#publictrust — Public Fediverse posts

The laptop, the social media user and the false alarm in Taiwan over a Beijing ‘spy’

A false espionage alarm about a Taipei subway user has fuelled concerns that growing fears of Beijing are…
#Conflict #Conflicts #War #Beijing #China #ChinaTaiwanConflicts #compoundinterest #falseespionagealarm #growingfears #mainlandChinesespy #misunderstanding #Nationalsecurity #Publictrust #scmp #socialmedia #Taipeisubwayuser #Taiwan
https://www.europesays.com/3234397/

https://www.europesays.com/people/214905/ OpenAI’s Sam Altman Sets Ambitious AI Goals Beyond Curing Cancer #AI #Americans #BloombergTelevision #cancer #CureCancer #DarioAmodei #OpenAICEO #people #PoliticalFlashPoint #power #PublicTrust #SamAltman #sight #Technology #world

The Journal (Ireland): Meta, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn didn’t act on 77% of misinformation reported during Áras race. “SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES failed to act on the vast majority of electoral disinformation reported by researchers ahead of last year’s presidential election, a new report shows. The report also criticised the companies for not demonstrating an understanding of the context […]

The Journal (Ireland): Meta, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn didn’t act on 77% of misinformation reported during Áras race. “SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES failed to act on the vast majority of electoral disinformation reported by researchers ahead of last year’s presidential election, a new report shows. The report also criticised the companies for not demonstrating an understanding of the context […]

The Journal (Ireland): Meta, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn didn’t act on 77% of misinformation reported during Áras race. “SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES failed to act on the vast majority of electoral disinformation reported by researchers ahead of last year’s presidential election, a new report shows. The report also criticised the companies for not demonstrating an understanding of the context […]

The Journal (Ireland): Meta, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn didn’t act on 77% of misinformation reported during Áras race. “SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES failed to act on the vast majority of electoral disinformation reported by researchers ahead of last year’s presidential election, a new report shows. The report also criticised the companies for not demonstrating an understanding of the context […]

The Journal (Ireland): Meta, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn didn’t act on 77% of misinformation reported during Áras race. “SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES failed to act on the vast majority of electoral disinformation reported by researchers ahead of last year’s presidential election, a new report shows. The report also criticised the companies for not demonstrating an understanding of the context […]

A critical #analysis of #President @Abdirahmanirro’s #leadership in #Somaliland — from #Nepotism & #policy #contradictions to the #Borama riots & declining #PublicTrust shaping a contested #PoliticalLegacy.

https://saxafimedia.com/president-irro-legacy-nepotism-somaliland-trust/

Facts Matter: The Foundation of Truth and Integrity

By, Cliff Potts, WPS News, Editor-in-Chief
Baybay City | January 11, 2025
Op-Ed

In an era where information flows ceaselessly through digital channels, untangling the web of data to discern fact from fiction is increasingly challenging. Yet, facts remain the bedrock upon which credible and actionable knowledge is built. They are the hard, tangible evidence that informs understanding and guides informed decision-making.

Facts are unwavering truths, the steadfast pillars of certainty that defy our personal biases and interpretations. They ignite the flames of scientific inquiry and underpin the very essence of our legal systems, acting as the fair and impartial judges in our debates and the bedrock upon which consensus is built. From the echoes of historical events etched in a multitude of converging records to the precise data gleaned from meticulously controlled scientific measurements, facts rise above the fickle nature of subjective perception, boldly asserting their undeniable significance.

The unyielding nature of facts is what bestows upon them their formidable power. They stand firmly against the winds of political pressures and the ever-shifting tides of culture. When facts shine bright and remain unchallenged, they become a shared beacon that allows for the evaluation of arguments and ideologies. In both the court of public opinion and the realm of legal proceedings, it is the unwavering presence of hard evidence—the pure, untainted facts—that secures outcomes firmly rooted in the fabric of reality.

