J.E. Painter

Cross-national comparison of the presence of climate scepticism in the print media in six countries, 2007–10

Previous academic research on climate scepticism has tended to focus more on the way it has been organized, its tactics and its impact on policy outputs than on its prevalence in the media. Most of the literature has centred on the USA, where scepticism first appeared in an organized and politically effective form. This letter contrasts the way climate scepticism in its different forms is manifested in the print media in the USA and five other countries (Brazil, China, France, India and the UK), in order to gain insight into how far the US experience of scepticism is replicated in other countries. It finds that news coverage of scepticism is mostly limited to the USA and the UK; that there is a strong correspondence between the political leaning of a newspaper and its willingness to quote or use uncontested sceptical voices in opinion pieces; and that the type of sceptics who question whether global temperatures are warming are almost exclusively found in the US and UK newspapers. Sceptics who challenge the need for robust action to combat climate change also have a much stronger presence in the media of the same two countries.

Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior to Women's Behavioral Attitudes on and Consumption of Soy Products

OBJECTIVE To identify variables that significantly predict the intention and behavior concerning soy consumption applying the Theory of Planned Behavior and to determine the role of race on womens perspectives and consumption behaviors concerning soy. DESIGN Cross-sectional survey, with self-administered questionnaires. SETTING City park service programs, community organizations, black cultural classes, and university offices. PARTICIPANTS A convenience sample of 205 black (n = 103) and white (n = 102) women. VARIABLES MEASURED Womens behavioral attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, intention, and behavior related to soy consumption. ANALYSIS Correlation and stepwise regression analysis. RESULTS All variables in the Theory of Planned Behavior showed significant correlations with behavioral intention, with behavioral attitudes exhibiting the strongest correlation (r = .57, P < .01). Stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed that behavioral attitude toward taste and subjective norms accounted for 47.7% of the variance in behavioral intention. Behavioral attitude toward taste explained 48.6% of the variability in behavior. There was no difference between races for consumption or Theory of Planned Behavior variables. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS A negative attitude toward the taste of soy was the major predictor for low soy consumption. However, future studies should be undertaken to verify this relationship once more women become aware of and have tasted soy.

Climate skepticism in British newspapers, 2007-2011.

Climate skepticism in the UK media has not been a major focus of recent research. This paper aims to help fill the gap by looking at the incidence of skeptical voices in UK newspapers across three periods: 2007, 2009/2010, and 2010/2011. After analyzing more than 3200 articles, it finds that skeptical voices increased their presence markedly across all newspapers and all types of articles in the second period, and maintained a significant presence in many in the third. Uncontested skeptical voices were particularly prevalent in opinion pieces and editorials in right-leaning newspapers in the second. It also finds that skeptical voices or opinions were more likely to be included in pieces written by in-house non-specialist columnists than by environment editors or correspondents. The negative implications of the results for public understanding and the quality of public debate are then explored.

The effect of pistachio shells as a visual cue in reducing caloric consumption.

UNLABELLED It was hypothesized that pistachio shells left in sight as visual cues of consumption will cause individuals to consume less. A convenience sample of faculty and staff at a mid-western university (n=118) were recruited as subjects for the study. The subjects were told they were going to evaluate a variety of brands of pistachios and were surveyed at the end of each day to determine their fullness and satisfaction. The subjects were offered pistachios on their desks for an 8-h period on two separate days and were able to consume the pistachios at their leisure during that time. Subjects began each day with a sixteen ounce bowl filled with four ounces of pistachios in the shell. They were also provided with a second sixteen ounce bowl, in which they were instructed to place the empty shells from the pistachios they consumed. Every 2 h throughout the day pistachios were added in two ounce increments. In condition one, the shells remained in the bowls until the end of the day, whereas in condition two, the shell bowls were emptied every 2 h throughout the day. In condition one, subjects consumed an average of 216 calories. In condition two, subjects consumed an average of 264 calories, a difference of 48 calories. Subjects in condition one consumed significantly (p≤.05) fewer calories, yet fullness and satisfaction ratings were not significantly (p≥.05) different between conditions. Leaving pistachio shells as a visual cue to consumption may help consumers consume fewer calories. LEARNING OUTCOMES Individuals will be aware of the impact of visual cues of dietary intake on total food consumption.

Exploring the science–policy interface on climate change: The role of the IPCC in informing local decision-making in the UK

Building on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) review of how to make its Assessment Reports (ARs) more accessible in the future, the research reported here assesses the extent to which the ARs are a useful tool through which scientific advice informs local decision-making on climate change in the United Kingdom. Results from interviews with local policy representatives and three workshops with UK academics, practitioners and local decision makers are presented. Drawing on these data, we outline three key recommendations made by participants on how the IPCC ARs can be better utilized as a form of scientific advice to inform local decision-making on climate change. First, to provide more succinct summaries of the reports paying close attention to the language, content, clarity, context and length of these summaries; second, to better target and frame the reports from a local perspective to maximize engagement with local stakeholders; and third, to work with local decision makers to better understand how scientific advice on climate change is being incorporated in local decision-making. By adopting these, the IPCC would facilitate local decision-making on climate change and provide a systematic review of how its reports are being used locally. We discuss implications of these recommendations and their relevance to the wider debate within and outside the IPCC as to the most effective way the IPCC can more effectively tailor its products to user needs without endangering the robustness of its scientific findings. This article is published as part of a collection on scientific advice to governments.

