of school that may be different than their home culture , and really be able to expand their racial beings as antiracist , ” she said .
“ We have the capacity to create antiracist kids at school , whether they live in an antiracist home or not .
And we don ’ t have that ability remotely .
And so we ’ re working as a start to find out how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a preschool teacher in Charleston , South Carolina , also believes in the importance of having open discussions with young students and not shying away from current events .
In June , with Sarah Frayer , an elementary school teacher and instructional coach in Washington , D.C. , Coulter started a nonprofit organization called Reflective Pages that aims to help educators build multicultural , comprehensive curriculums in schools .
“ Our children , even though they are young , they are aware of what ’ s going on , ” Coulter said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ students , maybe like four or five years old , they were aware of who Trayvon Martin was and what happened to him.
” Coulter and Frayer provide educators with information about microaggressions , implicit bias , systemic racism and other barriers that can hinder students ’ learning .
They also talk to educators about how to successfully implement a curriculum that focuses on race and antiracism , centers Black voices and highlights Black stories and achievements .
One way is to pull local Black authors into classrooms to talk about black activists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times people hear the word ‘ activism ’ and they might have a negative connotation to it .
We try to provide enlightenment in that regard , ” Coulter said .
In her own classroom , she and her students sent videos and wrote letters to senators about school funding and state testing .
In her preschool classroom , she said her students made signs and did a walk around to protest mass shootings during a national walk out movement .
“ I think that it is important that students of color actively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and communities , ” Coulter said in an email .
“ Students are well aware of the social issues and sometimes have a hard time expressing their feelings and opinions.
” Coulter said when she engages in conversations with her students , they are more able to name their emotions .
“ I also think it is important to acknowledge that their voices matter , ” Coulter said .
“ In order to make a difference one must first be heard.
” But while more schools are getting onboard with the idea of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of Texas at Austin professor and former elementary school teacher , said she doesn ’ t know of any school that is doing this work effectively .
That ’ s not exactly surprising , she said , because society as a whole is not doing it well .
“ It ’ s one thing to bring a person in to do a talk or even send your faculty to do workshops , ” Brown said .
“ It ’ s another thing to say that this is deeply embedded in the work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we are holding ourselves accountable for .
“ A vast majority of schools , ” she added , “ are not focused on antiracism — not in a superficial way , and not in a deep and substantial way either.
” Some elementary school educators and consultants , like Akiea Gross , believe that substantive , holistic antiracist work within an educational setting requires educators to think beyond academic content to their own role in systemic racism .
Gross , who identifies as a trans nonbinary abolitionist educator , is the founder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community space that hosts antiracist read alouds and shares resources about antiracism and liberation for the littlest kids .
Gross said that that it ’ s problematic if educators just add antiracist curriculum .
Instead , they must start by doing some deep reflective work on the ways they ’ ve caused harm to their students and also begin the healing with families who have had bad experiences inside schools .
Teachers can also work collaboratively with students to set goals and guidelines instead of simply meting out the rules .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way that we show up , the way that we enter spaces , ” Gross said .
Gross believes that if there is a bureaucratic chain of command in a class setting , teachers must recognize and push against keeping that certain structure .
“ You can actively teach being antiracist by discussing and pointing out that hierarchy and creating more of a communal learning environment where you are creating a mutual respect between you and your kids , ” Gross said .
Gross ’ s “ Woke Read Alouds ” on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beyond the words and pictures of the books .
In the read aloud for the book “ Mr .
Tiger Goes Wild ” by Peter Brown , about a tiger who decides to act differently than his fellow anthropomorphic animal neighbors , Gross talks about big topics like “ politics ” and “ rules ” and who made the rules for Black , Indigenous , Latino , and Asian people .
Ankita Ajith and her three college-age friends plan to keep fighting for a curriculum centered on antiracism .
Since testifying before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July , the college students have spoken to the board ’ s chair and vice-chair about revisiting and reviewing the state social studies standards .
Their proposed revisions will be placed on the agenda for the board ’ s September meeting , said Nitant Patel , a friend of Ajith ’ s who is also involved in the campaign .