While facts are the foundational components, truth is the narrative constructed from these building blocks. Truth is the accurate telling of facts, but it involves selection, interpretation, and presentation. When truth is well-tended, it seeks to depict a faithful representation of reality that aligns with the known facts. This distinction is crucial because the process of telling the truth involves a human element, which introduces both the potential for enlightenment and the peril of bias.

In the realm of journalism, the sacred duty of truth-telling ignites a fervent passion to distill overwhelming volumes of information into a compelling narrative that embodies the very essence of reality. Herein lies the vital importance of integrity. A journalist’s unwavering dedication to truth demands an intense scrutiny of the facts at hand, courageously rejecting the seductive pull of sensationalism that may dazzle the audience but ultimately warps the truth.

At WPS.News, a radiant beacon illuminating the vast ocean of media outlets, our unwavering dedication to meticulous fact-finding and fearless truth-telling drives us forward. This profound commitment to authenticity is the very essence of our mission. Regardless of our size, WPS.News passionately strives to gather, scrutinize, and present information grounded in verifiable facts, empowering our audience to access news that is not only factual but also inherently trustworthy.

Whether illuminating the intricacies of global politics or unraveling local community concerns, our approach places facts at the forefront. By committing to truth as the telling of facts, WPS.News seeks not only to inform but also to foster a well-informed public that can engage in meaningful dialogue and make decisions grounded in reality.

In conclusion, in an age fraught with misinformation, facts matter because they anchor us in reality, steering conversations and decisions toward grounded truth. Truth matters because it interprets these facts for meaningful understanding and action. At WPS.News, this commitment to factual accuracy and truthful reporting is not just a guiding principle—it is our unwavering pledge.

#facts #factualReporting #informationLiteracy #integrity #journalism #journalismEthics #life #media #mediaIntegrity #misinformation #newsAccuracy #newsValues #philosophy #politics #publicTrust #truth #truthfulNarrative #WPSNews

Public Confidence: 📉 A mere 17% of Americans have a "great deal" of confidence in the Justice Department. With skepticism high on both sides, how will this affect perceptions of fairness in the electoral process? #Justice #PublicTrust #Elections2024 #ElectionViolence #CivilWarFears

Public Confidence: 📉 A mere 17% of Americans have a "great deal" of confidence in the Justice Department. With skepticism high on both sides, how will this affect perceptions of fairness in the electoral process? #Justice #PublicTrust #Elections2024 #ElectionViolence #CivilWarFears

Public Confidence: 📉 A mere 17% of Americans have a "great deal" of confidence in the Justice Department. With skepticism high on both sides, how will this affect perceptions of fairness in the electoral process? #Justice #PublicTrust #Elections2024 #ElectionViolence #CivilWarFears

Public Confidence: 📉 A mere 17% of Americans have a "great deal" of confidence in the Justice Department. With skepticism high on both sides, how will this affect perceptions of fairness in the electoral process? #Justice #PublicTrust #Elections2024 #ElectionViolence #CivilWarFears

Public Confidence: 📉 A mere 17% of Americans have a "great deal" of confidence in the Justice Department. With skepticism high on both sides, how will this affect perceptions of fairness in the electoral process? #Justice #PublicTrust #Elections2024 #ElectionViolence #CivilWarFears

In this study, we consider the actual crisis of #publictrust in the #scientificsystem as a symptom of its lack of
#sustainability and argue that #societalimpact should be measured and understood not
exclusively in terms of the #usefulness of science to solve complex social problems, but also in
terms of its capability to display and communicate its value to #differentaudiences.

https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JD-12-2023-0252/full/html

#scholarlycommunication #sustainableimpact #argumentation #epistemicjustice #MariaLugones

A Comment on the Aquila Back Forty Wetland Permit

Earlier this morning, I sent this comment on the Aquila Resources Back Forty Wetland Permit to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Public comments may be submitted here until February 2nd.

