Fake News Watch

[Cataplana]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-50549711/could-victoria-falls-dry-up

I was concerned about this story, and I mentioned it to a colleague who still has family in Zimbabwe.

They say it is fake news, the pictures are from the summer, and the falls are fairly flooding now. In fact the story is causing some anger in Zimbabwe.

There must be many more examples of fake news reported here, we should keep an eye on them.

[Deansy]

I long stopped believing anything on BBC - it's an 'institution' that's well past it's sell-by date !

[McSwanky]

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-50549711/could-victoria-falls-dry-up

I was concerned about this story, and I mentioned it to a colleague who still has family in Zimbabwe.

They say it is fake news, the pictures are from the summer, and the falls are fairly flooding now. In fact the story is causing some anger in Zimbabwe.

There must be many more examples of fake news reported here, we should keep an eye on them.

Is it not more about the fact that there was a pretty indisputably awful drought earlier this year, which caused the water level to be lower than usual?

All news is subjective IMO, but the BBC weren't the only ones reporting this...

[danhibees1875]

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Is it not more about the fact that there was a pretty indisputably awful drought earlier this year, which caused the water level to be lower than usual?

All news is subjective IMO, but the BBC weren't the only ones reporting this...

That was my take on it.

They said the water flow was down 50% over the whole year, I don't think it's misleading that they choose a picture which highlights that.

[Cataplana]

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That was my take on it.

They said the water flow was down 50% over the whole year, I don't think it's misleading that they choose a picture which highlights that.

They broadcast the news at a time when the falls were gushing with water, and did not say that the pictures were from the summer. It gave the impression that the drought was still a factor in November.

[heretoday]

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I long stopped believing anything on BBC - it's an 'institution' that's well past it's sell-by date !

I see what you did there! Fake news, right?

[danhibees1875]

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They broadcast the news at a time when the falls were gushing with water, and did not say that the pictures were from the summer. It gave the impression that the drought was still a factor in November.

They've reported on the years water at the end of the year. I've no idea if the current high levels of water are as high as usual but assuming that throughout the year it is correct to say that the water is down 50% then it seems an accurate article.

I don't really see the issue.

[Cataplana]

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They've reported on the years water at the end of the year. I've no idea if the current high levels of water are as high as usual but assuming that throughout the year it is correct to say that the water is down 50% then it seems an accurate article.

I don't really see the issue.

The editing of the piece on Newsnight gave a different impression. I agree about the article though.

[danhibees1875]

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The editing of the piece on Newsnight gave a different impression. I agree about the article though.

Ah okay, I haven't seen it on Newsnight.

I think this could be quite an interesting thread though!

[Cataplana]

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Ah okay, I haven't seen it on Newsnight.

I think this could be quite an interesting thread though!

Sorry, I could have made it clearer.

[Sylar]

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-50549711/could-victoria-falls-dry-up

I was concerned about this story, and I mentioned it to a colleague who still has family in Zimbabwe.

They say it is fake news, the pictures are from the summer, and the falls are fairly flooding now. In fact the story is causing some anger in Zimbabwe.

There must be many more examples of fake news reported here, we should keep an eye on them.

It's not fake news in the slightest. Sure, the worst grip of the drought occurred during the summer months and the recent rains have alleviated some of the challenges, but those rains are "topping up" from a depleted base. A large amount of the rainfall being experienced just now will infiltrate into subsurface aquifers, leaving challenges for those who rely on the surface water flows.

This drought has severely impacted regional food security (as irrigation has been nearly impossible), and has recently resulted in blackouts in parts of Zambia and Zimbabwe - just look at the live reservoir levels - as of yesterday, it was 9.38% full - i.e., inoperable for HEP or potable water supplies:

http://www.zambezira.org/hydrology/k...reservoir-data

[Cataplana]

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It's not fake news in the slightest. Sure, the worst grip of the drought occurred during the summer months and the recent rains have alleviated some of the challenges, but those rains are "topping up" from a depleted base. A large amount of the rainfall being experienced just now will infiltrate into subsurface aquifers, leaving challenges for those who rely on the surface water flows.

This drought has severely impacted regional food security (as irrigation has been nearly impossible), and has recently resulted in blackouts in parts of Zambia and Zimbabwe - just look at the live reservoir levels - as of yesterday, it was 9.38% full - i.e., inoperable for HEP or potable water supplies:

http://www.zambezira.org/hydrology/k...reservoir-data

It was fake news if the televised report implied that they were suffering drought at a time when they weren't. The pictures were shot in the summer and broadcast in November.

