protecting our freedom of speech
In such a heated political climate, it is imperative to continue speaking up for what we believe is right. The administration of President Donald Trump has instituted a media blackout at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, directing employees not to communicate with the press or the public. This kind of censorship is uncommon – if not downright illegal – in the United States.
Thankfully, many scientists have spoken out against the order, as it limits their freedom of speech. Trump’s measures are questionably in violation of the First Amendment right to free speech and undoubtedly an affront to the Freedom of Information Act. While the EPA, ordinary citizens and “rogue” national park accounts have lashed out criticisms through media such as Twitter – some posts of which were, frighteningly, later censored and taken down – it is our duty as Americans to be aware and our duty as students to do the research needed to make informed decisions.
The EPA has also been commanded to freeze all grants and contracts – a comprehensive system including research funding and education. EPA staff have been ordered not to discuss this information with anyone outside the agency, and some EPA scientists have been barred from attending conferences to share their findings, thus evoking suspicion. Furthermore, any studies or data – many targeting scientific evidence of climate change and its link to manmade carbon emissions – from EPA scientists are now also subject to review by political appointees before being released to the public. These choices seem to point at Trump’s own disbelief in the importance of environmental science.
The new requirements also directly challenge the EPA’s policy of scientific integrity, which, according to the EPA, “prohibits managers and other agency leadership from intimidating or coercing scientists to alter scientific data, findings or professional opinions or inappropriately influencing scientific advisory boards.” The purpose of scientific innovation and discovery, as we as students know, is to nurture human curiosity and build a better future – a future that cannot be realized if sharing these discoveries is barred.
Peninsula is a community that encourages creative thought and expression. We, as a school, celebrate scientific findings and achievements, as is apparent through our extensive Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics programs. An act of apparent suppression of our freedom of speech by the national government casts a dark shadow on the spirit of scientific inquiry and sharing our passions. We cannot silently condone imposing actions meant to be swept under the rug; we must defend our freedom of speech and continue to stay vigilant so our rights will be protected.