“ We can ’ t afford to overlook this anymore , ” Ajith said .
“ I want to make sure that they ’ re not avoiding teaching difficult subjects just because they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She believes that the change they seek is now inevitable .
“ It ’ s something that will happen sooner or later.
” This story about antiracist curriculum was produced by The Hechinger Report , a nonprofit , independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education .
Sign up for the Hechinger newsletter .

Ankita Ajith can recall learning about slavery, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks at her Katy, Texas, elementary school in the Houston area.
But looking back, Ajith, now a student at Northwestern University, also vividly remembers how superficial those conversations were, and how much she wishes that her predominantly white, suburban school district had given her the tools from a young age to understand America’s racist past and its connection with the present.
“They taught us things that were easily digestible and sounded good,” Ajith said. “It was definitely painted in the light that ‘these problems are in the past,’ and ‘America is the land of the free’ and ‘everyone is equal here.’ ”
In July, Ajith and three of her friends testified before the Texas State Board of Education, demanding changes to the way students are taught. They are advocating for core curriculum changes in social studies — specifically American history — classes. The college students pressed the board to acknowledge the state’s “deeply anti-Black, racist past as well as the oppression that continues today.” To them, educators should teach significant topics like the 1950s and 1960s civil rights movement with more depth and breadth. They believe that kids, no matter what grade they are in, should learn history through an antiracist lens, not only learning about the role of white supremacy and racism in history, but doing so in a way that empowers them to pursue social justice.
And they aren’t the only ones advocating the adoption of such curricula. Ever since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in late May spurred what may be the largest social movement in U.S. history, education leaders have started to reckon with how to comprehensively teach history with an antiracism lens. Colleges are holding professional development online events for educators on how to reimagine education with racial justice in mind. And school districts are working to expand their curricula on race.
As education organizations and initiatives such as Teaching Tolerance, the Zinn Education Project, Black Lives Matter at School, the Pulitzer Center’s 1619 Project Curriculum and others strive to give educators the tools to teach anti-bias and antiracism, educators are grappling with how to implement these resources in early grades.
For Katie Cryan Leary, the principal of the newly opened Magnolia Elementary in Seattle Public Schools, creating an antiracist, anti-bias school can be a messy, uncomfortable journey. That’s especially true in a district that, in the 19 years she’s been working there, has committed to racial equity but still struggles to serve the needs of a wide range of students.
“I still see so many issues where our walk is not matching the talk,” said Leary, who is white and leads a school where, she says, 62 percent of students are white.
To her, antiracism education in elementary school starts with students’ awareness of themselves, of others and of how those interactions play out. She believes that social emotional learning — giving kids the tools to manage and express their feelings — is the heart of race and equity work. Developmental psychologists have called attention to the notion that children between the ages of two and four can start showing racial biases. And by the time students are in kindergarten, research shows that they show some of the same attitudes about race as the adults in their lives. Children also grow acclimated to favoring whiteness and privileged groups.
Leary uses resources from Black Lives Matter at Schools, a national movement started by thousands of educators in Seattle in 2016 that has spread to other large school districts nationwide. For the past four years, district leaders have strongly encouraged Seattle Public School educators to teach about the Black Lives Matter movement’s 13 guiding principles — such as collective value, restorative justice and the empowerment of Black families — for one week in February. Some school leaders have welcomed that opportunity, and others have not, Leary said.
Additionally, throughout the year, students are exposed to a different concept every month through daily read alouds, project-based learning and classroom meetings. To help spur conversations with students about differences, race and unfairness, kindergarten to fifth grade teachers read books by writers that touch on issues of racial inequity, such as “The Day You Begin,” “Ron’s Big Mission” and “New Shoes.”
“It’s a way that we can access information and have conversations without making the white teachers the experts…,” Leary said.
However, she and her teachers have found it challenging, especially since the pandemic forced teaching online, to teach students about the police brutality and other racist violence they may see in the media. The teachers are unsure how families will respond to students having those conversations, even though they have received little to no pushback about the social justice curriculum they’ve been using since last year.
