Usted no se lo cree

As a result of Facebook’s censorship of different blogs on climate change, including this one, a group of media and people have promoted this statement, which is being published today simultaneously in all of them.

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Signatories of the Declaration

The undersigned, a broad group of scientists, philosophers, economists, engineers, and communicators about the ecological crisis and problems related to climate and energy, condemn Facebook’s censorship of perspectives that have a verifiable scientific basis but which diverge from the official discourse to which the general public and professionals are generally exposed.

The British scientific writer Gaia Vince, who publishes in Science, New Scientist, and The Guardian has seen her web site censored by Facebook.

In Spain, this kind of censorship has begun with Facebook’s blocking of links to Ferran Puig Vilar’s blog on climate change and related issues, “Usted no se lo Cree”, which was founded in 2009 and given an award by the Fundación Biodiversidad, which was presented at that time by Teresa Ribera, who is now Spain’s Minister of Ecological Transition.

Since at least last August, when a user tries to link to one of these blogs, Facebook prevents posting the link, and displays one or another alert saying that these web sites do not meet their “community standards”, or even that they generate spam, which is completely false. This causes a double harm: It robs people of the opportunity to access the information. And it insinuates an accusation of falsehood. Indeed, it both suppresses and defames.

We affirm that the work of both of these authors is distinguished by its scientific rigor and intellectual honesty, and we condemn this attack on freedom of expression.

We, the signers of this complaint, many of whom are editors of various blogs and spaces of communication and sharing of information on the Internet (see the list at the end), share the following points of view concerning the crisis of civilization and existence that is in progress:

• The gravity of climate change is much greater than what is commonly affirmed in the mainstream media. The Paris Accords are clearly inadequate, and even counterproductive.
• The social and economic crisis that is now unfolding is a result of the ecological crisis and, in particular, the lack of responses to the energy crisis that began in the middle of the last decade and that soon will greatly and rapidly worsen, according to the best scientific studies of recent years.
• The consequences of the ecological, climate, and energy crises are existential. The irreparable damage that we are doing to the systems which support life on the Earth, and life itself, is turning back on ourselves. And the energy crisis (brought about by the end of abundant fossil energy and the inability of so-called “renewable” energy sources to supply the quantity and kinds of energy that are used, will prevent the implementation of responses that once might have been feasible.
• The current socioeconomic paradigm of industrial development, characterized by its short-term and individualistic approach, is becoming increasingly dysfunctional and is inherently incapable of addressing these problems. Along these lines, the treatment of information as a “product” discourages these questions, which are considered uncomfortable and contrary to business objectives, from coming to the attention of the general public and becoming a subject of open debate.
• Technology is needed to facilitate certain individual and social processes, and for the progress and prosperity of Humanity. However, the dominant discourse that sees technology as the only valid or viable answer to these problems is profoundly mistaken and highly dangerous. There is no, and nor will there likely be, advanced technology that does not require the use of fossil fuels, nor can there be a greater technological complexity without an increase in net energy and availability of the materials that the systems require for their design, manufacture, operation, and disposal. And if, as we are indeed seeing, net energy is decreasing and various materials are becoming scarce, it will not be possible to develop technological systems to the necessary scale in time to avoid or even soften the damage.
• The prevailing cultural paradigm traps us behind walls of perception that limit consideration of the ecological and ethical harms that are being done, but these walls are rapidly coming down. The recent pandemia is showing us a milder example of what is to come.

Many of us who have signed below are persons known and recognized for our work in spreading awareness of these problems of sustainability. We are highly educated and occupy posts of high or very high importance and responsibility. We are not speculating. We have broad and deep knowledge of the evidence for, and the implications of, the propositions that we are articulating, and we know that the conclusions that dominate discourse in society are not supported by the best available science, as these fail to take sufficient account of physical and social limits.

Though the exact moment at which this crisis with multiple causes will be come into public awareness as the genuine global emergency that it is is difficult to predict with precision, many of us believe that we already find ourselves inexorably immersed in a crisis of civilization of cultural and moral origin without precedent in the history of humanity.

In 2015, the “Last Call” manifesto, signed, among others, by political leaders – some of whom are currently in positions of responsibility in the Spanish government – affirmed:

“Today, there is mounting evidence indicating that the path of unlimited growth is similar to a slow motion genocide. The end of cheap energy, the catastrophic scenarios of climate change, and geopolitical conflicts over natural resources illustrate that the years of seemingly unlimited progress are forever gone. To cope with this challenge, the flimsy mantra of sustainable development is not enough; nor is betting on eco-efficient technologies or a supposed transition to any “green economy”. Indeed, all these versions of friendly development disguise plans for the general commodification of natural resources and ecosystemic services.”

We who have signed this declaration and complaint share this diagnosis, even if we may have varying ideas on how to address the problems and challenges we are facing. However, one view that we maintain in common is the urgent necessity of a systemic, orderly, just, and democratic process of material and energetic degrowth, especially in the countries and individuals of highest purchasing power, including a majority of persons of the “Western” world^[1].

