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March for Science

WHILE ATHLETES RAN, SCIENTISTS MARCHED – THE GLOBAL MARCH FOR SCIENCE, HELD OVER THE WEEKEND, WAS, IN PART, A CELEBRATION FOR EARTH DAY – BUT
IT WAS ALSO A PUSH TO PROMOTE THE UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE, IN LIGHT OF RECENT CALLS TO CUT FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS THAT FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE.

WE’VE TALKED ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE BEFORE – MOST SCIENTISTS AGREE THAT OUR GLOBAL TEMPERATURE IS RISING, WITH CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES -- BUT POLITICIANS HAVE BEEN SLOW TO ACT ON THE THREAT.

ANDREW SPENCER HAS MORE ON WHAT THE DEMONSTRATORS ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

FROM NEW YORK TO LOS ANGELES, CROWDS GATHERED AND MARCHED ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES PRESSING BACK AGAINST LEGISLATORS AND POLICY MAKERS THAT, THEY SAY, ARE IGNORING FACTS AND RESEARCH. ORGANIZERS BILLED THE MARCHES AS POLITICAL BUT NON-PARTISAN -- AN EFFORT TO SUPPORT SCIENCE AND EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH... SPEAKING TO A CROWD IN WASHINGTON, SCIENCE ADVOCATE BILL NYE SAID "SCIENCE MUST SHAPE POLICY" -- NOT JUST IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT AROUND THE WORLD.

Bill Nye / CEO of The Planetary Society: "Our lawmakers must know and accept that science serves every one of us: every citizen of every nation and society."

THE MARCHES HAVE BEEN WORLDWIDE, WITH DEMONSTRATORS TAKING TO THE STREETS FROM SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, TO GENEVA, SWITZERLAND. ...AND FROM THE ARCTIC TO THE ANTARCTIC, RESEARCHERS AND SCIENTISTS ADDED THEIR SUPPORT TO THE CAUSE. AT NEUMAYER STATION ON ANTARCTICA, THEY SUMMED UP THE MOVEMENT WITH A QUOTE FROM MARIE CURIE: "NOTHING IN LIFE IS TO BE FEARED. IT IS ONLY TO BE UNDERSTOOD. NOW IS THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND MORE, SO THAT WE MAY FEAR LESS."

I'M ANDREW SPENCER, REPORTING


Instructional Links


Website: March for Science

Website Article: Newsela, Advocates Protest Worldwide In Support Of Scientific Research | Leveled article with writing prompt & quiz. May need to sign in.