“In our classrooms, it’s a safe space where kids know and trust and are connected to their teachers,” Leary said. But that’s not always the case with online discussions, “so we’ve struggled with that and have had conversations about it as a staff, and we need to keep having conversations.”
She said that as educators, creating a safe space in any learning environment is something they must take seriously.
“When kids come to school, we have the opportunity to create a culture of school that may be different than their home culture, and really be able to expand their racial beings as antiracist,” she said. “We have the capacity to create antiracist kids at school, whether they live in an antiracist home or not. And we don’t have that ability remotely. And so we’re working as a start to find out how to do that.”
Chanita Coulter, a preschool teacher in Charleston, South Carolina, also believes in the importance of having open discussions with young students and not shying away from current events.
In June, with Sarah Frayer, an elementary school teacher and instructional coach in Washington, D.C., Coulter started a nonprofit organization called Reflective Pages that aims to help educators build multicultural, comprehensive curriculums in schools.
“Our children, even though they are young, they are aware of what’s going on,” Coulter said. “I remember like even my younger students, maybe like four or five years old, they were aware of who Trayvon Martin was and what happened to him.”
Coulter and Frayer provide educators with information about microaggressions, implicit bias, systemic racism and other barriers that can hinder students’ learning. They also talk to educators about how to successfully implement a curriculum that focuses on race and antiracism, centers Black voices and highlights Black stories and achievements. One way is to pull local Black authors into classrooms to talk about black activists and scholars.
“A lot of times people hear the word ‘activism’ and they might have a negative connotation to it. We try to provide enlightenment in that regard,” Coulter said.
In her own classroom, she and her students sent videos and wrote letters to senators about school funding and state testing. In her preschool classroom, she said her students made signs and did a walk around to protest mass shootings during a national walk out movement.
“I think that it is important that students of color actively participate in conversations that affect their families and communities,” Coulter said in an email. “Students are well aware of the social issues and sometimes have a hard time expressing their feelings and opinions.”
Coulter said when she engages in conversations with her students, they are more able to name their emotions.
“I also think it is important to acknowledge that their voices matter,” Coulter said. “In order to make a difference one must first be heard.”
But while more schools are getting onboard with the idea of teaching antiracism, Keffrelyn Brown, a University of Texas at Austin professor and former elementary school teacher, said she doesn’t know of any school that is doing this work effectively. That’s not exactly surprising, she said, because society as a whole is not doing it well.
“It’s one thing to bring a person in to do a talk or even send your faculty to do workshops,” Brown said. “It’s another thing to say that this is deeply embedded in the work that we do. It is something that we are holding ourselves accountable for. “A vast majority of schools,” she added, “are not focused on antiracism — not in a superficial way, and not in a deep and substantial way either.”
Some elementary school educators and consultants, like Akiea Gross, believe that substantive, holistic antiracist work within an educational setting requires educators to think beyond academic content to their own role in systemic racism.
Gross, who identifies as a trans nonbinary abolitionist educator, is the founder of Woke Kindergarten, a social media community space that hosts antiracist read alouds and shares resources about antiracism and liberation for the littlest kids. Gross said that that it’s problematic if educators just add antiracist curriculum.
Instead, they must start by doing some deep reflective work on the ways they’ve caused harm to their students and also begin the healing with families who have had bad experiences inside schools. Teachers can also work collaboratively with students to set goals and guidelines instead of simply meting out the rules.
“We are a part of the curriculum, the way that we show up, the way that we enter spaces,” Gross said. Gross believes that if there is a bureaucratic chain of command in a class setting, teachers must recognize and push against keeping that certain structure.
“You can actively teach being antiracist by discussing and pointing out that hierarchy and creating more of a communal learning environment where you are creating a mutual respect between you and your kids,” Gross said.
Gross’s “Woke Read Alouds” on Youtube discuss topics on antiracism that go beyond the words and pictures of the books. In the read aloud for the book “Mr. Tiger Goes Wild” by Peter Brown, about a tiger who decides to act differently than his fellow anthropomorphic animal neighbors, Gross talks about big topics like “politics” and “rules” and who made the rules for Black, Indigenous, Latino, and Asian people.
