35-year-old Renée Bindewald from North Carolina is upset by the spread of misinformation in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The storm swept across the southeastern United States last week and was designated as a category 4 hurricane. The destruction is extensive and several hundred have lost their lives. Afterwards, conspiracy theories about the cause of the powerful storm have spread among Americans. Looking for bodies in the ruins Around 230 people have so far been confirmed dead in six states, according to CNN. Half died in the state of North Carolina, which was hit hard by floods. Many hundreds of people are still missing. – I get enraged by the conspiracy theories, Renée Bindewald tells news. She comes from Forest City, a city in the east of the affected state. The 35-year-old usually works as a landscape architect. But after the hurricane, she has spent all her time removing trees that have fallen over. Renée Bindewald from North Carolina says she is enraged by the conspiracy theories. Photo: Privat Bindewald finds it outrageous that false information is being spread about what should have caused the storm, when you have access to good information. She adds that many people are too busy with the clean-up work to take in the conspiracy theories that are being spread. – We are just trying to get through each day in a new reality, while the rest of the world continues as before, she writes in a message to news. Spreading fake images A Republican congressman from Georgia is among several who have spoken out and spread conspiracy theories. – Yes, they can control the weather. It is ridiculous for anyone to lie and say that it is not possible, writes Marjorie Taylor Greene in a post on X. Fake photos are also being spread in the wake of the hurricane. Among other things, images created with artificial intelligence (AI) of a little crying girl in a life jacket holding a puppy. The puppy looks different in different versions of the picture. In this AI-generated image, the puppy looks completely different than it did in other images. Photo: Social media In addition to claims that the weather is controlled by powerful forces and that the hurricane is man-made, according to the news agencies Reuters and AP, it is also claimed that: The authorities steal money that was supposed to be used for relief work after the storm Bodies are abandoned The authorities take advantage of the situation to allow mining for lithium That money from crisis funds is used on migrants The timing is not surprising That this is happening now is not a coincidence, says Asbjørn Dyrendal, professor at the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at NTNU. He points to two main reasons for this: Major events, such as “Helene”, often contribute to a flourishing of conspiracy theories. It is now just over a month until the presidential election. Asbjørn Dyrendal does not think that it is surprising that conspiracy theories are spreading in the USA, just after the hurricane “Helene” and before the presidential election. Photo: Mari Aftret MørtvedtAsbjørn Dyrendal does not think it is surprising that conspiracy theories are spreading in the USA, just after hurricane “Helene” and before the presidential election. Photo: Mari Aftret Mørtvedt – In election campaigns, conspiracy theories and conspiracy thinking tend to be more widespread than otherwise, Dyrendal tells news. The temperature is high and people may have a lower threshold for using the theories to their own political advantage. – This is a known phenomenon, we have research into it, he says. “Helene” caused great destruction. In Erwin, east Tennessee, a photo Friday showed a destroyed bridge. Photo: Jeff Roberson / AP Lowered by concerned people The theories are so extensive that the authorities are now warning. Among other things, the White House points to a theory that Joe Biden’s government is using crisis funds on migrants. The theory has been put forward by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his campaign, including in a response to Reuters. – It is crucial that all leaders, regardless of political persuasion, stop spreading this poison, it says in the letter, which emphasizes that the theory is false, the White House writes. The White House calls the spread of misinformation dangerous. Satellite images of Old Fort, western North Carolina, show extensive destruction after “Helene” Maxar Technologies / Reuters “Misinformation can prevent people from asking for the necessary help when they need it,” the press release says. The Republican senator of North Carolina, Kevin Corbin, also reacts. – Please don’t let these crazy stories consume you, or make you constantly contact elected officials to check if they are true, he writes on Facebook. Corbin talks about people getting calls about the conspiracy theories. – I’m getting a little tired of the deliberate distractions from the main task: helping our citizens in need, writes Corbin. – Poisoning the debate Dyrendal does not think it is surprising that this is happening in the USA. – It has moved from being a marginal phenomenon to more common everyday rhetoric, and which is supported by opinion leaders and political leaders and some of the very richest, he says. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump (center) visited storm-hit Georgia. Here he was with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp on Friday. Photo: JOE RAEDLE / AFP Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris visited North Carolina at the weekend. Here she visits volunteers who distribute food and other necessary items in Charlotte. Photo: MARIO TAMA / AFP The consequences can be serious, he believes. In addition to the fact that it can make handling the crisis more difficult, it helps to “poison the political debate”: – In contexts where there is already low trust, conspiracy theories contribute to poisoning the climate more and lowering trust between various parties and the authorities. It will be more difficult to create bridges in the future as well, he emphasizes. JD Vance won the debate against Tim Walz. But who is he, and what exactly does a vice president of the United States do? Published 06.10.2024, at 21.41
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Conspiracy theories abound in the USA after hurricane “Helene” – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
