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3. The good science of ‘bad Brazilians’ Nov 06, 2021

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Brazil has pledged to end deforestation within a decade in a pledge signed by more than 100 nations at the COP26 climate summit. But do Brazilian leaders really believe in fighting climate change?

Inside the country, climate change disinformation is thriving, while good and credible information is being undermined, even by the country’s own president.

Influential voices with connections to the agriculture industry are spreading baseless conspiracy theories that man-made climate change is a hoax, invented by foreigners to hold the country’s economy back. Scientists at one of the government’s own agencies were accused of being “bad Brazilians” by President Jair Bolsonaro, after they produced data which showed an alarming rate of deforestation in the Amazon. The row resulted in the sacking of the head of the agency, who now fears the government is in the grip of climate change denialism.

However, President Bolsonaro insists he is stepping up protection of the environment and has warned other countries not to meddle in Brazil’s internal affairs. Is the Amazon, one of the most important regions in the world for fighting climate change, safe in his hands?

2. Big oil in the dock Oct 30, 2021

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Is big oil trying to mislead the public about what it’s doing about climate change?

Several US states are suing some of the world’s largest oil and gas companies, accusing them of “greenwashing”.

They claim the fossil fuel industry is deceiving consumers about how much it’s actually doing to tackle climate change.

Accusations which are strongly denied by the companies who may face having to make huge compensation payouts if they lose in court.

At the heart of many of these cases are adverts which highlight how energy giants are supporting greener, more sustainable solutions, but do not mention their much greater investment in developing new oil and gas fields.

Questions about this alleged deception have now entered the political arena with big oil’s top brass being invited to appear before the US Congress.

So, why do these lawsuits matter so much? In this episode, we head to Massachusetts where one such case is playing out in the courts.

1. The 'd-words' v the planet Oct 23, 2021

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How much do disinformation and new forms of climate change denial threaten the fight to save the planet?

In the first episode of a special new series running around the COP26 climate conference, BBC Trending speaks to a leading scientist who says the battle to prevent catastrophe may depend on winning the information war.

Professor Michael Mann first made headlines in 1998 when he published the pioneering “hockeystick graph” which showed how carbon emissions caused by human activity are harming the planet.

Since then mounting evidence has made it harder for the fossil fuel industry and its allies to deny the existence of man-made climate change.

The overwhelming majority of scientists agree that we are now at a turning point where only urgent and dramatic action can save humanity.

In November world leaders will gather at in Scotland to agree targets for cutting admissions. Many observers regard it as our last best chance to avert disaster.

Professor Mann argues that in the face of this reality, what he calls “the forces of inaction” have developed new strategies to try to prevent humanity from kicking its addiction to oil, gas and coal.

So does the future of life on earth depend on understanding the playbook of these new climate war tactics?

Beirut blast: Looking for Eleni Sep 11, 2021

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When an Ethiopian woman called Eleni disappeared amid the chaos of the Beirut blast there seemed little hope of discovering what had happened to her.

In the wake of the explosion that devastated the Lebanese capital, rescuers searched through the rubble to try to locate hundreds of dead and missing people.

As the death toll mounted, the only clue to Eleni’s fate was a pool of blood on her employer’s kitchen floor.

It fell to two complete strangers - who had never met Eleni or each other - to try to solve the mystery using social media. Presenter: Reha Kansara Producers: Najib Deeb, Abiy Getahun & Yadeta Berhanu Editor: Ed Main Photo: Graphic showing a highlighted profile picture of a woman among lots of other social media profile pictures.

Photo credit: BBC

The Kenyans who help the world to cheat Sep 04, 2021

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If a lazy student in London or New York goes online to pay somebody to do their essay, the chances are the work will actually end up being done by somebody in Kenya.

So who are the African ghost writers who are paid to help wealthy foreigners fake their way to unearned success, and what do they think about what they do?

Kenya has become a key hub in the international cheating industry, because it is an English-speaking country with a good education system, but where there are often limited economic opportunities, particularly for younger people.

Thousands of people are making a living supplying faked assignments commissioned by unethical students in other countries, through websites mainly based in the US and Eastern Europe. Many of those employed to do this work are students themselves.