Ankita Ajith and her three college-age friends plan to keep fighting for a curriculum centered on antiracism. Since testifying before the Texas State Board of Education in early July, the college students have spoken to the board’s chair and vice-chair about revisiting and reviewing the state social studies standards. Their proposed revisions will be placed on the agenda for the board’s September meeting, said Nitant Patel, a friend of Ajith’s who is also involved in the campaign.
“We can’t afford to overlook this anymore,” Ajith said. “I want to make sure that they’re not avoiding teaching difficult subjects just because they are nuanced or uncomfortable to discuss.”
She believes that the change they seek is now inevitable. “It’s something that will happen sooner or later.”
This story about antiracist curriculum was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for the Hechinger newsletter.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
This piece was reprinted by Truthout with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.


truthout--2020-09-08--Sturgis Bike Rally Projected to Be Linked to More Than 266,000 COVID Cases

The Sturgis , South Dakota , motorcycle rally that took place early last month is a coronavirus “ superspreading event ” that will likely result in more than $ 12 billion in public health care costs , according to researchers who documented the annual event .
The rally , which took place from August 7 to 16 , drew in more than 365,000 vehicles this year .
According to local reports , most participants did not wear masks or practice other social distancing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 .
Likely because of the lack of adherence to such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus across 11 different states have been positively connected to the event , with one individual identified as having died from the disease after being at Sturgis .
It ’ s probable that number will increase in a huge way in the days and weeks to come .
Researchers from San Diego State University ’ s Center for Health Economics & Policy Studies , working alongside the German-based IZA Institute for Labor Economics , analyzed cellphone data from “ non-residents ” at the rally to examine foot traffic at a number of establishments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , hotels , and more .
They found that attendance at these areas of interest “ rose substantially ” when compared to days before the rally , in spite of the possibility of spreading infections .
The study concluded that the event will eventually be linked to about 267,000 cases of coronavirus in the U.S. when all is said and done .
Based on the understanding that the average cost of care for a person with COVID-19 is around $ 46,000 , researchers determined that the motorcycle rally will likely result in $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to spread of the virus .
The high number of individuals likely to have been infected with coronavirus makes Sturgis a “ superspreading event ” — an event in which cases are transmitted at a much higher rate than they happen among the general public .
A number of superspreading events that have been documented in the months since the pandemic hit the U.S. have happened at large gatherings of individuals , such as church choirs and big family birthday parties where dozens of participants have ended up contracting coronavirus .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : the vast majority of people may not infect any other people , and some people in certain situations infect a lot of people , ” Abraar Karan , a physician and public health researcher at Harvard Medical School , told the BBC .
“ One person may infect 10 people , or 15 people or 20 people ” at such superspreader events .
Sturgis is unique , however , in that it was a multiday event with hundreds of thousands involved , which could make it the largest superspreading event in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connected to the event itself , South Dakota saw a substantial upswing in its coronavirus case count in the weeks after the Sturgis rally was held .
Indeed , the five-day average of new cases identified from August 26 to 30 was more than two times higher than it was from August 12 to 16 .
As of Tuesday , nearly 6.5 million cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the United States , with more than 193,000 having died from the disease so far .

The Sturgis, South Dakota, motorcycle rally that took place early last month is a coronavirus “superspreading event” that will likely result in more than $12 billion in public health care costs, according to researchers who documented the annual event.
The rally, which took place from August 7 to 16, drew in more than 365,000 vehicles this year. According to local reports, most participants did not wear masks or practice other social distancing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Likely because of the lack of adherence to such standards, at least 260 cases of coronavirus across 11 different states have been positively connected to the event, with one individual identified as having died from the disease after being at Sturgis. It’s probable that number will increase in a huge way in the days and weeks to come.
Researchers from San Diego State University’s Center for Health Economics & Policy Studies, working alongside the German-based IZA Institute for Labor Economics, analyzed cellphone data from “non-residents” at the rally to examine foot traffic at a number of establishments nearby, including bars, retail shops, hotels, and more. They found that attendance at these areas of interest “rose substantially” when compared to days before the rally, in spite of the possibility of spreading infections.
