Let’s stick to the facts:
Australia’s climate has warmed on average by 1.44 ± 0.24 °C since national records began in 1910
State of the Climate 2020 report.
As we sit here still trying to take in the contents of the latest IPCC report on climate change, many of us wonder whether this time there is nowhere for the deniers to go.
Well what better time than to ask someone who is about to make a splash in media, Mike Gibbons.
Mike is passionate, about the role the media plays in creating a democratic society – to tell the truth; to deliver informed opinion; to hold the powerful to account.
He has been dismayed to watch the standard of our media fall over the last 20 years with the media and politicians all being too close to one another.
When it comes to the topic of climate change, Mike is adamant that the scientific consensus has been clear for decades.
“Since the beginning of the industrial age, human behaviour has made a huge contribution to increased emissions which in turn has exacerbated the greenhouse effect resulting in global warming increasing to dangerous levels.”
Mike told us that fossil fuel and associated industries take the “extreme capitalist” approach – whose focus is on increasing profit regardless of collateral damage. They know that genuine action to reduce emissions will cost them money. Hence, they have adopted the approach used by the tobacco industry when the pressure was applied – first, deny, deny, deny – then, cast doubt on findings – and finally, agree to take action which is watered down and strung out over many (profit generating) years.
Mike’s passion for bringing the truth and informed opinion back into the media has been the reason he has just launched, Gripe Media on the ReadyFundGo crowdfunding platform.
Gripe Media will be delivering news, informed opinion and other compelling content in an honest and informative way.
“No topic is off limits. There are no sacred cows.”
Mike has tested his theory with many fellow Australians who feel the same way and decided to launch a crowdfunding campaign to help get the show on the road.
The weekly show – Matter of Fact –will be hosted by Mike – fearlessly covering the key aspects of society – including politics, business, media, even sport.
Gripe Media will host special guest in-depth interviews, street interviews, commentary from comedians, panel debates and content pieces showing what is wrong with society, how that came to be and what can be done to fix it.
There are also plans to produce mini and macro documentaries – telling the stories that people want to hear.
Gripe Media is designed to be the People’s Channel and hence Mike thought that crowdfunding would be an important first step in building a subscriber base to support and grow the channel.
“In this way, Gripe Media can help restore credibility to our media – and help make Australia a true democracy.”
If you would like to support this new media channel and get to see the weekly show, “Matter of Fact”, then go to the campaign page where you can find a range of interesting rewards.
Indeed, you can even meet the founder to find out his plans for the next few years and express your views.
MEET THE FOUNDER – MIKE GIBBONS
But just to finish off where we started on the topic of climate change, Mike told us,
“In the near future, I think we will see damaging electoral consequences for politicians running the pro-fossil fuel propaganda.
But time is a factor – we need to take serious action and get emissions reduced significantly.”