It is these who are principally responsible for the rapid worsening of the situation and who are failing to address the tremendous risks that this situation represents for human development and for present and future life on the planet. The majority of these risks continue to lack adequate coverage in the media.

In all probability it is our solidly supported positions and objections to perpetual economic growth as the pillar of human development that motivate censorship of free expressions that explore these matters rigorously. The lack of public exposure to these problems is precisely the reason why degrowth, and the ecological economics school proposals, still appear as not sufficiently pursued.

For this reason, as a response to this inappropriate and arbitrary behavior of Facebook, and as a means of protest and pressure, some of us who have still maintained a profile in this social media application are going to cease all activity in it.

As a collective we demand that Facebook respect freedom of expression, and particularly of the scientific community, and that it restore the integrity and good reputation of the censored blogs.

We also demand that persons and institutions of power, and the media, begin to accord these perspectives the crucial importance and relevance that the gravity of the situation in which we find ourselves demands.

[1] About 10% of the world’s population is responsible for about 50% of CO2 emissions

Signatories of the Declaration

Academia

Economics

Federico Aguilera Klink

Retired Professor in Applied Economics
Universidad de La Laguna
Nacional Award on Economy and Environment, 2004

Federico Demaria

PhD in Economics
Assistant Professor, Ecological Economics and Political Ecology
Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals
Autonomous University of Barcelona

José Anastasio Urra Urbieta

PhD in Economic Sciences
Assistant Professor, Departament of Business Administration
Director, Master in Strategic Consulting
Faculty of Economics, University of València

Blog LinkedIn: José Anastasio Urra Urbieta
Facebook: José Anastasio Urra Urbieta

Enric Tello

PhD in Economics
Environmental Historian
Professor, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration
University of Barcelona

José Manuel Naredo Pérez

PhD in Econimics
Professor «Ad Honorem», Department of Urban Planning and Land Management
High School of Architecture, Polytechnic University of Madrid

National Environment Award 2000
International Geocritics Award 2008
Award Panda de Oro 2011 (WWF)
Award Fundación Fernando González Bernáldez, 2018

Óscar Carpintero

PhD in Economics
Assistant Professor, Applied Economics
Universidad de Valladolid

Vicent Cucarella

Economist
The Valencian Institute of Economic Research (Ivie), Researcher
Sindicatura de Comptes de la Comunitat Valenciana (Audit Office of the Valencian Community), Chair

Xoán R. Doldán García

Chair, Faculty of Economics
University of Santiago de Compostela

Physical sciences, Mathematics

Antonio Turiel Martínez

PhD in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Senior Researcher, Ocean Physics and Technology Department
Institut de Ciències del Mar
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cinetíficas (CSIC)
Blog: The Oil Crash
Telegram channel: @TheOilCrash

Carlos de Castro Carranza

PhD in Engineering, Associate Professor in Applied Physics
Energy, Economy and System Dynamics Group
Engineering School, University of Valladolid

GEEDS Blog

Jordi Solé i Ollé

PhD in Physical Sciences
Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona
Medeas European Research project on economic and ecosystemic limits, Coordinator

Blog: Tempus Fugit

Margarita Mediavilla Pascual

PhD in Phisical Sciences, Associate Professor in Applied Physics
Energy, Economy and System Dynamics Group
School of Engineering, University of Valladolid

Blog: Habas contadas

Biology and Environmental Sciences

Olga Margalef Marrasé

PhD in Geologic Sciences
Post-doctoral Fellow, CREAF
Associated Professor, Geology Department
Autonomous University of Barcelona

Marta Conde Puigmal

Recercaixa Researcher
Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Marie Curie Fellow
ICTA-UAB (Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Autonomous University of Barcelona)
Research & Degrowth Association, President

Web Research & Degrowth

Other natural sciences, architecture & engineering

Antonio Aretxabala Díez

Geologist
Researcher, Department of Earth Sciences,
University of Zaragoza

Former Technical Director
Department of Architecture
University of Navarra

Official Geologists College of Spain )ICOG)
Former Navarrian Delegate
Comunidad Foral de Navarra

Blog: Antonio Aretxabala

Alberto Matarán Ruiz

Urban Planning and Land Management
University of Granada

Twitter: @Albertomataran

Antonio Serrano Rodríguez

Dr. Civil Engineer. Economist
Early retirement Professor of Urban Planning and Land Management
High School of Architecture
Politechnical University of Madrid

Esteban de Manuel Jerez

PhD in Architecture, Associate Professor, University of Sevilla
Responsible for the Research Group ADICI-HUM810
Hábitat y Sociedad magazine, Publisher

Blog: Esteban de Manuel Jerez

Philosophy and social sciences

Adrián Almazán

PhD in Philosophy
Assistant Professor, Univerity of Deusto, Bilbao

Carmen Madorrán Ayerra

Department of Philosophy
Autonomous University of Madrid

Carmen Velayos Castelo

Assistant Professor, Moral and Political Philosophy
University of Salamanca

Emilio Santiago Muiño

PhD in Anthropology
Department of Philosophy,
University of Zaragoza

Blog: Enfants perdidos

Marta Tafalla

PhD in Philosophy
Associate Professor in Philosophy
Autonomous University of Barcelona

