Facts, Opinions, and Bias

1. Facts, Opinions, and Bias Notes pages 9 - 14

2. Fact versus Opinion • Opinions are the beliefs you hold and the judgements you make about the events in the world around you. • They are subjective and form as a result of your life experience.  • Facts are indisputable truths, knowledge that is certain and incontestable. • Personal experience cannot change factual information . • Facts are objective.

3. Although the information (facts) is the same, opinions are highly subjective and can be very different reflecting the experience of the observer. • Public opinion in N.A. turned against DDT when the mosquito control was no longer seen to be worth the environmental costs. • Opinions, based on facts, led to a ban of DDT in North America. • Ban promoted globally, accepted by many countries affected by malaria. • High death toll in malarial nations led to backlash against the DDT ban. • Public opinion in these nations: better to use DDT to prevent malaria and save lives. • DDT is banned in 120 countries but used in many malarial nations for mosquito control.

4. New facts can lead to a change in opinion. • West Nile virus kills 17 in Texas, sickens hundreds • AFP – Wed, 15 Aug, 2012 • Mosquitos are seen inside a trap in June 2012. The US state of Texas is battling … • The southwestern US state of Texas is battling an outbreak of the West Nile virus, with • 17 deaths blamed on the mosquito-borne disease, authorities said Wednesday. • Throughout the state 465 people have been sickened since the start of the year, • putting it on track to have the most cases since the disease first emerged a decade ago, the Texas Department of State Health Services said.

5. Bias is the presentation of an issue from a single point of view. It can be detected be examining use of language, especially the choice of verbs & adjectives. Denver Post red wings 5, avalanche 3 Injury begins Avs' tumble Detroit News Red Wings 5, Avalanche 3 Wings are too much for Avalanche http://www.umich.edu/~newsbias/wordchoice.html Ottawa Citizen Senators snap winless skid at 11 EDMONTON — It was relief a long time coming. http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/ottawa-senators/Senators+snap+winless+skid/4272699/story.html • The Ottawa Sun • Sens end losing streak at 11 • EDMONTON — The bleeding has stopped. • http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2011/02/12/17253711.html

6. Levels of confidence: • Highest in academic articles, professional journals, and most scholarly books because they are subject to independent editorial review. • Lower in magazines and newspapers not subject to review but which are financially responsible. • Lowest in sources where peer review & financial accountability are absent.

7. Some Facts About The Three Gorges Dam Project Embassy of the People’s Republic of China (USA) • World’s largest hydropower plant • World’s largest water conservation facility • Guarantee smooth navigation at the construction site • World’s largest inundated area by a single project • Charming scenery untouched by damming of the mid-section • Favourable start of the massive resettlement drive

9. Three Gorges Dam Project Probe International • Unfavourable political and economic conditions • Too costly • Catastrophic flooding • not contribute much to shipping • opposition or abstention from one third of delegates • corruption scandals, bribery • skimped, shoddy • human rights violated • clogged ports • obsolete

11. Image Links http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~vanti20m/classweb/website/benefits.html http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~vanti20m/classweb/website/benefits.html http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Chinese-government-fears-Three-Gorges-Dam-%E2%80%9Ccatastrophe%E2%80%9D-10404.html http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~vanti20m/classweb/website/environmentalimpact.html http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~vanti20m/classweb/website/socialconsequences.html