The study concluded that the event will eventually be linked to about 267,000 cases of coronavirus in the U.S. when all is said and done. Based on the understanding that the average cost of care for a person with COVID-19 is around $46,000, researchers determined that the motorcycle rally will likely result in $12.2 billion in public health costs due to spread of the virus.
The high number of individuals likely to have been infected with coronavirus makes Sturgis a “superspreading event” — an event in which cases are transmitted at a much higher rate than they happen among the general public.
A number of superspreading events that have been documented in the months since the pandemic hit the U.S. have happened at large gatherings of individuals, such as church choirs and big family birthday parties where dozens of participants have ended up contracting coronavirus.
“I tend to think of it as this: the vast majority of people may not infect any other people, and some people in certain situations infect a lot of people,” Abraar Karan, a physician and public health researcher at Harvard Medical School, told the BBC. “One person may infect 10 people, or 15 people or 20 people” at such superspreader events.
Sturgis is unique, however, in that it was a multiday event with hundreds of thousands involved, which could make it the largest superspreading event in the country so far.
Although not conclusively connected to the event itself, South Dakota saw a substantial upswing in its coronavirus case count in the weeks after the Sturgis rally was held. Indeed, the five-day average of new cases identified from August 26 to 30 was more than two times higher than it was from August 12 to 16.
As of Tuesday, nearly 6.5 million cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the United States, with more than 193,000 having died from the disease so far.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
Copyright © Truthout. May not be reprinted without permission.


truthout--2020-09-08--UN Chief: Humanity Is “Doomed” If Nations Don’t Cooperate on Climate Soon

World powers must pull together and retool their economies for a green future or humanity is “ doomed , ” UN chief Antonio Guterres has warned , telling AFP that failure to control the coronavirus pandemic illustrates the danger of disunity .
Before the virus struck , 2020 was billed as a pivotal year for the plan to dodge the bullet of catastrophic global warming , with high profile summits planned to catch a wave of public alarm over the future of the planet .
The coronavirus crisis may have shunted climate into the sidelines as nations launched unprecedented shutdowns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but Guterres said the need for climate action was more urgent than ever .
In a searing assessment of the international response , Guterres said the pandemic should sharpen governments ’ focus on cutting emissions , urging them to use the crisis as a springboard to launch “ transformational ” policies aimed at weaning societies off fossil fuels .
“ I think the failure that was shown in the capacity to contain the spread of the virus — by the fact that there was not enough international coordination in the way the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries understand that they need to change course , ” he told AFP .
“ They need to act together in relation to the climate threat that is a much bigger threat than the threat of the pandemic in itself — it ’ s an existential threat for our planet and for our lives.
” The UN chief said “ pollution and not people ” should be taxed and renewed calls for nations to end fossil fuel subsidies , launch massive investments in renewables and commit to “ carbon neutrality ” — net @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We need to have a number of transformational measures in relation to energy , in relation to transportation , in relation to agriculture , in relation to industry , in relation to our own way of life , without which we would be doomed , ” he said .
His comments come as the landmark Paris climate deal goes into effect this year , kicking off efforts to cap the rise in temperature to “ well below ” two degrees Celsius ( 3.6 Fahrenheit ) above pre-industrial levels .
The accord was already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with doubts over commitments from major polluting nations and concerns that it is still far short of what science says is needed to avert disastrous climate change .
US President Donald Trump shocked the world in 2017 when he said the United States — history ’ s largest emitter — was withdrawing from the Paris deal .
It is due to leave on November 4 , just after the country ’ s presidential election .
The pandemic has further dented hopes that a diplomatic whirlwind could sweep foot-dragging nations into announcing bold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were postponed and nations focused inwards .
Guterres said there was currently no clear sign that a United States government recovery policy would align with Paris goals , but he said he was hopeful that states , businesses and individuals “ will compensate for the lack of political commitment that exists at the present moment ” .
He said much now rests on the actions of the six biggest emitters — China , the US , Europe , Russia , India and Japan — ahead of the United Nations General Assembly , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We have never been as fragile as we are , we never needed as much humility , unity and solidarity as now , ” he added in a series of interviews with AFP and other members of Covering Climate Now , a global collaboration of news outlets committed to increased climate coverage .