Although essay selling offers some a route out of poverty, universities say it is increasingly undermining the integrity of education around the world. And there are calls, even from within Kenya, for action against this booming online industry.

Presenter: Reha Kansara Producer: Michael Kaloki Editor: Ed Main Photo: Graphic of hand writing an essay while another hand takes it and offers cash

Photo credit: BBC

The cops weaponising copyright Aug 28, 2021

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Could your favourite song be used to cover up the misdeeds of the police?

Officers across the US have been filmed playing music - out loud - on their phones in public. They weren’t hoping this unusual display would make them go viral on social media. In fact, the aim was quite the opposite.

Some officers believe that by blasting music while being filmed, the videos would get blocked by automatic copyright protection software and activists wouldn’t be able to post them online.

Should we be concerned by these attempts to evade scrutiny by gaming technology, and do they even work?

Presenter: Sam Judah

Editor: Ed Main

Image: A graphic of a police officer with a mobile phone in his breast pocket blaring out music.

Image copyright: BBC

Nesara: The financial fantasy ruining lives Aug 21, 2021

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Nesara is a decades-old conspiracy theory whose followers believe all their debts will be magically cancelled in a radical reset of the world’s economic system.

It’s a bizarre and baseless idea whose promoters peddle a vision of a financial neverneverland that is always just round the corner.

Many of those who get sucked in, develop an almost cult-like belief in Nesara that inspires them to make horrific financial decisions that they think will make them rich. It’s a fantasy whose real life impact is dividing families and ruining lives.

So why during the Covid-19 pandemic has Nesara become more popular than ever?

Presenters: Jonathan Griffin & Shayan Sardarizadeh Additional reporting: Olga Robinson Editor: Ed Main

Photo: A graphic of a banknote with an N at the centre. Photo credit: BBC

Who is TikTok’s masked vigilante? Aug 13, 2021

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Think you’re safe being an anonymous TikTok troll or cyber bully? Think again.

The Great Londini could be your worst nightmare come true.

You might think you’re anonymous - but if you leave a threatening, racist or homophobic comment on someone’s video, Londini will find out who you are. If you’re a kid, he’ll contact your parents or your school. If you’re an adult, he'll really tell on you.

In just a few months, the mysterious online vigilante has gained a huge following for his efforts to clean up TikTok. Londini says he’s doing the job that the platform should be.

But does social media need moderation vigilantes - or are they a problem in themselves? Presenter: Sophia Smith Galer Editor: Ed Main Photo: The Great Londini Photo credit: BBC

Anti-vaxxers only Aug 07, 2021

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As the pandemic progresses, some opponents of Covid-19 vaccines are taking things one step further.

An emerging international grassroots movement is seeking to create online and offline communities away from the vaccinated world.

Trending meets the people who are setting up dating sites, house share groups, even blood banks specifically for the unvaccinated only. Underpinning many of these efforts is the totally unfounded belief in “vaccine shedding” - the false idea that the unvaccinated can be made ill simply by being around people who have had a coronavirus jab.

But will any of these alternatives to mainstream society take root? Presenters: Marianna Spring & Chris Giles

Editor: Ed Main

Photo: Graphic of hand holding mobile phone with dating app onscreen.

Photo credit: BBC

The TikTok news revolution Jul 31, 2021

Show notes

TikTok became successful by being the app for watching viral dance videos. But with global downloads of the app recently topping three billion, it’s also increasingly a place where users are also going to find news - though not any old news.

While traditional media organisations are struggling to gain a foothold on the platform, a wave of fresh and diverse creators are finding innovative ways to present the news in a style that engages TikTok’s massive young audience.

Trending explores the potential and the pitfalls of news on TikTok. We hear from the journalist who makes comedy videos in which he plays a Covid-19 variant and his dad. And we meet the man who is the biggest star in TikTok news - who despite his fame still has to work other jobs to make ends meet.

Presenter: Jonathan Griffin Reporter: Abbie Richards Producer: Matt Munday Editor: Ed Main Photo: Collage of TikTok news creators Photo credit: BBC/TikTok

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