To the MDEQ:

You have probably already received a number of comments on the Back Forty Mine wetland permit application from people who live out of state, as I do. Some of those opposed to sulfide mining on the Menominee River live on the Wisconsin side, just across or downstream from the proposed mine site. Others, across the country and around the world, are deeply concerned about the cumulative effects the current leasing, exploration, and sulfide mining boom around Lake Superior will have, and are alarmed to see federal and state regulatory agencies abdicating their responsibilities to the American public in order to do the bidding of foreign mining companies.

Denying the wetland permit is the only prudent and responsible course for MDEQ to take.

As the organization American Rivers noted when it placed the Menominee River on its list of “most endangered” rivers in 2017, the Aquila Resources Back Forty project poses a “significant threat” of acid mine drainage to the river, and to the “cultural and natural resources of the Upper Peninsula, Wisconsin, and the Great Lakes Region.” Allowing Aquila to destroy or compromise area wetlands to construct its mine will only heighten the risk of large scale environmental catastrophe.

The risk is compounded by both regulatory and scientific uncertainty. As you are well aware, the Menominee Tribe maintains that the MDEQ lacks authority to issue this permit, because under provisions of the Clean Water Act the Menominee River and its wetlands are federal waters. This question remains unsettled. In the meantime, a third party, independent review of Aquila’s wetland permit application found errors and inconsistencies regarding the company’s findings on groundwater drawdown and the mine’s feasibility analysis. The wetland permit application you are considering is either flawed, because the people who filed it are incompetent, or misleading, because they have something to hide.

Deceit might be Aquila’s best strategy at this point. The Back Forty project has no claim to social license — none. The Menominee and other Wisconsin tribes have been adamant in their opposition. Local residents are overwhelmingly opposed as well. Of the 90 people who had the opportunity to speak at the January 23rd public hearing in Stephenson, only 4 could muster an argument for the mine, mainly because they put stock in the vague promise of “jobs” made by mining proponents. The rest — 86 out of 90, or 95 percent — stood in opposition to the mine.

Even if Aquila is not deliberately misleading the MDEQ and the public, the Canadian company has demonstrated time and again that it is not a responsible steward of Michigan or Menominee lands. In archaeological surveys of the region, for instance, Aquila claims to have uncovered nothing of “historical significance.” That is telling. These surveys have found nothing because they fail, or refuse to see, the significant Menominee history and culture that is right in front of their eyes. As tribal members have made repeatedly clear, Menominee history, ancestry, and culture begin and end in the river, the land, and the forest. What is historically significant or meaningful is not merely a collection of artifacts; it is a way of life and a deep connection to place. The Back Forty Mine threatens to destroy that connection.

In sum, the wetland permit application is flawed, the company has no social license to operate, and allowing the Back Forty to go forward would violate the public trust.

Postscript: On Monday, 4 June, Michigan DEQ Director Heidi Grether granted this wetlands permit, despite the DEQ’s own findings that the Aquila Resources project will likely cause “an unacceptable disruption to the aquatic resources of the State…and that the activities associated with the project are not consistent with the permitting criteria for an acceptable impact to the resources regulated under Parts 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, and Part 303, Wetlands Protection.” The permit DEQ issued — over its own objections — includes 28 pages of special conditions. It’s unclear why the DEQ did not simply deny the permit, as its findings warranted and in keeping with EPA objections to the Aquila application. More here.

#AmericanRivers #AquilaResources #BackFortyMine #BackFortyProject #CleanWaterAct #culturalResources #environmentalStewardship #federalWaters #historicalSignificance #history #MDEQ #MenomineeRiver #MenomineeTribe #MichiganDepartmentOfEnvironmentalQuality #mining #mostEndangeredRivers #publicHearing #PublicTrust #UNDRIP #UnitedNationsDeclarationOnIndigenousRights #UpperPeninsula #Water #WatersOfTheUnitedStates #wetlands #WOTUS