Guterres blasted “ irrational demonstrations of xenophobia ” and the rise of nationalism .
Climate change warnings are no longer predictions of a distant future .
Earth ’ s average surface temperature has gone up by one degree Celsius @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase the intensity of droughts , heat waves and tropical cyclones .
Burning fossil fuels has been by far the main driver of rising temperatures , with concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere now at their highest levels in around three million years .
The last five years were the five hottest on record , while ice sheets are melting at a rate that tracks scientists ’ worst case scenarios , prefiguring devastating sea level rises .
“ The expectations that we have in relation to the next five years about storms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the living conditions of many people around the world are absolutely terrible , ” Guterres said , ahead of a multi-agency climate report on Wednesday .
The United Nations says it is still possible to reach a safer goal of a 1.5C cap in temperature rise , but to get there global emissions must fall 7.6 percent annually this decade .
While the shutdowns implemented during the pandemic could reduce global emissions by up to eight percent in 2020 , scientists have warned that without systemic change in how the world powers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be essentially meaningless .
There are concerns that massive Covid-19 stimulus packages being devised by governments could fall back on bad habits and provide a crutch to polluting industries .
Guterres has used recent messages to Japan , India and China to speak out against their continued reliance on coal .
China — the world ’ s biggest polluter — has invested heavily in renewable energy , but it has also reportedly stepped up coal production .
But the UN head said he was hopeful the EU would make good on its green @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 885 billion ) stimulus plan that aims in part to reach carbon neutrality targets .
The pandemic had demonstrated society ’ s capacity to adapt to transformation , he said .
“ I don ’ t want to go back to a world where biodiversity is being put into question , to a world where fossil fuels receive more subsidies than renewables , or to a world in which we see inequalities making societies with less and less cohesion and creating instability , creating anger , creating frustration , ” he added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a different world , a different normal and we have an opportunity to do so .
”

Part of the Series Covering Climate Now
World powers must pull together and retool their economies for a green future or humanity is “doomed,” UN chief Antonio Guterres has warned, telling AFP that failure to control the coronavirus pandemic illustrates the danger of disunity.
Before the virus struck, 2020 was billed as a pivotal year for the plan to dodge the bullet of catastrophic global warming, with high profile summits planned to catch a wave of public alarm over the future of the planet.
The coronavirus crisis may have shunted climate into the sidelines as nations launched unprecedented shutdowns to try to slow its spread, but Guterres said the need for climate action was more urgent than ever.
In a searing assessment of the international response, Guterres said the pandemic should sharpen governments’ focus on cutting emissions, urging them to use the crisis as a springboard to launch “transformational” policies aimed at weaning societies off fossil fuels.
“I think the failure that was shown in the capacity to contain the spread of the virus — by the fact that there was not enough international coordination in the way the virus was fought — that failure must make countries understand that they need to change course,” he told AFP.
“They need to act together in relation to the climate threat that is a much bigger threat than the threat of the pandemic in itself — it’s an existential threat for our planet and for our lives.”
The UN chief said “pollution and not people” should be taxed and renewed calls for nations to end fossil fuel subsidies, launch massive investments in renewables and commit to “carbon neutrality” — net zero emissions — by 2050.
“We need to have a number of transformational measures in relation to energy, in relation to transportation, in relation to agriculture, in relation to industry, in relation to our own way of life, without which we would be doomed,” he said.
His comments come as the landmark Paris climate deal goes into effect this year, kicking off efforts to cap the rise in temperature to “well below” two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.
The accord was already on a knife edge before the pandemic, with doubts over commitments from major polluting nations and concerns that it is still far short of what science says is needed to avert disastrous climate change.
US President Donald Trump shocked the world in 2017 when he said the United States — history’s largest emitter — was withdrawing from the Paris deal. It is due to leave on November 4, just after the country’s presidential election.
The pandemic has further dented hopes that a diplomatic whirlwind could sweep foot-dragging nations into announcing bold climate action plans, as major summits were postponed and nations focused inwards.