In-shell pistachio nuts reduce caloric intake compared to shelled nuts

It was hypothesized that consuming in-shell pistachios, compared to shelled pistachios, causes individuals to consume less. A convenience sample of students at a mid-western university (n=140) was recruited, asking them to evaluate a variety of brands of pistachios. A survey at the end of class determined fullness and satisfaction. Subjects entering the classroom were given a 16-ounce cup and asked to self-select a portion of pistachios. Portion weight was recorded and subjects consumed pistachios at their leisure during class. At class end, pistachios remaining in the cup were weighed and total consumption by weight was determined. The caloric content of each portion was then calculated. In condition one, subjects offered in-shell pistachios consumed an average of 125 calories. In condition two, subjects offered shelled pistachios consumed an average of 211 calories; a difference of 86 calories. Subjects in condition one consumed 41% fewer calories compared to subjects in condition two (p≤.01). Fullness and satisfaction ratings were not significantly different (p≥.01). Caloric intake was influenced by the initial form of the food. The difference in calories consumed may be due to the additional time needed to shell the nuts or the extra volume perceived when consuming in-shell nuts.

Improved Diet Quality and Increased Nutrient Intakes Associated with Grape Product Consumption by U.S. Children and Adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003 to 2008

Fruit contributes to dietary nutrient density and consumption of fruit in several forms (whole, dried, or 100% juice) has been reported to be associated with a healthier dietary pattern. The goal of this study was to examine the associations of the consumption of grapes (including fresh grapes, raisins, and 100% grape juice) with diet quality and food group/nutrient intake. A secondary analysis of Natl. Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003 to 2008 data was conducted to compare grape consumers (GC) with nongrape consumers (NGC) among children aged 2 to 19 y (n = 9622) and adults 20+ y (n = 12251). GC were defined as those who mentioned the consumption of fresh grapes, raisins, or 100% grape juice during 1 or both 24-h recall interviews. Compared to NGC, GC had higher Healthy Eating Index 2005 (HEI-2005) scores and higher intakes of total and whole fruit along with lower intakes of solid fat, added sugars, and calories from solid fats, alcohol, and added sugars (SoFAAS). Among adults, GC also had higher intakes than NGC of total and dark green/orange vegetables. Among both age groups, GC had higher intake than NGC of several key nutrients including dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Consumption of grape products is associated with a healthier dietary pattern and higher intake of key nutrients by both children and adults.

Climate Change in the Media: Poland’s Exceptionalism

ABSTRACT Poland is the largest hard coal producer in the European Union (EU), and remains very dependent on coal for its energy. Despite the significant long-term implications of EU mitigation policies for the Polish economy, coverage of climate change and policy in the Polish media remains very low. This study of the coverage both in print media and on television of the 2013/2014 Assessment Reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change shows that the volume of coverage in Poland was much lower than in other European countries. The article explores possible reasons for the “exceptionalism” found in the Polish media.

A review of the health benefits of raisins.

Introduction There have been relatively few studies conducted on the health benefits of dried fruits; however, over the past few years there have been many advances regarding the health benefits of raisins. Williamson and Carughi (2012) recently reviewed the polyphenol content and health benefits of raisins. The review showed that raisins contain significant amounts of the flavonols quercetin and kaempferol and the phenolic acids caftaric and coutaric. Both quercetin and kaempferol are found in raisins as glycosides. Although the bioavailability of these compounds has not been studied in raisins, they have been shown to be well absorbed from other foods. These compounds may be responsible for some of the health benefits that have been reported with raisin consumption (Williamson and Carughi 2012). During the dehydration of grapes to raisins there is a significant loss of specific phenolic acids and polyphenols. However, total antioxidant capacity and total polyphenol contents remain relatively unchanged. Moreover, when equivalent amounts of grapes are fed either as fresh grapes, raisins, or wine (non-alcoholic) similar amounts of certain phenolic acid metabolites are detected in the urine. Thus, phenolic acids appear to be more bioavailable in raisins than in grapes and white wine (Murphy 2012). A webcast regarding the Emerging Health Benefits of Traditional Dried Fruit was presented on July 18, 2012 as a satellite session to the 2012 Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) annual meeting. This webcast was designed to review the latest research on the health benefits of raisins. The webcast included research studies regarding raisins and dental health by Allen Wong, D.D.S., Ed.D; heart disease and glycemic response by James Anderson, MD; satiety and energy intake by Barkha Patel, M.Sc.; and phytonutrient content by Rui Hai Liu, M.D., Ph.D. This supplement includes review papers from this webcast.

Disaster, Risk or Opportunity? A Ten-Country Comparison of Themes in Coverage of the IPCC AR5

The structure of the IPCC, which divides its analysis into three Working Groups (Physical Science Base; Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability; and Mitigation) testifies to the role of thematic framing in discussing the evidence about climate change. This chapter looks at the way AR5 coverage applied and mobilized some key thematic frames that were earlier identified as constitutive elements of public discourse. The analysis here moves from issues related to attention and access to questions of interpretation and framing. Results about the dominant themes of reporting deepen the analysis of headlines (Chap. 3) and enable us to look at how some of the IPCC communication effort played out in the actual coverage. Since choosing themes is also an act of choosing a perspective, the chapter also compares how different themes are emphasized in developed and developing countries.