"The AI industry engages in the same kind of labor outsourcing that many other industries do, finding places that are far away and off the radar of their average consumer to perform the dirtiest work. In the AI industry, however, there's an additional layer.

Anyone who buys clothes has an inherent understanding that they were made by someone, somewhere. With AI, that fundamental assumption isn't there because most people don’t understand that digital technologies have a very physical footprint and that a lot of labor is involved. By doing the same kind of outsourcing that other industries have done, it enhances the “magic veneer” created for their AI products."—Karen Hao

Behind the scenes of the 'Empire of AI' >

https://bianet.org/haber/behind-the-scenes-of-the-empire-of-ai-310761

#interview #AI AI_industry #narratives #ecology #disaster_capitalism #technologies #outsourcing #global #labor_exploitation #data_centers #AI_models #imperialism #China #Silicon_Valley #USA #techno_feudalism #layered_censorship #public_health #water #energy #supercomputers #pollution #electric_grid #clean_water #climate_crisis #energy_crisis #clean_air_crisis #utility_bills

Political cowardice hindering Europe’s climate efforts, says EU’s green chief (The Guardian)

Effects of crisis are becoming increasingly obvious but not translating into proper action.

Political cowardice is hindering European efforts to face up to the effects of the climate crisis, even as the continent is pummelled by a record-breaking heatwave.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/02/political-cowardice-hindering-europe-climate-efforts-eu-green-chief-teresa-ribera

#extreme_weather #climate_scepticism #climate_crisis #climate_change #global_warming #eu #european_union #green_politics

The BBC is utterly beholden to the right. Why else would it fear an Evan Davis podcast about heat pumps? (The Guardian)

The broadcaster behaves like Starmer’s government: suppress the left, cave to your critics, and undermine your own survival.

Why? The answer is simple: economic power.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/01/consistently-appeasing-platforming-right-bbc-undermines-own-survival

#bbc #media #journalism #journalist #news #press #lobby #thinktank #censorship #fossil_fuel #climate #climate_change #climate_crisis #media_bias

A silent majority of the world’s people wants stronger climate action. It’s time to wake up. (The Guardian)

About 89% of the public want their governments to do more to tackle the climate crisis – but don’t know they’re the majority.

We believe the current mismatch between public will and government action amounts to a deficit in democracy.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/commentisfree/2025/apr/23/climate-action-public-support

#climate #climate_change #climate_crisis #extreme_weather #media #news #journalism #journalist #democracy

"Future UN conferences should only be held in countries that show support for climate action, urge influential group."

"At the last Cop, fossil fuel lobbyists outnumbered representatives of scientific institutions, Indigenous communities and vulnerable nations. We cannot hope to achieve a just transition without significant reforms to the Cop process that ensure fair representation of those most affected."

#climate_crisis
#climate_emergency

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/15/cop-summits-no-longer-fit-for-purpose-say-leading-climate-policy-experts?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other