Guterres said there was currently no clear sign that a United States government recovery policy would align with Paris goals, but he said he was hopeful that states, businesses and individuals “will compensate for the lack of political commitment that exists at the present moment”.
He said much now rests on the actions of the six biggest emitters — China, the US, Europe, Russia, India and Japan — ahead of the United Nations General Assembly, which will be held virtually this month.
“We have never been as fragile as we are, we never needed as much humility, unity and solidarity as now,” he added in a series of interviews with AFP and other members of Covering Climate Now, a global collaboration of news outlets committed to increased climate coverage. Guterres blasted “irrational demonstrations of xenophobia” and the rise of nationalism.
“Wake Up”
Climate change warnings are no longer predictions of a distant future.
Earth’s average surface temperature has gone up by one degree Celsius since the 19th century, enough to increase the intensity of droughts, heat waves and tropical cyclones.
Burning fossil fuels has been by far the main driver of rising temperatures, with concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere now at their highest levels in around three million years.
The last five years were the five hottest on record, while ice sheets are melting at a rate that tracks scientists’ worst case scenarios, prefiguring devastating sea level rises.
“The expectations that we have in relation to the next five years about storms, about drought and about other dramatic impacts in the living conditions of many people around the world are absolutely terrible,” Guterres said, ahead of a multi-agency climate report on Wednesday.
“It’s time to wake up.”
The United Nations says it is still possible to reach a safer goal of a 1.5C cap in temperature rise, but to get there global emissions must fall 7.6 percent annually this decade.
While the shutdowns implemented during the pandemic could reduce global emissions by up to eight percent in 2020, scientists have warned that without systemic change in how the world powers and feeds itself, the drop would be essentially meaningless.
“A Different World”
There are concerns that massive Covid-19 stimulus packages being devised by governments could fall back on bad habits and provide a crutch to polluting industries.
Guterres has used recent messages to Japan, India and China to speak out against their continued reliance on coal.
China — the world’s biggest polluter — has invested heavily in renewable energy, but it has also reportedly stepped up coal production.
But the UN head said he was hopeful the EU would make good on its green commitments after it announced its 750-billion-euro ($885 billion) stimulus plan that aims in part to reach carbon neutrality targets.
The pandemic had demonstrated society’s capacity to adapt to transformation, he said.
“I don’t want to go back to a world where biodiversity is being put into question, to a world where fossil fuels receive more subsidies than renewables, or to a world in which we see inequalities making societies with less and less cohesion and creating instability, creating anger, creating frustration,” he added.
“I think we need to have a different world, a different normal and we have an opportunity to do so.”
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truthout--2020-09-08--Trump Claims Democratic States Have Shut Down Economies to Harm His Reelection

President Donald Trump is alleging that Democratic Party leaders in a number of states across the country are purposely hurting their own economies in order to make him look bad on the issue in the months running up to the general election .
Trump suggested in a tweet he authored on Tuesday morning that those state economies would reopen after the election took place .
“ The Democrats will open up their states on November 4th , the day after the Election , ” Trump wrote .
“ These shutdowns are ridiculous , and only being done to hurt the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , perhaps , in our history !
” The comments from Trump this week are similar to ones he made last month against the media , in which he alleged the press was “ doing everything they [ could ] to crash the economy because they think that will be bad for me and my re-election.
” That comment came about the day after Wall Street suffered its worst single-day performance of 2020 .
A number of states across the country continue to implement rules for social distancing imposed on businesses in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States that reopened or relaxed these rules too quickly have seen surges in the number of cases and deaths from the disease after doing so .
Trump ’ s comments may resonate with a number of his most ardent devotees , but the argument that Democrats are purposely hurting the U.S. economy in order to diminish what many view as his top strategic issue for reelection falls apart when you consider that most countries around the world are also facing similar economic difficulties , as a report published earlier this month by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic is negatively affecting global economic growth beyond anything experienced in nearly a century , ” that report stated .
“ Estimates so far indicate the virus could trim global economic growth by 3.0 % to 6.0 % in 2020 , with a partial recovery in 2021 , assuming there is not a second wave of infections.