Twitter: @TafallaMarta

Jordi Pigem Pérez

PhD in Philosophy
Philosophy of Science
University of Barcelona

Jorge Riechmann Fernández

PhD in Political Science, Mathematician, Poet
Associate Professor in Moral Philosophy
Philosophy Department
Autonomous University of Madrid

Diploma in Sustainability, Ecological Ethics and Environmental Education, Codirector
Máster in Sociological Humanities, Sustainability and Ecological Transition, Codirector
Universitat Politècnica de València / Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

Blog: Tratar de comprender, tratar de ayudar
Twitter: @JorgeRiechmann

José Albelda

Fine Arts Ph doctor.
Diploma in Sustainability, Ecological Ethics and Environmental Education, Codirector
Master in Sociological Humanities, Sustainability and Ecological Transition, Codirector
Universitat Politècnica de València / Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

Pablo Ángel Meira Cartea

PhD in Education Sciences
Associate Professor in Environmental Education
University of Santiago de Compostela

Information sciences

José Luis Piñuel Raigada

Emeritus Professor
Faculty of Information Sciences
Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Núria Almiron Roig

PhD in Communication and Journalism
Associate Professor, Communication Department
Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona
THINKClima project, Director

Web del proyecto THINKClima

Rogelio Fernández Reyes

PhD in Communication and Journalism
University of Sevilla

Private sector

Instituto Resiliencia

Manuel Casal Lodeiro

Chair, Instituto Resiliencia, Galicia
Director, 15/15\15 magazine

Web de la Revista 15/15\15
Blog: (Des)varia materia

Esteban Bernatas Chassaigne

Board of Directors
Instituto Resiliencia

Energy

Daniel Gómez Cañete

Engineer
Association for the Study of Energy Resources (AEREN), President
Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas (ASPO), Member of the International Panel

Pedro Prieto Pérez

Telecommunications Engineer
Association for the Study of Energy Resources (AEREN), Vicepresident
Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas (ASPO), Member of the International Panel

Blog: Crisis energética

Journalism and scientific communication

Cristina Ribas

Professor on Digital Journalism
Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Catalan Association of Scientific Communication (ACCC), Former president

Twitter: @cristinaribas

Ferran Puig Vilar

Electronic and Telecommunications Engineer
APP (Spanish Business Press Association), former President
‘Usted no se lo cree’ blog publisher and author

Blog: Usted no se lo Cree
Twitter: @FerranPVilar
Canal Telegram: @UstednoseloCree (en construcción)

Francesc Baiges Planas

Journalist
Sicom (Solidaritat i Comunicació)

Frederic Pahisa i Fontanals

Journalist
Sicom (Solidaritat i Comunicació)

Josep Cabayol

Journalist
Director, Sicom (Solidaritat i Comunicació)

Jordi Vilardell Gómez

Journalist on climate and biodiversity crisis, TV producer

Documentaries: Latituds

Activism

Juan Bordera Romá

Scriptwriter
El Salto, CTXT.es
València Transition Network

Begoña de Bernardo

Centro para la Resiliencia Pousadoira
Véspera de Nada, President

Web del Centro para la Resiliencia Pousadoira

Francisco Segura

Confederal coordinador
Ecologistas en Acción

Javier Andaluz

Energy and Climate Change coordinator
Ecologistas en Acción

Luis Domínguez Rodríguez

Degrowth Group “Hasta aquí hemos llegado”, Chair

Luis González Reyes

PhD in Chemical Sciences
Ecologistas en Acción, Madrid

Libro: En la espiral de la energía

Luis Rico

Confederal coordinador
Ecologistas en Acción

Marcos Rivero Cuadrado

La Transicionera

Moisès Casado

Extinction Rebellion, Barcelona

Moisés Rubio Rosendo

Andalucía International Solidarity
Research and Training Coordinator

Virginia Soler (Birch)

Fridays for Future BCN
Singer and Activist

Canal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjqTWZUV0F0t5r5bjHSUbVw

Yayo Herrero

Anthropologist, Engineer
Transitions Forum

Web del Foro Transiciones

Other

Alberto Fraguas Herrero

Biologist
Earth Studies Institute, Executive Director

David González

Sustraiak Habitat Design
Basque Country

Pepa Úbeda

ATTAC València

Institutions

• • Catalan Association of Scientific Communication (ACCC)
  • ATTAC España
  • ATTAC País Valencià
  • Ecologistas en Acción
  • Instituto Resiliencia
  • Centro para la Resiliencia Pousadoira
  • Véspera de Nada por unha Galiza sen petróleo
  • La Transicionera
  • Sicom (Solidaritat i Comunicació)
  • Grupo de decrecimiento “Hasta aquí hemos llegado” – Palencia
  • Colectivo Burbuja