[Sylar]

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It was fake news if the televised report implied that they were suffering drought at a time when they weren't. The pictures were shot in the summer and broadcast in November.

But they ARE still suffering from drought - again, as of yesterday, their reservoirs aren't operable because the levels are so low.

Here's a photo of the falls from the President of Zambia yesterday: https://twitter.com/EdgarCLungu/stat...90178244661254

They're not quite as bad as the "completely dry" photos that were evident in the summer, but they're not exactly gushing either.

[Cataplana]

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But they ARE still suffering from drought - again, as of yesterday, their reservoirs aren't operable because the levels are so low.

Here's a photo of the falls from the President of Zambia yesterday: https://twitter.com/EdgarCLungu/stat...90178244661254

They're not quite as bad as the "completely dry" photos that were evident in the summer, but they're not exactly gushing either.

Maybe my Zimbabwean sources are wrong. I think the case against fake news has been proved here.

I'll go back to my sources.

[Corstorphine Hibby]

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-50549711/could-victoria-falls-dry-up

I was concerned about this story, and I mentioned it to a colleague who still has family in Zimbabwe.

They say it is fake news, the pictures are from the summer, and the falls are fairly flooding now. In fact the story is causing some anger in Zimbabwe.

There must be many more examples of fake news reported here, we should keep an eye on them.

Another example today on the BBC with a headline exclaiming ' Australia All-Time Temperature Record Broken Again '

[Cataplana]

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Another example today on the BBC with a headline exclaiming ' Australia All-Time Temperature Record Broken Again '

All time since European settlers arrived, I take it?

Unless they have access to records since the world began.

[Corstorphine Hibby]

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All time since European settlers arrived, I take it?

Unless they have access to records since the world began.

' All Time ' since official records began ...... in 1910

[danhibees1875]

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Another example today on the BBC with a headline exclaiming ' Australia All-Time Temperature Record Broken Again '

What is fake news about it?

Edit- is it only because all time only means since records began? I think that's stretching it to call it fake news.

[Hibbyradge]

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What is fake news about it?

Edit- is it only because all time only means since records began? I think that's stretching it to call it fake news.

Exactly. How can it be fake news if there were no records to disprove it?

[Cataplana]

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Exactly. How can it be fake news if there were no records to disprove it?

I'm told that until circa 1897 central Australia so cold it was covered in glaciers. I have no records to disprove it.

[lapsedhibee]

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I'm told that until circa 1897 central Australia so cold it was covered in glaciers. I have no records to disprove it.

Russell's teapot cracked with the extreme cold in the early 1890s.

[Hibbyradge]

I hope pedantry isn't going to spoil a potentially excellent thread.

However, this story actually 100% correct.

The all time temperature record has been broken.

The previous all time record, set on Tuesday (not by the BBC) was broken.

Previous to 1970, there was no record to break.

It's like arguing that Usain Bolt claiming to have run the fastest ever 100 metres is fake news because someone being chased by a sabre tooth tiger thousands of years ago might have run faster.

Bams the lot of you. 😁

[Cataplana]

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I hope pedantry isn't going to spoil a potentially excellent thread.

However, this story actually 100% correct.

The all time temperature record has been broken.

The previous all time record, set on Tuesday (not by the BBC) was broken.

Previous to 1970, there was no record to break.

It's like arguing that Usain Bolt claiming to have run the fastest ever 100 metres is fake news because someone being chased by a sabre tooth tiger thousands of years ago might have run faster.

Bams the lot of you. 😁

It's been the hottest summer since last year.

[Hibbyradge]

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It's been the hottest summer since last year.

I think your glacier story was fake news.

Just saying.

[Cataplana]

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I think your glacier story was fake news.

Just saying.

I swear it's true. I've seen pictures.

[danhibees1875]

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I hope pedantry isn't going to spoil a potentially excellent thread.

That's real news too.

[Moulin Yarns]

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I hope pedantry isn't going to spoil a potentially excellent thread.

However, this story actually 100% correct.

The all time temperature record has been broken.

The previous all time record, set on Tuesday (not by the BBC) was broken.

Previous to 1970, there was no record to break.

It's like arguing that Usain Bolt claiming to have run the fastest ever 100 metres is fake news because someone being chased by a sabre tooth tiger thousands of years ago might have run faster.

Bams the lot of you. 😁

The clue is in the word 'record'. There were no records to break prior to the recording of temperatures.

[Hibbyradge]

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I swear it's true. I've seen pictures.

But you said you had no records.

More fake news

[Cataplana]

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But you said you had no records.

More fake news

This is the post truth society.

[Hibbyradge]

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This is the post truth society.

That is the first true thing you've said since March 2015.