Episode Details

In this episode of The Gravity Well you hear discussion about the pervasive issue of misinformation in classrooms, particularly concerning climate change and the fossil fuel industry. Guests Anne Keary, Claire Kraatz, and Tylene Appel of For Our Kids share their insights and experiences, highlighting the extensive involvement of oil and gas companies in educational materials and curriculum development. They emphasize the need for accurate climate education and the detrimental effects of industry-sponsored content on students’ understanding and mental health. The episode also explores actions that parents, teachers, and communities can take to combat this misinformation and advocate for better climate education.

The Gravity Well Podcast, hosted by Jenny Yeremiy, delves into complex issues to foster understanding and improve the world.

Introductions to Anne Keary, Claire Kraatz, and Tylene Appel of For Our Kids

Jenny (0:00):

Welcome to The Gravity Well Podcast with Jenny Yeremiy. Here you break down heavy ideas with me to understand their complexities and connections. Our mission is to work through your dilemmas with you in conversation and process making our world a better place for all.

We acknowledge that we live on the traditional territories of treaties, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 10. The ancestral homelands of diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Metis. Peoples whose ancestors have walked this land since time immemorial and whose histories, languages, and cultures continue to influence our vibrant communities. We pay respect to indigenous people through our ethical relationship building efforts. Our community agreement asks for genuine conversations, real hearts, open minds, and different perspectives in conflict. Let’s rely on our six W system and live participant feedback. What matters most is finding common ground.

Alex:

We dedicate this podcast to our children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and all future generations. The gravity well is on YouTube and streaming wherever you get your podcasts. Join us@thegravitywell.net.

Jenny:

Welcome, I’m thrilled to have Anne Keary, Tylene Appel and Claire Kraatz in the studio Today we are talking about a really important issue that Claire and I have been talking about for a very long time and very nice to meet Anne Keary who has just drafted a report for us to walk through today. That’s what’s the heart of this is about misinformation in our classrooms. We had a conversation on the show last fall with a group on misinformation in the media. This is a really important issue to me. The reason why I think it is, is because if the public believes that we’ve got this and then it’s fed through our school systems, through our media, then the government will follow what the people want. If we’re fed information that isn’t accurate, then it’s very easy for the government to keep cycling. This false narrative, if you will, freeing us from this misinformation is going to help us move forward in a big way. I’m really glad to be talking about this again. I’m going to stop there and let everybody do a little bit of introductions please. Anne, if you wouldn’t mind going first. Thank you.

Anne:

Sure. Thanks so much, Jenny, for having me on the show. I’m really happy to be here to talk about this report and this really important issue. My name is Anne Keary, her pronouns and I am based here in Toronto. I’m an independent researcher, actually I have a PhD in history. I’m a mother of two kids and I am very involved and very concerned about climate change and involved in climate action here in Toronto. I’m a member of For Our Kids, which is the nationwide group of parents, caregivers, people advocating on the climate crisis. And I’m involved here in Toronto with a number of different climate groups. I came to this re