” Even in states that have aligned themselves with Trump and reopened despite the pandemic , economies continue to flounder .
Florida , for example , a state that removed a number of rules on social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation , will not see its gross domestic product reach pre-pandemic levels until well into next year , one economist from the state predicted .
As Trump puts his focus on a false and unproven narrative alleging Democrats are trying to cause damage to their own states ’ economies in order to hurt him , there actually appears to be evidence that just the opposite has happened — that Trump has pushed for states to reopen and resume business as usual in order to make himself look better politically on the economy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post in April detailed how Trump , speaking to his political advisers at the time , had expressed a strong desire to end states ’ stay-at-home orders as soon as possible because it was producing an economic downturn , expressing that he felt it would make it more difficult for him to win the presidential race in November if the trends continued much longer .
This push for reopening a number of states , in spite of the continued spread of COVID-19 , ran counter to what his own team of experts were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus kind of decides whether or not it ’ s going to be appropriate to open or not , ” Anthony Fauci , a member of the White House ’ s coronavirus task force , said then .
As of 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday , nearly 6.5 million cases of coronavirus have been identified in the U.S. since the pandemic began .
More than 193,000 Americans have died as a result of the disease , the highest number of deaths throughout the world .

History shows the opposite is true — that Trump may have tried to reopen economies too early in order to help himself.
President Donald Trump is alleging that Democratic Party leaders in a number of states across the country are purposely hurting their own economies in order to make him look bad on the issue in the months running up to the general election.
Trump suggested in a tweet he authored on Tuesday morning that those state economies would reopen after the election took place.
“The Democrats will open up their states on November 4th, the day after the Election,” Trump wrote. “These shutdowns are ridiculous, and only being done to hurt the economy prior to the most important election, perhaps, in our history!”
The comments from Trump this week are similar to ones he made last month against the media, in which he alleged the press was “doing everything they [could] to crash the economy because they think that will be bad for me and my re-election.” That comment came about the day after Wall Street suffered its worst single-day performance of 2020.
A number of states across the country continue to implement rules for social distancing imposed on businesses in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. States that reopened or relaxed these rules too quickly have seen surges in the number of cases and deaths from the disease after doing so.
Trump’s comments may resonate with a number of his most ardent devotees, but the argument that Democrats are purposely hurting the U.S. economy in order to diminish what many view as his top strategic issue for reelection falls apart when you consider that most countries around the world are also facing similar economic difficulties, as a report published earlier this month by the Congressional Research Service noted.
“The pandemic is negatively affecting global economic growth beyond anything experienced in nearly a century,” that report stated. “Estimates so far indicate the virus could trim global economic growth by 3.0% to 6.0% in 2020, with a partial recovery in 2021, assuming there is not a second wave of infections.”
Even in states that have aligned themselves with Trump and reopened despite the pandemic, economies continue to flounder. Florida, for example, a state that removed a number of rules on social distancing ahead of the rest of the nation, will not see its gross domestic product reach pre-pandemic levels until well into next year, one economist from the state predicted.
As Trump puts his focus on a false and unproven narrative alleging Democrats are trying to cause damage to their own states’ economies in order to hurt him, there actually appears to be evidence that just the opposite has happened — that Trump has pushed for states to reopen and resume business as usual in order to make himself look better politically on the economy.
Indeed, a report from The Washington Post in April detailed how Trump, speaking to his political advisers at the time, had expressed a strong desire to end states’ stay-at-home orders as soon as possible because it was producing an economic downturn, expressing that he felt it would make it more difficult for him to win the presidential race in November if the trends continued much longer.
This push for reopening a number of states, in spite of the continued spread of COVID-19, ran counter to what his own team of experts were saying at the time.
“The virus kind of decides whether or not it’s going to be appropriate to open or not,” Anthony Fauci, a member of the White House’s coronavirus task force, said then.
As of 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, nearly 6.5 million cases of coronavirus have been identified in the U.S. since the pandemic began. More than 193,000 Americans have died as a result of the disease, the highest number of deaths throughout the world.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
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