Unequivocal

Unequivocal.  Is this a good word for scientists to use to communicate their scientific confidence and consensus? I had a good idea of what it means but, to be sure, I looked the word up, starting with “equivocal.” Equivocal means uncertain or doubtful. Un means “not.” Thus, unequivocal means “without doubt” or “certain.” Scientists tell us climate disruption is unequivocally caused by humans and will cause immense destruction. This is how scientists express certainty.

Here is another word for us to ponder, “safety.” As a retired pilot looking back it means a way of thinking. It counters mine, and most humans, basic nature to make decisions based on short term gain and convenience. Safety is baked into the aviation equation by the government because if you disregard safety, the FAA will take your license away. Never underestimate the role of governmental adult supervision.

The army has safety professionals to make sure aviators think, always, with safety in mind. They are experts in mechanical devices, weather, ergonomics, sleep, psychology, crash investigation, and communication. 

Here is a sliver about communication and how communication improves safety. It involves the flow of information between the GIBS, (Guys in Back Seats), formally known as crewmembers, and the Pilot in Command. Pilots sometimes underestimate the importance of the eyes, ears, and brains of skilled crew members riding in the back. It took safety experts to discover this error in judgement.

Safety experts discovered this when investigating crashes.  Sometimes there are crewmembers who survive crashes. When interviewing the survivors, the investigators found airmen and airwomen often sensed something was going wrong but had not said anything. The investigators found many pilots were intolerant of input, even from their co-pilots, stifling the critical flow of information.

The Army does not like to pick up their aircraft and human body parts strewn across the landscape. Leadership directed the safety experts to intervene. One change made was the Pilot in Command must brief the crew to speak up. And, if the crew member is not acknowledged, they must persist, and if they are being ignored to use attention getting language like, “Hey, this is stupid!” This mandatory briefing made it official policy; a soldier has the duty to speak up.

Stupid is not a word to throw around lightly. If said to kids it is inappropriate and potentially damaging. Better to say something like, “I know you are much smarter than you are acting.”

On an adult and personal level safe thinking means “Decision making to avoid doing something stupid.” 

On a societal level climate safety could be defined as the societies commitment to avoid a stupid outcome.

Why do I preach speaking up and persisting? Three times in my aviation career I identified unsafe situations and addressed my concerns to immediate superiors by letter and/or orally. They were polite interactions. All three requests to intervene were ignored. All three of my identified safety concerns later played a role in three fatal crashes.

Had I been a persuasive communicator? Obviously not. In my mind this is a forgivable shortcoming. Did I persist? No, and I will take the fact with me to my grave.

To punctuate this, I was the pilot who, simply by chance, spotted the wreckage with my friends in it.

 97% of climate scientists and 100% of reputable science organizations avoid strong language to warn us of our ignorance and inability to act. They are simply smart, polite, people who use big words like “unequivocal.” They would never use the word “stupid”, however appropriate. 

The Army is all about the bottom line, survival. There are times in the Army when you are encouraged to speak up, persist, and if you must tell the pilot, “This is stupid.”

The science unequivocally speaks to the safety of future generations and begs us to speak up.  In this struggle for reason and data-based decision making, I encourage anyone with the gift to communicate, please speak up.  And, for those like me who lack the communication gift, please persist. We are all on the same spacecraft, planet earth, and we all have a right to assert ourselves.  

For a wonderful up to date documentary search: “PBS Climate- Change-Facts.” 

Greyson Morrow